Sonny, Oregon

ODOT, Historic Columbia River Highway Oral History: Final Report

While the name Mitchell Point only refers to this geologic formation, the development at Sonny is sometimes referred to as Mitchell Point.

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“Sonny” was the name given to the railroad station. It was formerly called Mitchell, but owning to confusion with another place in the state of the same name, it was decided by railroad officials to be changed. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Parker, owners of the Little Boy Ranch, just west of Mitchell Point, tried to have the station renamed Little Boy, but this wasn’t adopted by the railroad because it was awkward in telegraphy. Mrs. Parker’s nickname for Little Boy, ‘Sonny,’ was finally selected as the next best thing” (McArthur 1992, 784). Additional information on the Parker family and their role at Sonny is provided in the Marie Malatak interview summary on the following page:

The Parker home at Mitchell Point, was located near the Sonny train station. Mr. Charles W. Parker and Mrs. Helena Parker‘s house was constructed by local boat builder in 1915-1916. The home was later referred to as the “Little Boy Ranch” (Figure 3.23).

The Parkers mostly divided their time between Canada and New York City, but they chose to spend their summers at Mitchell Point. Their adopted children, Joan and Charles, accompanied them and spent many of their childhood summers playing in the Columbia Gorge.

The Parker family would travel by train to their home at Mitchell Point on the Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation (OWRN) Company line (part of the Union Pacific System). The OWRN Company built the Sonny train station, primarily for the family’s use.

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