Hello Garden Home History Friends,

Thanks to all of you who have responded so nicely to our monthly Updates about Garden Home history. This month it’s Trader Joe’s grand opening, Garden Home Library historical display, Red Electric wines, new Garden Home artifacts, Halloween stories, remembering the first class of Garden Home School students (1911), and an update on the beavers in Hideaway Park! We love to hear from you.

Grand opening of Trader Joe’s October 29

At this date, we understand that Trader Joe’s will be having their Grand Opening on Oct. 29! Wonderful! Our 100 year old Garden Home church bell will continue in the Trader Joe’s tower. Note the new plantings in the photo below. And possibly some historic Garden Home photos on the wall. Welcome to historic Garden Home! Watch for official Opening information.

We are still waiting on the opening date for the new ACE Hardware store next door to Trader Joe’s.

Trader Joes construction Oct 2021

Close-up of historic bell – Trader Joes construction Oct 2021

Garden Home Library historical display

We have updated the Garden Home History display cabinet in the library! Our display this month features Gerry Frank and the Aaron Frank farm. Thousands of guests have signed the very large Aaron Frank Stables guest book. The open page shows the Firestone family from Akron, Ohio (famous tire brand) and an ink spot from using the old fashioned pens! Photos of the carpeted stables and of the horse racing activities are on the first shelf.

Library Display October 2021 – shelf 1

Aaron Frank stable guestbook – Harvey and Russel Firestone signatures

Gerry Frank, 97, has been honored recently with the new Gerry Frank Salem Rotary Amphitheater at Riverfront Park, and is featured on the second shelf with many more photos. His book Friday Surprise features news articles that he has written over the years and his story of becoming the renown judge for chocolate cakes at the Oregon State Fair.

Library Display October 2021 – shelf 2, Gerry Frank

Thanks to Jackie Wisher for a photo of an old Hunt Club poster. The Hunt Club, the two riding academies and the Frank farm were very popular centers of horse activities in Garden Home in the 1920s to 1950s. Many people came out from Portland on the train to attend the races.

Library Display October 2021 – shelf 3, Hunt Club

Red Electric wines

I’ll drink to that! The new Red Electric wines from the Armstrong Vineyard out near Amity are a nod to the bright red trains that ran from Hillsdale through the currently named Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, along the north edge of Alpenrose, the north edge of the Portland Golf Club, down SW Jamieson, back to Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy, and out to Hillsboro. More information in next Gazette!

Red Electric wine

Red Electric train route in red – 1958 Garden Home aerial photo

Newly received Garden Home artifacts

Thanks to our Garden Home people for thinking of us when you’re finding some old Garden Home items. Recently Pam Price and Tony Williams found original Comella’s grocery bags while cleaning up a cupboard. Jackie Wisher took a photo of a wonderful old Hunt Club poster advertising some Garden Home horse racing events. I suspect someone has an old can of Firlock paint. Thanks to you all, call me, Elaine, 503-246-5879.

Comella and Son and Daughter grocery bag

Tony Williams and Pam Price July 2021

Hideaway Park beaver update

Hideaway Park – Beaver chew close-up Oct 2021

More evidence of beavers in Hideaway Park! Walk to the end of the short trail to see the current tree being chewed by the beavers. Look for the beaver dam on Woods Creek just as you enter Hideaway Park. A tributary of Fanno Creek, Woods Creek, goes under SW Oleson Road and merges with Fanno Creek in the Portland Golf Club. Doc Hickman called to say that this park was previously his family’s pasture and that no beavers were present then.

For your scary Halloween

Remember our story about the 1903 Halloween murder on “the” Garden Home Road. Near midnight on Halloween, Adolph Burkhardt shot and killed Samuel Bauman as part of an ongoing family feud, and stood trial for capital murder. Read the story for the surprise ending of the trial.

1903 Halloween Murder

Remember!

1911 Garden Home School, all grades. This is the founding year of Garden Home School, held upstairs in the Jager store.

1911 – The children in Garden Home began their first year at Garden Home School which was held upstairs in Chris Jager’s Store. The Dairy Queen is currently at this site.

Discover Garden Home!

Do you remember the giant spook looking over the fence on SW Garden Home Road at about SW 80^th Ave last year? He’s at it again this year! And green lights illuminate the Halloween “Garden Home Graveyard” at Kirstin Lurtz’s home near the north end of SW 82^nd Avenue.

Halloween Spook on SW Garden Home Rd (2020)

Halloween Garden Home Graveyard on SW 82nd – after dark (2021)

Halloween Garden Home Graveyard on SW 82nd – daytime (2021)

Halloween Garden Home Graveyard on SW 82nd – Here lies Fred Underfoot (2021)

Stay safe and well, from all of our dedicated Board of Directors: Esta Mapes, Sharon Vedder, John and Marie Pacella, Stan and Susan Houseman, Jan Fredrickson, Kevin Mistler, and Elaine Shreve. Tom Shreve is our webmaster.

– Elaine

Elaine Shreve