The Dalles #16: Booth House

216 West Fourth Street

Booth House on June 10, 2009

This house was built sometime between 1871 and 1877 on a lot purchased from Victor Trevitt by John and Mary Booth, within a block of its current location. It was moved to The Dalles City Park when a neighboring commercial structure needed more room for parking. It was also called the Victor Trevitt House, named in his honor although there is no evidence he ever lived in it. In 2006, the Northern Wasco County Park and Recreation District sold the house to Alan and Bev Eagy, owners of the Anzac Tea Parlour in the Ben Snipes House, for $7, and moved to to its current location, a formerly vacant lot next to the Snipes House.

Booth House on October 20, 2009

Victor Trevitt was born in 1827 and moved to Dalles City in 1854 during the gold rush. He was a successful businessman in a variety of ventures, became a state representative in 1858 and was a state senator from 1866 to 1874. Trevitt died in San Francisco on January 23, 1883. Due to temperatures of -20 degrees, his funeral was delayed until March 10, 1883. He had a Masonic funeral and was buried on Memaloose Island in the Columbia River, an Indian burial site, in a tomb 8 feet square and 13 feet high, and is the only white man ever buried there.

Historical Photo:
Booth House, June 3, 1978 (UO)

Continue to 17: Klein House…