In this edition: Rich and Charold Baer rose garden in Garden Home, and Ernest and Melba Cook.

Hello to our Garden Home History Friends – Spring is here with its lovely sun and of course, a few days of rain to help the beautiful flowers. Our UPDATE this month features a lovely rose garden for you to visit here in Garden Home. See the Rich and Charold Baer story. Also thanks to Louise Cook Jones for the story of one of our earliest families, her parents Ernest and Melba Cook.

Now, we’re waiting for your story! Let us know, we can help develop it.  GardenHomeHistory@gmail.com.

Sunday, June 2nd Garden Home Meet & Greet

Come join us Sunday, June 2nd at the Old Market Pub & Brewery 3 to 5 pm for free pizza!

Sunday, June 2nd Garden Home Meet and Greet

Rich and Charold Baer rose garden in Garden Home

Peace Rose Stamp – Rich Baer

Rich and Charold have each been president of the Portland Rose Society twice. They have served in many different leadership positions with the Rose Society and Charold was a Director with the Rose Festival Foundation for 13 years, during which time she served as Assistant Treasurer, Treasurer and Vice President. Rich’s rose photos have appeared in many rose industry catalogues, rose textbooks and of course in the annual 2024 Rose calendar with 12 fabulous photos. Charold was knighted in 1998 by the Royal Rosarians under the rose Sheer Elegance and Rich was knighted in 1999 under the rose Silver Lining.

Rich and Charold welcome visitors to their rose garden. Cameras are also welcome but no clippers, please! Each rose is waiting for the perfect time for one of Rich’s photos. They keep a set of small flags that each visitor can take along on their visit to the roses. When you place the flag at your favorite rose, Rich will chart the flags later to find the most favorite roses over the summer. The roses are just leafing out now, in March, and Rich suggests that we use our tax date, April 15, for the first application of about a half cup of fertilizer, for local roses.

Read more about the notable Rich and Charold Baer rose garden in Garden Home

Ernest and Melba Cook

Ernest and Melba Cook

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

Louise (Cook) Jones submitted her memoir about her parents, Ernest and Melba Cook.

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.

Read more about Ernest and Melba Cook, one of the earliest families in Garden Home.

Remember Garden Home!

May 18 is Armed Forces Day to honor all of our citizens who have served in the military. It is also the month to remember and honor our friends and families who have passed on. Visit the cemetery or create a nice Memorial bouquet in your yard.

See November 10, 2018 Veteran’s Day Honors.

Gerry Frank (veteran)

Don Dunbar (veteran and former principal of Garden Home elementary school)

Bob Feldman (veteran)

Harry Pinniger (veteran)

Discover Garden Home!

Notice all of the lovely spring blooms! What a privilege to live in the Northwest!

Spring blooming in Garden Home

Oregon Grape along the Fanno Creek Trail

Red Bud Trees at Dentist on Garden Home Road

Volunteer and make friends

New people might enjoy research, interviews, visiting special Garden Home sites, write stories for the website, doing the History corner displays, and so much more! Call Patsy VandeVenter at 503-245-2821 or Esta Mapes at 503-246-5758. Board meetings 4:30-6:00 pm on the second Monday of the month.

Stay safe and well, from all of our volunteer dedicated Board of Directors: Patsy VandeVenter, Mickey Lindsay, 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