Mitchell, Oregon - Henry the Bear

Henry and Hugh. Hugh spotted me and my kids eating in the diner across the street 4 years ago. He told them to go get an apple, and they could feed it to his bear. Needless to say, they were ecstatic. Not one of my proud mother moments, having a loved child feed a bear, but ah well, they still live. And Hugh is HUGE, and I am fairly sure could take the bear on if something happened.

Everyone needs to layoff the first post-er. In 2002, Mitchell did have the store in a trailer, it was a kick. Run by an ol' timer that everyone knew. You could buy interesting things in there, but had to watch the past due dates. That is now closed. There is also a trailer at the other end of town, next to the road. At one point a rummage sale type store, now it looks like a home. So, if you were going to go whizzing through town in 2002, you would see a couple trailers, one of them the grocery, a bunch of closed store fronts, and the Blueberry Muffin Cafe. It is different now, and a bunch of owners trying to create a viable business district. They are the closest place to the Painted Hills! A Last Note: And the hotel on the hill -- The Skyhook is not the Bates! Becky and Dennis are astoundingly nice folk and run a very clean and quiet place. [Andrea M., 04/18/2009]

Henry the Bear is still very much a part of downtown Mitchell.

Depending on his mood (Henry, not Hugh!), Hugh will offer up an invite to buy an apple from the store across the street and come in to the cage to feed Henry.

If it's offered, take it! You'll be treated to a very snuffly and sweet bear kiss as Henry eats the apple out of your mouth. Definitely a rare and memorable stop in this great little old town. [Pam Falcioni, 01/12/2009]

Henry the Bear is still in his cage in Mitchell Oregon. It says on the cage sign that he was raised on a bear farm in Iowa, contrary to the "boys home" story from Kiefer's submission. Hmmm. [TGB, 08/31/2008]

Henry is still in Mitchell and has NOT been re-located anywhere. Re a post made 11/18/2002"... I honestly wonder what Erik was smoking when he wrote!

Henry the Bear in Mitchell Oregon was captured as a young cub by a boys' home in Oregon as a tool to calm. He was declawed and raised among other exotic animals. When the boys' home went out of business, they couldn't find a zoo that wanted Henry, and were going to put him down. Hugh Reed took Henry in, built him one of the best homes a tame bear could ever ask for, and treats him as one of his own kids. He is now 700 pounds, healthy as an ox and as sweet as a kitten. He adores Hugh and vice versa.

As far as the "trailer for a store"...again false. The Wheeler County Trading Post is a huge two story cenntennial building that was built in 1888. It has the original hardwood floors. It was the HUB of the community for 30 years during the loggin boom and was also the assay office for the gold and nickel boom. During that time, Mitchell boasted 5 houses of ill-repute, two of which are still standing.

Mitchell is a step-back-in-time town. Listed on many sites as a Ghost Town...it isn't. There are 130 of us who call this hamlet home. A community who are parents to every kid in town and "family" to each other. [Kiefer, 01/12/2008]

Henry the Bear is no longer living at the gas station in Mitchell. His owner found that the bear was being teased at night by passersby and transients and began to act edgy towards visitors. In an effort to keep Henry friendly, he moved the bear out to his home. It's a sad thing that visits with this wonderful bear had to be stopped due to a few heartless people who thought it would be "funny" to tease him. [Sussie Due, 06/01/2007]