MI 150460

Thrall ranch
The ranch that is now called the Thrall Ranch was known as Laird's Station when I was a little boy. For many years, up until 1899 or later, William T. Laird owned and operated the place. Like many other such places it was a stage station and stopping place for travelers and freighters. The old wagon road went by the station, and for many years I believe that for several years the stages and freight wagons going to and from Oregon traveled that way before the Anderson Grade was built.
William T. Laird sold the place around 1899 or later. The name was changed to Thrall, and it became the junction of the Southern Pacific Railroad and the Klamath Lake Railroad when the Klamath Lake Railroad was finished in 1903.
In about 1914 Roy Hackard operated the ranch for a year or so and then a man by the name of Hansen was there for a while.
Sometimes I would stay overnight there while I was rounding
up cattle. The house was a large hotel-type building, and the barn provided plenty of room for the horses.
I have not been in sight of the place for years, and pro bably the buildings are gone now, since I believe no one has lived there for many years.The ranch has been farmed from time to time, and is always referred to as the Thrall Ranch by the old timers.
Thrall is like many other places that were busy stage stations.As the automobile became popular, the blacksmith shops, the livery stables and the stage stations pined away and passed on into history.