The Block House Cafe – Dayton, Oregon

After our late morning winery stops we were more than ready for lunch, so Rick and Candy directed us to the small town of Dayton. But I must admit I wasn’t prepared for The Block House Cafe to be located in a church!

I was very happy to see the historic designation prominently displayed on the side of the old building.

Rick told us how the building had literally been falling down, but instead of being demolished it has been revived and is now a thriving business in the small town.

As we approached the front door, a large group of tourists was coming out after their lunch. And The Block House Cafe was still nearly full when we entered.

Our lunch service was VERY slow that day, but I’m guessing the cooks and kitchen staff were “in the weeds” (the chef term for a kitchen that is slammed with diners and running far behind on orders). But when our lunch finally arrived it was very good. The burger was perfectly cooked and the homemade potato chips were crispy, slightly salty, and still warm.

I strolled across the street to take a picture of the former Baptist church/now Block House Restaurant…and I stopped to admire the beautiful park, complete with a charming gazebo.

I paused for a minute to read the inscription on the weathered building that seemed to be the cornerstone of the park.

It reads, in part: 

“This building was a military block house built at the Grand Ronde Agency by Willamette Valley Settlers in 1856. U.S. troops were sent to the station the same year and it was named Fort Yamhill. By permission of the U.S. government, Fort Yamhill was moved from Grande Ronde Agency to Dayton in 1911 through efforts of John G. Lewis, a patriotic citizen. The structure was rebuilt on this spot as a memorial to General Joel Palmer, a pioneer of Oregon, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Founder of Dayton, and Donor of this Park.”

After reading the plaque I suddenly realized why that church had been resurrected and renamed The Block House Cafe.

I love days when we can combine the pleasure of eating with a side dish of local history…so this lunch stop at The Block House in Dayton, Oregon was the perfect spot on that “rag-top” summer day in wine country.