In this edition: upcoming the June 10 Swedish immigrant presentation by Ross Fogelquist (at Nordia House), and the June 29 Grand Opening of the expanded Garden Home Community Library.
Welcome to our website about historic Garden Home. In the People and Places pages, you’ll find almost two hundred stories, and over fifteen hundred photos of vintage Garden Home and residents attending our events. Contact us at GardenHomeHistory@gmail.com.
Upcoming Events
Join us Monday, June 10 at 6:30 PM at the Nordia House at 8800 SW Oleson Rd for an evening learning about the Swedish immigrant experience in Oregon 1850-1950. Review the new displays at Nordia House, enjoy a slide show presentation by Ross Fogelquist, tour his Fogelbo home full of Scandinavian history, and share cookies on the deck.
Attend the The Garden Home Community Library’s official Grand Opening to celebrate the newly renovated library expansion, Saturday, June 29th from 10am to 2pm.
Recent News
On April 8, we hosted a presentation by John K. Lim and Jenny Kim of the Korean Society of Oregon. They presented the story of the very busy Korean Society of Oregon. This Society purchased the former Garden Home United Methodist Church property on SW 81st avenue off of SW Garden Home Road, after the Church closed in 1994. Several groups who use the building include the Society, the Korean language school for children on Fridays and Saturdays and the older Koreans for social and cultural activities. These groups are identified in the Korean language at the front door. They gifted us with a wonderful book relating the 50 years of the Korean Society of Oregon. This book will be on display in our historical display in the new Library expansion this spring. John K. Lim served for 5 terms in the Oregon Legislature, both as a Representative and a Senator.
On April 18, we hosted a presentation of the early history of the Garden Home Post Office at Garden Home Growlers. Stan Houseman showed photos of the Garden Home Post Office from its founding in 1882 to its present day location inside the Garden Home Marketplace. We’d like to thank Adam Martinez of Garden Home Growlers for providing a new home to the historic Garden Home Post Office safe.
Thanks to our Garden Home Gardeners for the daffodil display up and down SW Oleson Road. Most of these daffodils were originally planted by this volunteer group in 2008 to celebrate the remodel of SW Oleson Road. Watch for more color in the medians that the Gardeners care for.
Get Involved
Historic Garden Home street sign
Historic Garden Home street signs: We currently have about 35 of the Historic Garden Home street sign toppers in our community. Each sign was purchased by a friend or family member to honor their loved one. Click here to view photos of the signs and for information about sponsoring a sign.
Our generous donors permit us to print and mail this newsletter ($140) for our non-e-mail people and for the Garden Home Recreation Center. We also replace the Historic Garden Home street signs once for signs that disappear, current cost for each sign, $60. With our latest order, we’ll have about 35 signs out in our neighborhoods. We also have website costs, printing, paper, plaques and many other costs of an organization. Donor names are listed on our History Bulletin Board at the Recreation Center. Thank you to all of our donors and to all of our volunteers for their time and skills.
Garden Home History Project 
Can someone tell me the name of the produce stand that was located at 6959 SW Multnomah Blvd in the late 70’s to early 80’s? The address is where Old Market Pub is located.
Thank you
Hi Shawn,
The produce stand was Comella’s (later Comella’s and Son, then Comella’s and Son and Daughter). The building was originally a cannery.
Thank you for answering my question. I knew the answer but was way unsure of the proper spelling.