In this edition: Century Home book display, Crystal Steele, Remembering Vlasta Nora Becvar Barber, Fanno Creek Trail History Walk, The Life and Times of Ross Fogelquist and His Steiner Log House, Old Market Pub fire and re-opening, 1964 Alpenrose Country Fair Souvenir Program
Welcome to our website about
historic Garden Home. In the
People and
Places pages, you’ll find well over two hundred stories, and over two thousand photos of vintage Garden Home and residents attending our events. To receive the free newsletter and email Updates, contact us at
GardenHomeHistory@gmail.com or call Elaine Shreve at 503-246-5879 or Esta Mapes at 503-246-5758 or Stan Houseman at 503-679-3691.
History Display Case at the Garden Home Library
2022-07-07 History display cabinet of Century Home books
These books related to home history are displayed in our History Case in the Garden Home Library. They are of particular interest to owners of older homes and to persons searching for history of their properties. Several books show the display of Sears Roebuck Homes which could be ordered in complete detail for the homeowner to put together. A brief summary and sample page are included for the books displayed.
Three of the books are already in the Library system:
- A Field Guide to American Houses
- Where We Lived
- Discovering the History of Your House
In August, the Library will review several of the books for inclusion in their collection. They will be available through all of the Washington County libraries:
- The Bungalow Book
- Small Houses of the Forties
- Small Houses of the Twenties with the Sears
- Roebuck 1926 House Catalog
- 1000 Turn-of-the-Century Houses and Floor Plans
- 1947 issue of LIFE magazine showing the pieces of a pre-fab home
Thank you to Virginia Vanture for her donation of these books to the Garden Home History Project.
Crystal Steele
Crystal Steele and street sign
Ever wonder where the street names come from? In this current photo, Crystal Steele is pointing to the street sign with her name on SW 87th Ave. Interestingly, there is only a foot path where the street should be. She was the youngest of the Steele children who grew up in the house which was at 8085 S.W. Westgard in the early 20th Century. Read Jack Steele’s story on our website.
Remembering Vlasta Nora Becvar Barber
Vlasta Becvar Barber 2010
Vlasta Becvar Barber at the Washington County Museum exhibit featuring her life story, 2018
Vlasta Becvar, December 1934, Occidental Ave. 76th
1938 Czech National Dances, Ted Jensen, Vlasta Becvar, Lloyd Knudsen
Becvar girls and others
May 18, 1939, Garden Home School graduation. Prinicipal Edward T. Taggart and Vlasta Becvar. Courtesy Vlasta Becvar Barber.
See post.
Vlasta Nora Barber, age 95, of Tigard, Oregon passed away on Thursday, May 12, 2022. Vlasta was born December 7, 1926 in Maplewood, Oregon. Vlasta attended Garden Home School. Read our article about Vlasta.
Fanno Creek Trail History Walk
We thank a number of our residents for their assistance in researching history for our two HISTORY WALKS along the Fanno Creek Trail in May and June. We have worked with the Garden Home Library’s Heather Waisanen to develop the plan and handle the registration procedures. Elaine Shreve researched and wrote the script and Elaine and Heather were the leaders. Tom Shreve, our webmaster, began the second walk. Jan Fredrickson, Kevin Mistler, and Stan Houseman assisted with the history. Watch the Library website for the date and registration for the next walk.
Elaine guiding the Fanno Creek Trail history walk, May 2022
Jan Fredrickson describing Firlock Station on the Fanno Creek Trail history walk, May 2022
Original train bridge supports over Fanno Creek
The Life and Times of Ross Fogelquist and His Steiner Log House
The spectacular book, The Life and Times of Ross Fogelquist and His Steiner Log House, is available at the Nordia House gift store on Oleson Road! Beautiful colored photos on every page, a history of this remarkable person here in Garden Home.
The Life and Times of Ross Fogelquist and His Steiner Log House
Old Market Pub fire and re-opening
The historic Old Market Pub has re-opened after the building suffered a kitchen fire and extensive smoke damage on March 28, 2022. The fire propelled them into a major reorganization, painting and repairs of the popular Pub at the convergence of Multnomah Boulevard and Garden Home Road.
We plan to have an event in the back room when it is available. Pizza and drinks! Presenting Garden Home of the early 1900s, rail station, Red store, Cannery, then Whitneys, Comellas, and finally the Old Market Pub!
Old Market Pub and Brewery
1964 Alpenrose Country Fair Souvenir Program
We recently received a fabulous 1964 Alpenrose Country Fair Souvenir Program, all the way from Hawaii, thanks to Cheryl Ames. She hated to throw it away. We hope that you’ll also offer us some unique Garden Home treasures when you clean house. We’ll do more of the Alpenrose story later this year. If you know any of the people currently working on this, please let me know. Visit our story on the history of Alpenrose to see the whole program.
1964 Alpenrose Country Fair – page 1
Remember!
Garden Home baseball team in the Sunset Basebase League. Uncle Duke Scherner (right front), Uncle Carl Rehberg (left rear) and Albert Erickson (center).
Courtesy Don Smith. See post.
1935 or 1936 Garden Home baseball team of the Sunset League.Front row (L to R): Jim Butler, Walt Niebert, Jim Smith, _________, Cece Daimler, Don Steele, Al Drake. Bat boy in front: Bob Tetrick.Back row: Glenn Steele, Bob Steele, Sid Ralston, Cliff Duval, _______Werschkul, Noble Stephens (Clark Stephens dad, manager), _________, Milt Drake, Stan Hall. Courtesy Clark Stephens. See post.
Late 1920s Garden Home baseball team. #1 Duke Scherner in back.
Courtesy Don Smith. See post.
Even though our attention has been focused on the Track and Field World Championships in Eugene this summer, baseball was the major summer sport in early Garden Home. See our stories about Clark Stephens and Don Smith for more details.
Discover Garden Home!
History Bulletin Board at Wormwood Manor
Discover the history bulletin board on SW 78th Ave. and the Fanno Creek Trail. The bulletin board is adjacent to Wormwood Manor and is maintained by Jan Fredrickson and Kevin Mistler. You’ll find the latest Gazette newsletter, brochures, and other history information.
Get Involved
Our Board of Directors continues their monthly meetings, second Mondays at 4:15 in our homes. 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 Elaine 503-246-5879, or Esta 503-246-5758.
John Pacella, Susan and Stan Houseman, Jan Fredrickson, Kevin Mistler March 2022
Sharon Vedder, Esta Mapes, Elaine Shreve, Marie Pacella March 2022
Historic Garden Home street sign
Historic Garden Home street signs: We currently have about over 40 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 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. 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.
GardenHomeHistory.com 