Jordan Winthrop

THURSDAY OCT. 9TH
7:00 P.M.

OAK LODGE WATER DISTRICT OFFICES
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.

Greetings Detectives:

It’s been a long, warm summer. But fall has arrived, the rains are coming, and our travel, outdoor recreation and yard activities are subsiding. If you’re like me it’s been a very busy summer with our passion for history having to take a back seat to all those summer activities. Now it’s time to satisfy some of those history cravings again.

This month’s meeting will primarily be catch-up time. We’ll review where we left off in June, find out what’s been happening in our community over the summer months, and learn what’s on tap for November.

Please join us on Oct. 9th !

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives

THURSDAY JUNE 12th
7:00 P.M.

OAK LODGE WATER DISTRICT OFFICES
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.

Greetings Detectives:

At our last meeting we enjoyed viewing the OLHD interview with Nancy Hersey, daughter of Harvey Starkweather who was a well-known and highly respected member of this community.

Though we have more interviews to watch, yours truly no longer has access to a projector. So I will need to purchase one before we can view another interview or view images we have acquired. Thus our June meeting will be a combination of business and an open forum.

This meeting will be our last until September, as we usually take a break in the summer months. However, we will try to schedule a field trip or two during the summer break while the weather is good. So stay tuned for those.

Please join us on June 12th and find out what local history has been unearthed over the last month, learn about upcoming events, and help plan a couple summer history outings.

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives

THURSDAY MAY 8th
7:00 P.M.

OAK LODGE WATER DISTRICT OFFICES
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.

Greetings Detectives:

At our last meeting we viewed, and were entertained by, the 2011 interview with the Briggs sisters – Enid Briggs and Adele Wilder, descendants of the Milwaukie/Oak Grove Birkemeier family.

Our May meeting will be conducted by OLHD Co-Chairman Baldwin Van der Bijl, and for the history segment we have arranged to view our 2011 interview with Nancy Hersey. Nancy is a daughter of Harvey Starkweather who was a well-known and highly respected member of this community from his birth here in 1868 until his death in 1951. He was the son of Oregon pioneers William A. Starkweather and Eliza Gordon and married Alice Risley in 1894 – the daughter of pioneers Jacob S. Risley and Mary S. Scholl. Harvey was renowned as an educator, local politician, historian and farmer. Nancy’s knowledge of these families and their impact on our local history is unparalleled.

Nancy’s family history reads like an Oregon history textbook and her own life experiences are fascinating. You won’t want to miss this first-hand account of some of our local history.

Please join us on May 8th!

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives

THURSDAY APRIL 10th
7:00 P.M.

OAK LODGE WATER DISTRICT OFFICES
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.

Greetings Detectives:

At our last meeting we enjoyed a video presentation by trolley enthusiast and Oak Grove resident Keith Stephenson, during which we were treated to two hours of historic footage of Portland trolleys. Due to a lack of adequate time the slide presentation which we had prepared for that meeting has been postponed until one of our fall meetings, at which time Keith has agreed to return.

For our April meeting, in addition to our regular business, our History Segment will feature our 2011 interview with the Briggs Sisters – Enid Briggs and Adele Wilder, descendants of the Milwaukie/ Oak Grove Briggs and Birkemeier families.

As always, OLHD membership renewals will gladly be accepted at this meeting. Membership dues is what allows us to purchase supplies, the badly needed interview equipment, and interview transcriptions.

Join us April 10th and treat yourself to another taste of our local history!

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives

THURSDAY MAR 13th
7:00 P.M.

OAK LODGE WATER DISTRICT OFFICES
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.

Greetings Detectives:

This month’s meeting will be devoted almost entirely to a presentation by Oak Grove resident and trolley enthusiast Keith Stephenson who will be presenting “A History of the Portland Traction Company”.

In addition to his collection of trolley memorabilia Keith will be showing slides and videos of many of the trolleys that served the Portland area during the trolley era. An avid member of the Oregon Electric Railway Society and former volunteer at the Oregon Electric Railway Museum, Keith will be sharing with us his vast knowledge of our once thriving electric railway system.

Join us on March 13th.  You won’t want to miss it!

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives

THURSDAY FEB 13th
7:00 P.M.

OAK LODGE WATER DISTRICT OFFICES
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.

Greetings Detectives:

At our last meeting in January we watched the OLHD interview with Bob Moore and his wife Charlie – owners of Bob’s Red Mill. Conducted by our own Punky Scott of the Bomber Restaurant I think we were all agreed that it was a terrific interview.

On February 13th we will view another of the interviews we did in 2011. So bring along your notepads and pencils, and poise yourselves for another great glimpse into our local history through the eyes of someone that’s lived here most of their life.

Join us Feb. 13th and treat yourself to another taste of our local history!

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives

THURSDAY JAN. 9th
7:00 P.M.

OAK LODGE WATER DISTRICT OFFICES
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.

Greetings and Happy New Year:

Well, we’ve made it to another year.  2013 was a great year for discovering some of our local history, and 2014 will no doubt prove to be just as fruitful.  At our next meeting we will be enjoying another of our 2011 interviews of local residents. As we ease into conducting more interviews these earlier ones remind us what treasures we have in our midst.

Join us Jan 9th and treat yourself to another taste of our local history!

Mike Schmeer,
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives

THURSDAY DEC. 12TH
7:00 P.M.

OAK LODGE WATER DISTRICT OFFICES
14496 S.E. River Rd. @ Maple St.

Greetings Detectives:

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!

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives

THURSDAY NOV 14TH
7:00 P.M.

OAK LODGE WATER DISTRICT OFFICES
14496 S.E. RIVER RD. @ Maple St.

Greetings Detectives:

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.

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

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives

THURSDAY OCT 10TH
7:00 P.M.

OAK LODGE WATER DISTRICT OFFICES
14496 S.E. RIVER RD. @ Maple St.

Greetings Detectives:

Summer is over, the rains have returned right on schedule, and we’re all starting to retreat indoors more. It’s 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 Jan. 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” yours truly will give an informal presentation about the Rupert family and the Isabelle Rupert house.

See you October 10th!

Mike Schmeer
Chairman, Oak Lodge History Detectives