In this edition: The Search for Cora, celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Garden Home Library, Hyslin home, Pearson CENTURY HOME, Hansen house, visit with the children of Dorothy Johnson.
Upcoming events
Join us for our first meeting since COVID at the Garden Home Recreation Center, our Board meeting, followed by the unique presentation by Andy Shreve. The Board was impressed with a shorter version!
The Search for Cora: Monday, May 8th at 6:30 PM at the Garden Home Recreation Center, Room 9, presented by Andy Shreve. The surprising and tragic tale uncovered while searching for lost relatives. The Board of Directors will be meeting from 5 to 6:15 PM (all are welcome).
The 40th Anniversary of our Garden Home Community Library will be celebrated on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Check out the details, outside attractions, maybe even goats??? And lots more. Our History people will also be participating since most of us volunteered to start the Library. Join us! We are so lucky to have our excellent Library!
The next guided Fanno Creek Trail History Walk will be in July, more details next email.
Garden Home News
We visited with the Hyslin family at their large wooded property on Garden Home Road.
We recognized Bob Pearson’s 100 year old home in our Century Home Program. He continues to meet all the challenges of repairing and improving his interesting home up Garden Home Road.
We have been consulting with Ross Fogelquist regarding our shared concern that the Hansen house on his property may be demolished. We appreciate when an older house is preserved and we are able to share its unique history.
We hosted a visit in my home with the children of our Garden Home “Beauty Queen”, Dorothy Johnson, who died last year. Ward Nelson brought the famous organist daughter Dorothy Papadakos, her brother Peter Papadakos and his wife Barbara, and another brother Andrew White. Bob Day, Stan Houseman, Virginia Vanture, Mickey Lindsay and I enjoyed their visit and review of our photos and documents from Dorothy, who grew up in Garden Home.
New officers for our Garden Home History Project, meet them in our upcoming Gazette.
Website statistics: Just a note on our statistics from our website, GardenHomeHistory.com. Last year, 2022, we had almost 9,000 visitors. This year, 2023, we’ve averaged 735 visitors per month. We note that visitors are looking at the home page, of course, but then are reading 3 or more pages of our history.
If you wish to receive the printed Gazette (3x a year) in addition to your email Gazette, send us your mailing address.
Remember!
Read the memoir by Dorothy Lois Upchurch, daughter of George and Theresa Upchurch who purchased the White Store in 1936. Life in Garden Home in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. The Oregon Electric Train. Attending Garden Home School. The White store and Red store. Meier and Frank.
We went to the city at least once a week, and Mom was always in a quandary as to what to do with Bud. He was an escape artist – forever running away, and she couldn’t figure whether to get herself ready and then Bud – or the other way around. I remember one time when he was quite small she readied him, tied a rope in the loop of his trousers and fastened him to the clothes line. When we were ready, we found the pants on the end of the line, but missed the train looking for the boy.

Upchurch Store (photo by Dorothy Stevens).
Courtesy Mildred Stevens. See post.
Discover Garden Home!
Discover notable trees in your neighborhood. Send me a photo and an address. Blooming trees, unusual trees, important trees… GardenHomeHistory@gmail.com.
We have some changes in our officers for our Garden Home History Project.
Mickey Mistler Lindsay is our new Chairperson, and Esta Mapes continues (thankfully) as our Vice-Chair. Marie Pacella will continue to keep up our 500 subscribers mailing list and send out our UPDATES and Gazettes. Marie will be orienting Susan Houseman to the Treasurer’s role. Elaine Shreve will continue as Editor, doing interviews and publications. Interested to interview or write? Email: GardenHomeHistory@gmail.com
Get Involved
Our Board of Directors continues their monthly meetings. Call to attend. Current subjects include displays in the Library and bulletin board, Century Homes program (we have some 39 Century Homes in Garden Home), Historic Garden Home street signs, new businesses, our newsletters, program planning with the Garden Home Library and more! More Garden Home History walking Tours. We welcome new volunteers to our committees; let us know your interest. Call Mickey at 503-805-5518 or Esta at 503-246-5758.
Historic Garden Home street signs: We currently have over 40 of the Historic Garden Home street sign toppers in our community. Click here to view photos of the signs and for information about sponsoring a sign.
Our generous donors permit us to replace the Historic Garden Home street signs once for signs that disappear.