Investigating the Past... with the
OAK LODGE HISTORY DETECTIVES
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

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


EVENTS CALENDAR

Upcoming Events

Discovering Your House's History Talk - 2024

Greetings!

Genealogy is a popular hobby in the U.S. - enjoyed by millions. But researching one's family history requires resources.

We in the Portland metro area are fortunate in that we have the Genealogical Forum of Oregon (GFO) library - chock full of resources to help us research our family history, not only in Oregon but nationwide. The GFO is hosting its annual Open House March 16th-24th - online and on site - complete with FREE classes.

GFO Open House

Of note will be an in-person presentation entitled "Discovering Your House's History" by yours truly on March 23rd at 3:00 at the GFO. This topic is by far the most asked "how to" question asked of libraries and historical societies. I gave it in Estacada and Gladstone last year, and have been asked to give it again twice this year - - - so far. This presentation will give you many suggestions as to how you might go about learning more about the history of your home. Registration is required for each of the online classes.

Follow the link above to see all of the available classes, and if you're interested in researching your house's history consider attending the March 23rd presentation. It's FREE!

presentation announcement

See you on March 23rd!

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives

Saturday
March 23, 2024
3:00 PM
Genealogical Forum of Oregon
2505 SE 11th Ave, Ste. B-18
Portland, OR

Past Events

Discovering Your House's History Talk

Greetings!

"What Can You Tell Me About My House's History" is the most frequently asked question received by the Oak Lodge History Detectives (OLHD). With well over 1,000 homes in the Oak Lodge area the answer is generally "not much". Our best advice is for curious homeowners to learn how to do it themselves and enjoy the discovery, using many available tools.

OLHD will be giving a talk on this subject on May 6th at the Estacada Public Library at 12:00 noon. It is open to all. You are welcome to join us for an educational afternoon.

presentation announcement

See you on May 6th!

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives

Thursday
May 6, 2023
12:00 noon
Estacada Public Library
825 NW Wade Street
Estacada, OR 97023
February 2023 OLHD Meeting

Greetings:

Not having met since October the Oak Lodge History Detectives will again be meeting on Thursday Feb. 9th, at 7:00 P.M.

This will be another opportunity for folks to renew their membership to OLHD, and purchase our new "Hooked on History" OLHD T-shirts. We'll also be announcing our recent grant from the Clackamas County Cultural Coalition (managed by the Clackamas County Arts Alliance) made possible by funding from the Oregon Cultural Trust.

There will be a one hour program entitled "Mystery Man of La Roche" presented during the meeting. Come and learn about an important, yet relatively unknown participant in our local history.

See you on February 9th!

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives

Thursday
Feb 9, 2023
7:00 pm
Concord School
3811 SE Concord Road
Upper Floor; N.W. corner room

OLHD Resumes In-person Meetings!

SAVE THE DATE! Oct. 13, 2022

After a 2 year hiatus of no in-person OLHD meetings because of Covid,
OLHD will FINALLY be meeting again on Oct. 13th, 2022 — at the historic Concord School.

Icon image of a brick school building

As the owner of the Concord complex the North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District (NCPRD) has begun scheduling the use of spaces within the historic school for use by community groups. OLHD has reserved a very nice room at the north end of the building, on the upper floor, for Oct. 13th and hopefully months after. This room will accommodate between 40 and 50 individuals, has a screen and ample electrical outlets, and even A/C if needed. And it is available for our usual meeting times from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Because OLHD suspended annual dues during the pandemic we will be accepting renewals at this meeting. So bring your checkbooks! Your contributions help support an organization dedicated to promoting the place and appreciation of local history in the Oak Lodge area.

We will also be making our new OLHD T-shirts available for sale. Proceeds from these shirts will support our latest "First Schools" initiative designed to place historic markers at the locations of Oak Lodge's first schools — in 1856 and 1866. You'll learn more about it at our meeting.

So, SAVE THE DATE of Oct. 13th and join us at Concord School to resume learning about Oak Lodge's fascinating history. We'll be sending out reminders, and more details, in the coming weeks.

We look forward to seeing you on Oct. 13th!

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives

Thursday
Oct 13, 2022
7:00 pm
Concord School
3811 SE Concord Road
Oak Grove

NO OLHD MEETINGS FOR A WHILE

Generally, in the past, OLHD has held its "Annual Meeting" in October. However, just like so many other things, Covid-19 has changed all that. For safety's sake we will not be holding an in-person meeting in October. In fact indications are that in-person gatherings may have to be delayed well into 2021. Thus you should not expect any in-person OLHD gatherings "until further notice". Possibly we could do online Zoom meetings - watch this space for details.
June 2020 OLHD Meeting -- Cancelled due to COVID-19

NO OLHD MEETING THIS MONTH

April 2020 OLHD Meeting -- Cancelled due to COVID-19

NO OLHD MEETING THIS MONTH

February 2020 OLHD Meeting

Greetings:

It's a new year, and OLHD will be meeting again — for the 99th time (including events) — to learn more about our area's history.

In addition to just a few updates we will be expanding on our knowledge of the Risley family history. Further research into information presented at our last two gatherings has revealed another family member, unknown until now, with a fascinating story.

Join us on Feb. 13th for the presentation "The Mysterious Mary E. Risley — An Exercise in Genealogical Research".

Minutes from our last meeting are posted on the OLHD website. As always renewals, new supporters, and donations will be accepted.

We look forward to seeing you on Feb. 13th!

