Wood River Junction City has a population of approximately 1,800, and is one of the oldest cities in Oregon. Its first boom came with the Italian prunes. Between 1890 and 1900, the area had large acreages of the crop planted. However, overproduction led to the general abandonment of the crop by 1920. The town hit a low point as a boarding-house standby in this decade.
As early as 1892, there was a Methodist Church in the town. The congregation raised money for the building through subscriptions and loans. The building was named after St. Mel, a nephew of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland. The building's pastor also served in Monroe and Harrisburg. However, it was not a Catholic church until 1943.
In 1872, the town was incorporated. At the time, there was a population of about 600 residents. The town had two fine buildings, heated by hot water systems. The schoolhouses were known for their quality and had a reputation for producing high-quality education.
In 1947, a church was organized in Junction City. The first meeting was held in a cottage. In the spring, regular meetings were held in Greenwood Hall. Later, services moved to Townsend Hall and the Adventist Church. In 1954, the church moved into its own building.