Ernest and Melba Cook

Melba and Ernest Cook

Melba and Ernest Cook

Melba and Ernie Cook, 1951 – Patti 12yrs, Warren 5yrs, Louise 4yrs

Melba and Ernest Cook on Firlock Lane (SW 78th Ave)

Ernest and Melba Cook

Melba and Ernest Cook

Melba and Ernest Cook, 1988

Submitted by Louise (Cook) Jones, April 2024

Our parents Melba and Ernest Cook, with daughter Patti who was born in 1939, moved to Garden Home in 1941. Their house was second from the corner off Garden Home Road, at 8107 SW Firlock Lane. The name of the street changed to 78th Avenue.

The Cooks had a long presence in Garden Home. Simon Vantzelfden, born in the Netherlands in 1884, moved with his wife Julia from Rainer, OR to Garden Home. They had 3 boys: Wesley, Cornelius, and John. John married our dad’s sister Leah. Their daughter was named Julia. John Vermuel, also born in the Netherlands, built the two houses on Firlock Lane, one purchased by Leah and John.

When the Vanzelfdens relocated to New York, Mom and Dad bought their house. Leah and John returned and built a house next door to the Bastiens on Oleson Rd. Later, Dad’s father Nicholas moved to Rose Garden Village, west on north side of Garden Home Road before 92^nd. Dad’s twin sister Cookie Souders lived in the apartments next door to Lamb’s Market and his oldest sister and her husband, Alice and Chris Villerup, lived in the apartments across the street.

Melba was born in SE Portland to Julia and John Michener in 1916. She attended Buckman Grade School and Washington High School.

Ernie was born in St. Paul, OR to E. Louise and Nicholas Cook in 1913. He attended Capitol Hill Grade School and Benson High School.

Mom thought she was at the end of the world when they came to Garden Home. She had been a city girl and Garden Home was very rural. But she always said it was the best move they could have made. She loved the Garden Home community, was active in Garden Home Methodist Church, Helping Hands Group, PTA, Stitch and Chatter Group, and activities at the Whitney Cannery. Mom worked for Portland City Hall, Newberry’s, and Jenkins Rd Medical Center. She gave countless hours in volunteer service to the Campfire Girls and the American Cancer Society. She was a great friend to Iris Poutala, Yvonne Partlow, Mildred Stevens, Lois Day, Marge Russell, and many others. Dad helped coach Garden Home baseball; he had played as catcher for Benson. He also coached the church basketball team. Dad shared his extensive record collection during dances held at their house. He worked for Oregon Transfer Company as dispatcher for many years.

Our brother Warren was born in 1946. (See his story). I was born in 1948. We grew up with freedom to wander the neighborhood, play with friends, explore Fanno Creek and the right-of-way of the former trains (now the walking trail), We used our allowance and babysitting money to rent horses at Nichols Riding Academy and we played tennis at the school on the court that was devoped by Dad and other Garden Home parents. All the Cook kids went to Garden Home Grade School and Beaverton High School.

Our near neighbors were:

• Ellen and Vick Bell
• Susana and John Vermuel
• Marie and Phil Mistler
• Fama and Bill Partlow
• Yvonne and Jim Partlow and their kids Dede and Jimmy
• Betts and Ray Hare and their kids Steve, Dana, and Pipper
• Iris and Carlo Poutala and their kids Karen and Arnold

[Editor: see Warren F. Cook obituary. Back in 2010, we received the following comments from Warren regarding Garden Home history.]

Warren Cook corrects early information of 2010 regarding Garden Home History:

1. Aaron Frank was involved in the community, as he welcomed the youth in the late 50’s to come to his estate and swim in the pool; and, sometimes have ice cream in their house. It should be noted that he was a very kind and social man, with the highest of customer standards. When you went to the downtown Meier and Frank store, he was always walking the floor to ensure that the customers were getting the best treatment; and, if he saw a staff member verbally abusive or mistreating a customer, they were ‘fired; on the spot.

2. The Post Mistress was named Smith.

3. The Lamb’s Store that you see today is the 3rd building that Lamb’s has had on that property.

4. Principal at Garden Home was Wayne Thurman until 1958 and then it was Gustafson, when they organized a local school district and Thurman became the Garden Home Superintendent.

5. There were 2 busses that served Garden Home (both ‘Blue Busses’ owned by The Tualatin Valley Bus Company (leaving from the Trailways Terminal in downtown Portland – directly across 5th Avenue from the Multnomah County Courthouse -:(1) The “Metzger Bus” that came from Portland (through Multnomah, followed Garden Home Road, and after leaving Garden Home went on to Metzger, and (2) The “Maplewood Bus” that came from Portland thru Maplewood, then on to Garden Home, terminating in “Rose Garden Village” (down from your house running from 90th to 92nd on the North side of Garden Home Road) – and returned to Portland. Service on both busses were from 6:00 Am to Midnight 7 days a week. A prominent Garden Home resident who was heavily involved in Garden Home Methodist Church, Boy Scouts, Softball, and other youth activities would normally drive one or the other busses each day.

6. The Garden Home Methodist Church was the hub of youth activities in Garden Home. The MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) group was a viable youth organization that was very healthy up through the mid-60’s at both the old church on Garden Home Road and 74th, and at the new church building on S.W. 81st South of Garden Home Road.
The church closed as a Methodist Church in the 80’s and it now a Korean Church and home of the Oregon Korean Foundation. Pastors (50’s and 70’s) at the Methodist Church were Miss. Ethel Williams, Mr. John Wood, and Mr. Willard Norman.

Hope this helps add to the history file.

Warren Cook