Current Events

Tualatin Historical Society to rename Tonquin Trail

Makena Buser
October 29, 2012

The Tonquin Trail, a 22 mile trail for bikers and pedestrians that travels through Tualatin, Sherwood and Wilsonville, has several features of the Ice Age floods. The Ice Age floods were a series of large floods that swept a towering mass of water and ice through parts of Idaho, Washington and Oregon. The Tualatin Historical Society wants to rename the Tonquin Trail the Ice Age Tonquin Trail after the unique geologic features left by the Ice Age floods.

In May, when the THS went to Metro to request the trail’s name change, Metro said they had to gain the support of all of the cities and counties within the trail boundaries. THS now has letters supporting the addition of Ice Age to the Tonquin Trail from the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, Washington County Board of Commissioners, City of Tualatin, Washington County Visitors Association, Tualatin Historical Society, Tualatin Chamber of Commerce, Wilsonville Chamber of Commerce and the Sherwood Chamber of Commerce.

“Putting us on maps like GPS and GIS to show people that there is something to see is the main reason why we want the name change to the Tonquin Trail,” Yvonne Addington, past president of THS, said. Changing the name of the Tonquin Trail to the Ice Age Tonquin Trail will help people to know more about THS. The Ice Age Floods Institute is also excited for the name change to the Tonquin Trail.

“ We are completely on board with what the Tualatin Historical Society is trying to do,” Mark Buser, president of the Ice Age Floods Institute, said. “ It is a great opportunity for us, we have been putting a lot of effort into promoting the Ice Age Floods.”
The Tualatin Historical Society received the news on Oct. 2 that the name change to the Tonquin Trail has been approved by Metro. Now, while taking leisurely walks through the trail, people can learn the history of the place where they live.

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About the Contributor

Makena Buser, Reporter

Few people can say that they visited the place that they were named after, but that’s exactly what Makena Buser, freshman and staff writer, can say. People who are named after cities tend to be named after well-known spots, like Paris, Florence or Sydney, but that’s not the case for Buser.

Last year, Buser was able to visit her namesake beach in Maui, Hawaii. Makena Beach State Park is a special place for Buser and her family. Before Buser was born, her parents took a vacation to Maui and visited the beach. Immediately after visiting, Buser’s parents knew it would become their own little paradise.

“When my parents were there, they fell in love with the beach, especially the more secluded parts,” said Buser. “It felt odd being at my beach, especially being named after such a pretty place.”

Buser’s unique name may help her stand out in her hopeful future as a politician. Her dreams of going into politics were brought to life when she was able to accompany her dad on a trip to Washington D.C. in Nov. 2011 to lobby for funding to expanded the Willamette Meteorite information sight at Fields Bridge Park. While there, Buser was able to tour the House of Representatives and the Senate, even meeting some Representatives and Senators along the way. This hands-on tour through the nation’s capitol helped pave the way for Buser’s aspirations to become a social scientist, particularly one that is involved with government.

“I want to be a social scientist because it would be fun to be involved in another country’s political system,” Buser said.

If Buser ever does decide to have a career in politics, she’ll be sure to have a name to remember.