The property on which Caledonia House B&B now sits has a long history in Seal Rock, Oregon.

During the 1800’s, Seal Rock became the last stop on the Corvallis and Yaquina Bay Wagon Road, which was the first “road” to reach the Oregon Coast from the Willamette Valley.  During this time the Cash Act was in affect.  This meant that “public” land could be purchased for a mere $1.25 an acre for up to 640 acres under this law.  Several Military Warrant Acts granted “public” land to soldiers instead of pay.  These acts have since been repealed.

With the establishment of the Oregon Territory on August 14, 1848, all grants of claims of land in the territory were nullified. It was not until the passage of the Donation Land Act on September 27, 1850, that new provisions were made for acquiring unclaimed land, to be based upon government surveys.  As a result, more settlers move to the Oregon Territory and Indian-white hostilities increased.  Congress began renegotiation of treaties with the Indians of the territory.

In 1853, a treaty was made creating the Oregon Territory's first Indian Reservation negotiated at Table Rock.  Coastal Indian reservations of the day extended from Tillamook, in northern Oregon, all the way to the Umpqua River near Reedsport, in southern coastal Oregon and included the Seal Rock area.

By 1855, the region continued to be inhabited by several branches of the Salish or Salishan Indians. These included the Tillamook, Nehalem and Siletz branches, to name a few, but in 1860 Indian reservations along the Oregon coast and other areas were opened up to white settlement. 

In 1860, George W. Collins was the first (white) settler in the Lower Alsea.  He came to the area of Waldport as an Indian agent for the subagency of the Alsea Reservation.  A chimney from his original homestead still stands in Seal Rock.

Royal A. Bensell's journals became the award winning book entitled, All Quiet on the Yamhill: The Civil War in Oregon [1] and one excerpt from his writings noted in May 1864, Corporal Royal A. Bensell (1838-1921), his passage from Waldport, heading north toward Seal Rock: “Clear.  Cross the Alsea River by swimming. Passed Collins Mine by 8:30am. Shortly afterwards we pass Seal Illahee, saw plenty of huge seal barking on the bare rocks. These seal weigh from 1000 to 1200 pounds. The fur is worthless. The Indians kill a great many. The meat is said to be good.”[2]

In 1866, Scotsman James Craigie moved his family to Oregon and established a land claim to ‘Craigie Point’, northeast of Seal Rock near the Yaquina River’s south bend.  His daughter, Marie Craigie (1848-1933) married Samuel Case (1831-1904).  Together they had seven children of their own.  Nellie Case became the wife of John Buckley who was once a Treasurer in Newport and who land grant records indicate was the first owner of the property here at Caledonia House B&B.

Seal Rock's tiny village is just south of what was once known as “Highlands” and “For Far”; outlays developed in 1888 by William Grant, a native of Scotland.  This is located in the area now called “Surfland” close to the Newport Airport. 

Ironically, the discovery of the nearby area called Beaver Creek had been explored over 100 years before by a fellow Scotsman in 1793.   Alexander McKenzie led an expedition over the Canadian Rockies to the Pacific Ocean – prior to the famed Lewis and Clark duo reached the Columbia River in 1805.  McKenzie and his team were known to have discovered and explored these areas just a few miles north of Seal Rock.

In 1885 in anticipation of a new passenger railroad, the land in Seal Rock where Caledonia House Bed & Breakfast now stands, was sold to John Buckley.  Mr. Buckley married Miss Nellie Case, daughter of Samuel and Marie Case, the founder of the City of Newport, Oregon.  The railroad never came and the land was eventually bought and sold several times over the years.

In 1936 our land changed ownership again - this time to Frank York, who owned several hundred acres on all sides of this property including land across Highway 101 neary Voyager Lane.  Mr. York and his wife, Gladys, developed this property into a large plant nursery called "York Gardens by the Sea" where they hybridized their own fuchsias and grew and sold begonias along with other hearty plants. 

A news article of the day shows “Mrs. Gladys York, Seal Rock fuchsia hybridizer, and The Oregonian namesake of Portland’s morning paper, which she developed for 1952 introduction.  It is white, pink tinted.”  Other varieties released in 1952 were called "Johnnie Marine" named after their adopted son, Johnny who served in the U.S. Marine Corps.  This bloom was semi-double, outspread with a white corolla and sepals of red.  Others called "Skinny" and "Edith Russell" touted double pink and purple corollas and pink sepals, while the "Nina" was a medium sized violet and pink creation released in 1953.  

56 years later, these same varieties still bloom just outside the window of the Islay Escape room and in various locations around the property.  Gladys York also became a member of the Seal Rock Garden Club when it formed in 1948.  This club is still in existence today!

In 1945 a portion of the York's property was sold to Frederick Henry Orton and his wife Adelia.  Fred was born in 1874 in Sherburne County, Minnesota.  He met his future wife, Adelia (“Delia”) K. Holt who was born in 1878 in Otsego, Minnesota.  They married on 20 November 1901 and began growing their family.  While the men were primarily farmers, during the winter months, they also worked in the lumbering industry.  Fred and Delia also ran what would today be considered a “nursing home”.  Fred and Delia made the decision to move from their home in Park Rapids, Minnesota and headed out west in 1905. 

At the time the property was purchased, Fred (aged 71) and Adelia built the original home, which was constructed sometime in 1946 from trees on this property and milled in their own sawmill on land behind the house. 

In 1951, Fred and Adelia sold the house and land to their son Ralph and his wife Irene for the grand total of $10.00.   

In 1977, Deb & Ray Pedrick purchased the property from Ralph and Irene Orton.  The Pedrick’s also maintained a nature preserve and planted the 2 rhododendrons that grace the front yard.  They also weathered a terrific storm in 1982, which blew down many of the large pines which bordered the highway.  They now live just south of Yachats and still very much enjoy their interactions with nature.

In 1985, the property was sold to the Tartar Family who operated "The Blackberry Inn" at this location where they built the additions to the existing home.

In 1996, the property was sold to the Weaver Family.

In 2001, the property was sold to the Henderson Family.

In 2007, Caledonia House Bed and Breakfast became Seal Rock's newest neighbor.