About Us :

Helix post office was established on May 6, 1880, with Mary Ann Simpson postmaster. The name first selected was Oxford, but postal authorities objected because of possible confusion with similar names elsewhere. In 1927, the writer was told that W. B. Henderson selected the name Helix, but the reason given was not plausible. Since then, additional information came to light that indicated that the place was named because a local resident had a painful experience with an infection in the helix of his ear. The testimony is not as conclusive as it might be but is probably true. In July 1942, W. H. Morrison of Pendleton, who lived in Helix when he was a boy, informed the compiler that in early days Dr. John Griswold was a prominent resident of Helix and, at a community meeting told the audience that about d1e time the post office was established one of his patients developed a very sore ear and had to be taken to Pendleton for treatment. The patient was either Henderson or Peter Hjelseng. During a consultation with another doctor in Pendleton, the word helix was mentioned, and the sick man thought it would be a fine name for the proposed office. In November 1927, H. V. Christensen of Helix wrote the compiler and described the event. In April 1942, Dr. F. W. Vincent of Pendleton visited Helix at the request of the compiler and made inquiries about the matter. He was told the story of the infected ear and was informed that Henderson was the patient. Dr. F. A. Kiehle of Portland told the compiler that he heard this story after he came to Oregon in 1908 from the secretary of one of the medical societies. Reports that Henderson's first name was Helix have not been substantiated.