Investigating the Past... with the
OAK LODGE HISTORY DETECTIVES

We are curious about local history —
and we think you are too!

EVENTS CALENDAR 2013

Past Events from 2013

December 2013 Meeting

The holiday season is upon us and we are all getting busy decorating and shopping, while trying to keep one step ahead of the winter weather. Even so, it's nice to allow ourselves some "me time" to continue studying our fascinating local history.

Our December meeting will not only include our usual business, but for our History Segment we will be watching one or two of our 2011 interviews of local residents. Having watched a few of these now I am repeatedly amazed at how rich they are with historical information pertaining to our local area - straight from people that lived it. So bring your notepads along so you can jot down items of interest. You won't be disappointed.

Join us Dec. 12th and treat yourself to a taste of our local history!

Thursday
Dec. 12, 2013
7:00 pm
Oak Lodge Water District Offices
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.
Oak Grove
November 2013 Meeting

Our November 2013 meeting will include the usual business that needs to be addressed. But in addition, the history segment will consist of one hour devoted to the presentation "Jennings Lodge - A Brief Overview 1840-1910" by the Jennings Lodge Subcommittee of OLHD.

This presentation was given to the Jennings Lodge Community Planning Organization on Oct. 22nd and was favorably received. During this presentation you will learn how the Jennings Lodge community evolved from three sparsely settled land claims to a thriving community called 'home' by several noteworthy local residents - and how several of the area's streets got their names.

Please join us on November 14th and learn more about our local history!

Thursday
Nov. 14, 2013
7:00 pm
Oak Lodge Water District Offices
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.
Oak Grove
October 2013 Meeting

Summer is over, the rains have returned right on schedule, and we are all starting to retreat indoors more. It is time to resume studying our local history.

In addition to our routine business, a check of the OLHD bylaws indicates that it is time to hold an "Annual Meeting". The by-laws stipulate that "An annual meeting of the members shall take place in the month of October, the specific date, time and location of which will be designated by the chair. At the annual meeting the members shall elect board officers, receive reports on the activities of the association, and determine the direction of the association for the coming year".

Thus, this October meeting will constitute our "Annual Meeting". The by-laws stipulate that "All board members shall serve two-year terms, but are eligible for re-election for up to five consecutive terms". Our last election was in January 2011, a little over two years ago. So please be thinking of names to nominate for the offices of Chair, Co-chair, Secretary and Treasurer — and CONSIDER RUNNING YOURSELF. The success of any organization depends on having good people run it.

For our "History Segment" OLHD Chair Mike Schmeer will give an informal presentation about the Rupert family and the Isabelle Rupert house.

Please join us on October 10th for another glimpse into our area's past.

Thursday
October 10, 2013
7:00 pm
Oak Lodge Water District Offices
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.
Oak Grove
September 2013 Meeting/Field Trip

On September 14th several members of the Oak Lodge History Detectives visited the Isabelle Rupert house at the invitation of owners Gary and Pascale Steig.

Photo of the Isabelle Rupert House, taken on Saturday September 14th, 2013 Photo of OLHD members and host Pascale Steig standing in fron of the Isabelle Rupert House, Saturday September 14th, 2013

Built about 1903 by Isabelle Rupert, this house was the home of Isabelle and her parents Joseph A. and Sarah Rupert, and was recently designated a historic landmark by Clackamas County. Pascale gave our group a complete tour of her home, which still has a great many of its original features. We are most grateful to the Steigs for having been given the opportunity to see the house.

Field trips such as this are one of the benefits of becoming a member of OLHD. Contact us if you are interested in joining.

Saturday
Sept 14, 2013
11:30 am
Isabelle Rupert House
2323 S.E. Creighton Ave.
Oak Grove
June 2013 Meeting

This month we will be joined by Mandy Zelinka, creator of the Milwaukie Rules website, and her co-presenter Greg/Frank Hemer who will be speaking about the Milwaukie Historical Society and its relationship to Milwaukie history and the Milwaukie Museum.

We will also hear about the June 1st Videography Workshop attended by Mike Schmeer and Baldwin Van der Bijl — and if time permits, we'll view another video from our 2011 Resident Interviews Program.

Please join us on June 13th for another glimpse into our area's past.

Thursday
June 13, 2013
7:00 pm
Oak Lodge Water District Offices
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.
Oak Grove
May 2013 Meeting

Besides our routine business at our next meeting Susan Malmquist will be our guest speaker from the Oregon Historical Society.

