We were saddened to receive news on the loss of Bill Warner, someone who was passionate and committed to the preservation of Lake Oswego history, supported endless community endeavors, and left such a positive impact throughout his life. Because of Bill Warner, we were able to make Lake Oswego history more accessible than ever, and we are all the better for his presence. 

To quote Dr. Stephen Beckham, "Bill Warner was a marvelous positive thinker and a man committed to his community. He was a stalwart for years in support of the Oswego Heritage Council. He was ever ready to serve on a committee and share his wise advice. He was a businessman who shared his time and resources for the benefit of all of us who live here. He will be missed." 

We hope to honor his memory at the Heritage House and are incredibly grateful to have known him. 

Kathryn Sinor
Executive Director

There's still time to support Oswego Heritage for Giving Tuesday! 

Join as a member or renew your membership between now and December 28th for the chance to win a gift certificate to the OHC Gift Shop, where you can find some incredible gifts for the holiday season! 

If you want to support us in other ways, consider: 

• Following us on social media 
• Visiting the museum with your friends or family
• Signing up to volunteer
• Donating directly to archival projects 

Vote NOW for the theme of our next photo exhibit. This mini-exhibit will pull from historic photographs within our collection and be set-up in our community meeting space.

Possible themes include:

 Industry (logging, railroad, iron)

 Recreational activities

 Agriculture

 Around town (businesses, houses, streets, etc.)

A brief update on our project with the Lake Oswego Public Library on their historical collection!

This incredible partnership has allowed OHC to work with new volunteers on organizing and cataloguing thousands of photographs, documents, and more. With the bulk of the preservation work accomplished, we are now in our next stage: INDEXING.

Indexing allows us to build a navigable list of what's in a group of items. Instead of researchers digging through thousands of photographs, the index will allow them to understand at a glance what they'll find. This incredibly useful tool means that the LOPL historical collection will soon be easier to navigate!

AND THAT'S NOT ALL...

Once we're done with the LOPL collection, we'll be working on our own! These indexes will be available on our website so that you can see, in depth, the items we have in our archives. A great tool for researchers and the curious alike!

The museum will be closed to the public: 

December 7th and 8th

December 27th through January 1st

January 3rd through 5th

We apologize for the inconvenience and look forward to seeing you in the new year!

The peg from Oswego's peg tree has come home! 

The Peg Tree is the survivor of a stand of fir trees that once lined Furnace Street down to the Iron Company Furnace. The magnificent row provided a natural park but was mostly cut down by order of the county road supervisor in the late 1800s.

The Peg Tree provided a gathering place for the residents of early Oswego. Hanging a lantern from a wooden peg to provide lighting, community members set up roughhewn benches and conducted business under the branches. Adam Randolph Shipley provided religious instruction at the site from 1852 onwards, and the Oswego Grange #175 would be built there in 1890, serving as a school during the week, a meeting place on Saturdays, and a Methodist Church on Sundays. The Peg Tree has seen generations of Oswego history and remains growing today.

The original peg that hung in the Peg Tree will soon be on permanent display in the Oswego Heritage Museum. 

Do you know a teacher? 

We have new resources available on our website for educators teaching local history. There is downloadable curriculum, best for 2nd - 4th graders, to discover the ways in which their local community has changed over time. We are also now accepting applications for free classroom visits with a Then & Now program. Get involved today, and share with the educators in your life!