(A) Since 1949, a stern yet plain-spoken sign has greeted visitors entering the community of Joseph: “This Little Town Is Heaven To Us. Don’t Drive Like Hell Through It.” In an effort to soften the tone, city leaders recently added the word “Please”. The sign exemplifies this northeast Oregon community’s character: a town proud of its down-to-earth roots, its straightforward honesty and never-ending eagerness to improve itself through efforts small and large.
(B) Joseph’s character, location and history truly place the community in a class of its own. Known by many as the “Switzerland of America”, the city is situated where the towering Wallowa Mountains descend into Wallowa Lake, a five-mile long lake formed by glaciers over nine million years ago. The town officially incorporated in 1879, with its namesake reflecting either that of Old Chief Joseph or his son, both from the Nez Perce Tribe. The Nez Perce resided in the area long before the arrival of farmers and settlers, and even longer before Joseph became the first Wallowa County seat in the late 1880s. The Tribe’s forced exodus from the Wallowa Valley represents a darker moment in America’s 19th Century history, though the Chief Joseph Monument and Nez Perce National Historic Park celebrate the Tribe’s tremendous cultural and historical contributions.
(C) Today, the city has transformed itself from a small timber community into a widely popular destination. Since opening two bronze foundries in the 1980s, attractive bronze statues on Main Street now compliment numerous downtown art studios and galleries. Recreation opportunities abound in and near the city, including Wallowa County Park, Eagle Cap Wilderness Area and Hells Canyon. The community’s 1,100 residents and countless visitors enjoy activities and events almost every weekend of the year such as Chief Joseph Days, the Bronze Blues and Brews Music Festival, Bronze Bike Motorcycle Rendezvous and Eagle Cap Sled Dog Races.
(Ord. passed 6- -2009)