Susan is an OHS docent and will be presenting information on the OHS programs and services they offer. If you have questions about how to do research at OHS this might be a great opportunity to get them answered. If time permits we will view another video from our 2011 Resident Interviews Program.

Please join us on May 9th for another glimpse into our area's past.

Thursday
May 9, 2013
7:00 pm
Oak Lodge Water District Offices
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.
Oak Grove
April 2013 Meeting

In addition to our regular business, our next meeting will allow for ample time to view portions of the videos made from several of our 2011 Resident Interviews Program. Though the process of retrieving all the interview videos is not yet complete we do have many of them.

Time will not allow us to watch all of any one interview but you will be able to get the flavor of the quality and rich nature these interviews have. As OLHD poises to resume this program you will see what a treasure these are.

Please join us on April 11th for another glimpse into our area's past.

Thursday
April 11, 2013
7:00 pm
Oak Lodge Water District Offices
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.
Oak Grove
March 2013 Meeting

Besides our routine business the history segment for our next meeting will be focused on the evolution of our area from a small number of widely scattered pioneers to a more organized neighborhood of farmers, businesses, and social enterprises that supported the lives of our early residents—a discussion led by our ace historian Pat Kennedy.

A Case for Naming Concord as the Oak Lodge Area's First "Neighborhood"

In the 1840s and '50s when settlers first arrived on the local scene, the name "Concord" was not on the tip of anyone's tongue. In fact, it was not until almost 50 years later (1890) that William Starkweather proposed adoption of the name of his Massachusetts' hometown as the name of the area's newly built third school — located on what would become known as Concord Road.

Join us in digging for evidence that supports — or mitigates against — the thesis that today's Concord area was yesteryear's first local neighborhood. We'll explore ways neighborhoods take shape in general — looking at models past and present — then zoom into the 1850s when a neighborhood began to emerge in this sparsely settled bend of the river in pre-Territorial Oregon Country. In the case of Concord, what factors prevented this early neighborhood from developing into the core of a town? — and what influences acted to form neighborhoods that followed in the Oak Lodge area?

Please join us on March 14th for another glimpse into our area's past, and share an opportunity to contribute to, and learn more about how we got "from there to here". All are welcome!

Thursday
March 14, 2013
7:00 pm
Oak Lodge Water District Offices
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.
Oak Grove
February 2013: History Detectives at Milwaukie Elks "Happening"

On February 24th, 2013 the Oak Lodge History Detectives participated in the Milwaukie Elks "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive—A Happening" held at the Milwaukie Elks Lodge on McLoughlin Blvd.

Over 1,000 people passed by our display to enjoy a host of fun activities, entertainment, charitable opportunities, food, and a tour of the facility.

Photo of members Baldwin van der Bijl and Mike Schmeer at OLHD booth in the Milwaukie Elks Lodge Photo of member Punky Scott standing in front of a history display at the OLHD booth in the Milwaukie Elks Lodge

(L to R: OLHD Members Baldwin van der Bijl, Mike Schmeer, and Punky Scott)

A huge THANK YOU to Pat Kennedy for making a spectacular photo display and supplying other props, to Lisa Bentley for her binders on Jennings Lodge School history and Jennings Lodge general history, to Thelma Haggenmiller for the invite, and to Pat, Lisa, Mollie McKeown and Baldwin van der Bijl for helping to "man" the booth. In terms of exposure it was a great success.

Sunday
Feb 24, 2013
7:00-9:00 pm
Elks Lodge #2032
13121 SE McLoughlin Blvd.
Oak Lodge
February 2013 Meeting

Now that Chairman Mike Schmeer has had a chance to rest from the holiday madness, a December genealogy class, a December meeting, and 10 days of babysitting the grandchildren, it's time to resume the fascinating process of researching our local history.

Our next meeting will be on Valentines Day evening, at the Oak Lodge Water District offices. In addition to our regular business, the evening's "fun segment" will be An Examination of the Jacob S. Risley Probate. Risley died in 1902 and his will and probate are on file at the Oregon State Archives. We will examine the probate closely, gaining insights into what sorts of business dealings he was involved in, who some of the players were, and "who got what".

Please join us on February 14th for another glimpse into our area's past.

Thursday
Feb 14, 2013
7:00 pm
Oak Lodge Water District Offices
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.
Oak Grove
Other Past Events