Pratum, Oregon

Pratum is an unincorporated community in Marion County, Oregon, United States. It is located northeast of Salem on Howell Prairie near the Pudding River. "Pratum" is Latin for "meadow".cite book
last = McArthur
first = Lewis A.
authorlink = Lewis A. McArthur
coauthors = Lewis L. McArthur
title = Oregon Geographic Names
origyear = 1928
edition = Seventh Edition
year = 2003
publisher = Oregon Historical Society Press
location = Portland, Oregon
id = ISBN 0-87595-277-1
pages =783 ] The community was settled in the late 19th century by a group of Mennonites, many of them of Swiss extraction. [ [http://www.gameo.org/index.asp?content=http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/O751.html Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online: Oregon (State)] ] [ [http://www.salemhistory.net/places/salem_mennonite_church.htm Salem Online History] ] A branch of the narrow-gauge Oregonian Railway was built through the area in about 1880, and the station there was called "East Side Junction". In 1895, the station was renamed "Enger" by a Mr. Larson, who opened the first store there. "Enger" was confused with Eugene, however, and the name of the station changed to "Pratum" in 1898. Pratum post office was established in 1887, and was originally called "Switzerland", then "Enger" and finally "Pratum" in 1898, matching the railroad station. The post office ran until 1964. Pratum School, built in 1928 and part of the Silver Falls School District, is still operating. [ [http://www.silvertonchamber.org/schools.html Silverton Chamber of Commerce] ]

The community is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area.

References

External links

* [http://www.silverfalls.k12.or.us/pratum/ Pratum Elementary School]
* [http://photos.salemhistory.org/cdm4/results.php?CISOOP1=any&CISOBOX1=Pratum&CISOFIELD1=CISOSEARCHALL&CISOROOT=all Historic images of Pratum from Salem Public Library]
* [http://www.oregonpioneers.com/marion/pratum2.htm Pratum cemetery]