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives

Thursday
Feb 13, 2020
7:00 pm
Oak Lodge Water Services Bldg.
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.
Oak Grove
December 2019 OLHD Meeting

Greetings:

As we race into the holiday season we shall meet one more time before year's end to satisfy our thirst for history.

In addition to just a few updates on history related things going on in the community we'll be complementing the Risley program we did in October with "Unraveling the origins of the Risley & Creighton Donation Land Claims" (or TRYING to) —— AND "La Roche – What's in the name?" (a working theory).

Scan of the heading for the Bylaws of the Laroche Library Association

As always membership renewals will be accepted, as will new memberships. The minutes from our last meeting will be posted on the OLHD website.

We look forward to seeing you on Dec. 12th!

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives

Thursday
Dec 12, 2019
7:00 pm
Oak Lodge Water Services Bldg.
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.
Oak Grove
October 2019 OLHD Meeting
October 2019 Annual Meeting

Greetings:

It is time for our OLHD annual meeting! This year's annual meeting is being delayed two weeks from the usual 2nd Thursday due to a trip planned by yours truly a year ago.

Our annual meetings are your opportunity to renew your support for OLHD by renewing your membership, and new members are always welcome. Our Treasurer and Membership Chair will be on hand to accept your cash or checks, so bring your checkbooks.

This is also the time of year when OLHD fills the Board vacancies for the coming year. This year all of the positions will be open for re-election or nomination (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Director at Large).

The June 2019 Minutes are available on the OLHD website.

We hope to keep the business portion of this meeting short, and in contrast we will be presenting:

THE RISLEYS ON THE WILLAMETTE
A 150 year history of Clackamas County's Risley Family

Photograph of Jacob Swain Risley including his signature

Presented by Michael G. Schmeer

We look forward to seeing you on Oct. 24th.

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives

Thursday
Oct 24, 2019
7:00 pm
Oak Lodge Water Services Bldg.
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.
Oak Grove
October 2019 OLHD Meeting

Greetings:

OLHD's usual "second Thursday" meeting in October (originally scheduled for Oct. 10th) — our "Annual Meeting" — has been re-scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 24th. The usual meeting room at the Oak Lodge Sanitary Services Bldg. has been reserved for 7:00 p.m.

This will be OLHD's "Annual Meeting" at which we select or re-elect our Board members and is an opportunity to renew your financial support for OLHD. We also tentatively plan on presenting "The Remarkable Risley's" - a history and genealogy of our local Risley family. This was a presentation given to the Oak Grove Garden Club several years ago, but never presented to OLHD.

So MARK YOUR CALENDARS - - - the Oct. 10th meeting has been changed to Oct. 24th!

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives

Thursday
Oct 24, 2019
7:00 pm
Oak Lodge Water Services Bldg.
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.
Oak Grove
June 2019 OLHD Meeting

Greetings:

This notice is a little later than usual — indicative of an exceedingly busy spring season.

This meeting will be our last meeting until our "annual meeting" in October. In addition to our regular business we will be doing some planning for the Oak Grove Trolley Trail Fest on Aug. 24th, and reviewing photos from our Naef/Stringfield/Superior Dairy collection for display at the Stringfield House in Stringfield Family Park.

You'll also hear updates on the Jennings Lodge Interpretive Sign, the Concord Task Force, OLHD preservation efforts, and progress toward OLHD becoming a 501(C)(3).

The unapproved minutes from our April meeting are here, ready for approval at our June meeting.

We look forward to seeing you on June 13th.

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives

Thursday
June 13, 2019
7:00 pm
Oak Lodge Water Services Bldg.
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.
Oak Grove
OAK LODGE HISTORY DETECTIVES
APRIL 2019 "SPECIAL" MEETING

Greetings:

Our April meeting will be an important meeting. We are calling it a "Special Meeting" in that our current bylaws specify that amendments to the bylaws can be voted on at a "Special Meeting" called for by the chair.

The OLHD board has voted to move forward with OLHD becoming a 501(c)3 tax exempt non-profit organization. Updating and clarifying our bylaws is a first step in that endeavor. As such we will be combining our regular April meeting with a "Special Meeting" for this purpose.

We'll also update our members with the latest history-related local activities, preservation legislation, and upcoming events that we might want to participate in.

This meeting will also provide an opportunity for individuals to renew their membership with OLHD. Individuals need to be up to date with their membership in order to vote at this meeting. Our OLHD Membership Chair maintains a database for this purpose, and those memberships that have expired should have received a reminder notice recently.

We look forward to seeing you on April 11th.

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives

Thursday
April 11, 2019
7:00 pm
Oak Lodge Water Services Bldg.
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.
Oak Grove
February 2019 OLHD Meeting

Greetings:

It's been a while since OLHD has had the opportunity to meet. But weather, and health permitting, we will again meet on Valentine's Day - a romantic opportunity for you and your sweetheart :-)

I'm attaching our Nov. 2018 OLHD Minutes for your review. Please take a moment to look them over prior to our Feb. 14th meeting.

This month we'll be catching up on history-related Oak Lodge news, learning about historic Clackamas County schools from Richard Craven of the Clackamas County Family History Society, and seeing some of the newest additions to our digital archives from the Naef family.

Join us on Feb. 14th as we continue to investigate and preserve Oak Lodge history.

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives

NO OLHD MEETING THIS MONTH

Greetings:

Due to a variety of reasons OLHD will not be meeting in December. As agreed to by the membership earlier this year OLHD will be meeting the 2nd Thursday of the following months in 2019 - - - watch for announcements prior to each scheduled meeting for any changes:

  • February 14th
  • April 11th
  • June 13th
  • October 10th
  • December 12th

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives