In this edition: Old Market Pub and Brewery, Demolition of George log home, New housing developments, Windmill fun, 1981 Thriftway opening flyer, Railway bed on Middelbrooks’ property off SW 71st Ave.
Upcoming Events
Due to the current public health recommendations in response to the COVID-19 virus, we will not have slide programs until the Garden Home Recreation Center re-opens. We have interesting programs planned for the future. Take good care of yourselves.
In the meantime, sign up for our free Monthly Update Email by sending your contact information to GardenHomeHistory@gmail.com.
News
Pumpkins in Garden Home: We’re hoping that your tomatoes are ripening, that you and your family are well, that children are getting ready for a creative new school year, and that everyone has had some fun this summer. Here is a wonderful front yard pumpkin patch seen in Garden Home the first of September!
Garden Home pumpkins Sep 1, 2020
Old Market Pub and Brewery: Thanks to the very generous offer from Andy and Shelly Bigley of the Old Market Pub to display some of our artifacts from the Garden Home Thriftway. Stop in for takeout, dine-in, a drink, some pizza, or a sandwich, and check out our two photos from the 1905 Lewis & Clark Centennial in Portland. The vintage Garden Home postal safe and the three train reliefs are also there. Stan Houseman also snagged the huge Post Office eagle and postal schedule which will go up soon. Thanks to Stan for moving this project along and to Colin Lamb for the photos and train reliefs. Elaine Shreve wrote the histories for all of the photos and reliefs. Old Market Pub and Brewery: 6959 SW Multnomah Blvd, 503-244-2337.
Historic Log Home Demolished: We were sorry to see the Judy George log home falling to the demolition bulldozer. This log home on SW 87th Ave. (south of Garden Home Road) was built in 1900 on what was then called Westgard Street. This modest house had been added to until it was not salvageable. The lot is being prepared for its new home.
Log house construction
New Housing Developments: You have probably noticed the two large housing developments on SW Garden Home Road. Both the Piper Ridge development at SW 87th Ave. and the Garden Home Estates between SW 81st Ave. and SW 78th Ave. will each have 9 new homes developed by Westwood Homes (plus the original homes on the respective lots). Both properties were previously large pastures with horses in the last century. Early Garden Home was platted with large lots for typical family needs such as a cow, chickens, fruit trees, pasture, and a garden.
Windmill Fun: The original windmill photo from Shirley Gertsch Bartels was so washed out that you could hardly see these two men from Shattuck Dairy having fun. Thanks to David Delgado, a new resident who offered to improve some of our vintage photos, you can enjoy the fun…and bravado…from these men!
Shattuck Dairy – showing off on windmill used to pump water – edited by David Delgado
Thriftway Opening in 1981: Thanks to Bob and Sharon Cram for sharing this flyer from 1981 and helping us to clarify the Thriftway dates. The current 1995 store building with the bell tower was added on to this 1981 building. Read the story about the history of Lamb’s Thriftway.
1981 flyer for new Thriftway
Have you noticed the old rail bed at SW 71st Ave.? A new story about the southern rail line carving through Garden Home and the Middlebrooks’ property will soon tell its story.
Middlebrooks railway bed entry at SW 71st
New Stories
Portland Golf Club by Joanne DeHaan
All about the DeHaan’s and other families who lived on Fanno Creek and SW 92nd Ave and worked the grounds of the Portland Golf Club down through the years, with wonderful vintage photos. See Portland Golf Club by Joanne DeHaan.
Alva Davis and John DeHaan, moving a tree at the golf course.
Alva Davis’ homemade car, pictured on his father’s farm.
Murals on Scotty’s Restaurant
Remember the exterior murals on Scotty’s restaurant prior to its purchase by the Dugout? This photo shows the back wall in 2011, we’d love to have photos of the other two murals also. We also have a 1912 B.P.O.E. postcard, courtesy of Shirley Gertsch-Bartels. The card was used to direct the order of delivered milk from the Gertsch’s Shattuck Dairy in 1912. Remember when the Elks Lodge used the upstairs over Scotty’s restaurant? We’d love to learn more about that!
Scotty’s back mural
1912 postcard BPOE invite
Century Homes research continues
We appreciate the many Century Homes that lend substance, beauty, and history to Garden Home. Stan Houseman is developing photos and lists of these homes for future documentation. In time, these home owners will be notified by mail regarding their interest to participate. We believe our oldest home was built in 1890 and we have just over 100 homes built before 1930. Please contact Stan if you have an older home or know of one in Garden Home, Housemanquality@yahoo.com.
Stan reviewing Century Homes in Garden Home
John & Dawn, True Love cement mystery
When Melissa and Josh Stefanic-Grimsbo tore off the old wooden steps of their 1930s log cabin home at 8550 SW Garden Home Road, they found a cement pad with the touching John & Dawn, True Love scratched into the cement. Does anyone know who might have lived there after the 1930s?
John & Dawn, True Love scratched into cement at 8550 SW Garden Home Road
Garden Home History board members at work
Thanks to other Garden Home History friends who are writing Garden Home memoirs, improving our old photos, researching railroad history, and more stories to come! Here are some Garden Home Board members at work for our community.
Susan Houseman framing the placards describing the photos and train reliefs from Lamb’s Thriftway – 2020
John and Marie Pacella, Bob and Sharon Cram, Lamb’s Thriftway closing 2019
Marie Pacella, Treasurer – 2020
Jan Fredrickson with custom mask – 2020
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.
