Oak Grove Beach/Park Opens 1913
At the foot of today’s Oak Grove Blvd and the Willamette River – north side.
Oak Grove
The Oak Grove town site was first platted in 1890 from the original Creighton and Crow donation land claims (DLCs) of the 1840s and 1850s.
Water District Created in Oak Lodge 1922
Voters overwhelmingly approve the creation of the Oak Lodge Water District – a name combining the names of Oak Grove and Jennings Lodge. Voters approved the formation of a Sanitary District later, in 1956.
Super 99 Highway Completed 1934
Celebration in Milwaukie took place Dec. 7, 1934 to commemorate the completion of the Super Highway (McLoughlin Blvd) between Portland and Oregon City.
Oak Grove Fire Station 1944
Oak Lodge area gets its first fire house – a wood framed building on Oak Ave. at East Ave. It was built on property purchased from the Skoog family.
The Bomber Arrives in Oak Grove 1947
Art Lacey purchases a WWII B-17 and transports it to the west side of the Super Highway in Oak Grove on June 30, 1947. It is moved a block further north in 1967. It remained a local landmark for over 60 years.
The Bomber Arrives in Oak Grove 1947
Art Lacey purchases a WWII B-17 bomber and erects it on a lot on the Super Highway north of Courtney. Dedication ceremony was July 27, 1947.
Trolley Service Ends 1959
Oregonian newspaper documents the last run of “Old No. 4012”, ending the trolley service between Portland and Oregon City. Article dated June 23, 1959.
Fred Meyer Store Opens 1960
The Fred Meyer store opens in Oak Grove, forever altering the business dynamics in the community. Celebration at the new store, with Fred Meyer himself, was on July 14, 1960.
Oak Lodge Community Council 1977
OLCC (OLCPO a community planning organization) was formed as a community planning organization in 1977 in response to state legislation that named citizen participation as Goal 1 in Oregon’s ground-breaking statutes. At its formation it adopted the same label as the overlapping service districts in the area – namely the Oak Lodge Water District and […]
Jacob Risley House, Feb. 20, 2012
In 1885, Jacob Risley builds a new home on the “farm” for his family. As the Willamette River was then the primary mode of transportation, the main entrance to the house faced the river. Location of Jacob Risley’s new house was 16031 SE River Road [codepeople-post-map]
Oak Grove Aerial Photo 2008
Oak Grove History – The Bee News Oct 2024 Part 1
German Methodist Church
The Oak Grove German Methodist Church originated in Milwaukie. But in 1894 they purchased property on the S.W. corner of River Rd. & Courtney Ave. on property they had purchased in 1890. On July 31, 1913, the Oregon City Courier reported that the church building was under construction.
Oak Grove Camp (German Methodist)
German Methodist Camp Plat 1894
Located at the S.W. corner of River Rd. & Courtney Ave. the plat consisted of about 7.3 acres. Parts of it were sold immediately after its purchase. The theory that the camp extended all the way down to the Willamette River has yet to be supported by evidence.