Town History

Spray was named for John Fremont Spray, the community's founder and first postmaster, and his wife, Mary E. Spray. The post office, which was located next to the Spray Mercantile Store, was established in 1900. John Spray established a ferry to carry people across the John Day River and he helped establish a school and the still standing Spray General Store in the community.

 

The Spray General Store is a much beloved building that sat in disrepair for many years. A large mercantile and gun shop was housed on the main floor, and the basement was where one could “go down there and paw around and find whatever you needed if you looked long enough”. Kids oogled over penny candy while their parents looked for other goods. The front porch was a social gathering spot for locals and those passing through.

 

The area of town where the Spray General Store is found was once referenced as “Low-town”, where dances were held in the street and people gathered for other occasions. The post office was located next to the store and it was then, and still is today, a short walk to the mighty John Day River where many a picnic has been held on its banks.

 

The bull elk "George" that still commands center stage in the building was shot on the old Collins ranch by Rob Cody who grew up in the Kinzua logging town nearby (now a nine-hole golf course). He was 15 years old when he shot this elk. Rob’s aunt owned the store at the time of its mounting.

 

There are approximately 140 fantastic people who live in Spray today.