By John Francis 
 
More than twenty people took the Yamhill County Historical Society's first walking tour of Dayton Saturday, June 19. 
 
The tour guide was Kory Knutz (pictured below), who began with a walk down Ferry St. to the Yamhill River. At one time the road leading to the spot where steam boats tied up was the center of Dayton commerce. 
Floods and the coming of a rail line eventually prompted the businesses to move to McMinnville. The walkers visited the Blockhouse and gathered outside a number of historical homes.

They went inside and enjoyed snacks at two places. One was the large, gracious, Garbiel-Filer House at 525 Church St., which has just been put on the market. The other was the famous Joel Palmer House restaurant, where the walkers were offered a dish featuring the restaurant's signature ingredient: mushrooms.