A two acre property and historic school house in Marks Prairie offering scouts primitive camping spots, a scenic picnic setting, meeting spaces and more.
About Mark Memorial Scout Reserve
In 1847, John Mark and family arrived in Oregon City after crossing the plains by ox team via “The Oregon Trail” from Johnson County, MO.
John Mark traded a yoke of oxen and either a wagon or a mare for 643.49 acres with a cabin on
it. His eldest son, Alexander, over 21, but not married, could only claim 320 acres, which he did, adjoining his father’s new farm.
The sisters and their husbands staked claims, adjoining Alexander’s. Hence the name Marks Prairie.
In 1879, Alexander deeded the present two acres of land to School Dist. #38, on which was to be constructed a building to be used for school and religious purposes. In 1893, Alexander and his brother, Samuel, deeded a right-of-way for a road so people could drive to the building.
The present building was built by the people of the community. The lumber was hauled from Cole’s Sawmill, located on the south bank of the Molalla River near the present Island Park.
In January 1946, the building ceased to be used as a school as the district was consolidated with Canby Dist. #86. The deed to this property, like many others, stated that the land reverted to the heirs when the school was discontinued.
In this case, the heirs decided to give the building and land to the people of the community to take care of and use for social purposes. To carry out their wishes, a community club was organized Nov. 6 1947.
Since that time, the school site has served the needs of the community in providing a meeting place for family reunions, church groups, 4-H clubs, a mother’s club, extension club, and monthly meetings of the Community Club.
It has also been available for meetings of general interest to the community such as road repair and safety, and consideration by DEQ of the area as a dump site, among other things.
The original building has been changed very little. The kitchen portion was a wood shed that stood about 50 feet southeast of the front door. In 1949, the community moved the shed to the west end of the building.
In 1948, the remains of the Mark pioneers were relocated to the present location, using the tombstones from the original Mark cemetery to form the monument. The property was then named Mark Memorial Park by county officials.
In June 1979, the Community Club celebrated the 100th birthday of the district by inviting all former residents, pupils, and teachers to a picnic held at the park. Over 100 signed the guestbook. It was a wonderful day for visiting and meeting new friends. Sorrowfully, the school bell could not be rung as vandals had taken it.
On July 1st, 2017, Steve Morgan and David Martin were granted access to the Mark Memorial Park in order to increase its usage by the scouting community and the Mark Memorial Scout Reserve was born.
John Mark
Married July 18, 1818
Born January 11, 1795 in Philadelphia, PA.
Died December, 5, 1874, Mark’s Prairie, OR
He joined the Virginia Militia in 1812 and later that year he was inducted into the US Army. He saw action in the Battle of New Orleans. John’s father was Samuel Mark. Samuel Mark was born in Ireland. He was a weaver by trade and immigrated to Philadelphia about 1787. Samuel married Elizabeth Denny, also of Irish birth, in Philadelphia about 1790.
