Do you know what building is on the right,
near the old City Hall in 1966?
Stay tuned to the end of the newsletter to find out more!
This City Hall was built 100 years ago in 1926 on the corner of A Avenue and 1st Street! Previously, the City Hall had been in a few different locations, such as the Koehler house and Oswego Theater. It would move to one more location in 1987 before opening in 2021 at its current location. To the right, there is a building of equal importance to a city... Can you guess what it is?
Thank you to all those who made our exhibit opening such a wonderful event! After months of hard work, it was amazing to see people walking through our newly renovated space, talking to each other about local history, and connecting it to their own lives. History, especially the history of places you see every day and the people who lived there, can be a powerful force for understanding!
Some of my favorite comments came from people who have lived here for decades and still learned something new. It was also such a wonderful experience to have some of the people highlighted in the new exhibit and/or their families visit! History isn't just the past; it's the now too, and what better way to show that?
If you haven't visited our museum since the renovation, stop by during open hours! Our new timeline display will be our permanent display, but we still plan to have a smaller, rotating exhibit every 6-8 months.
Kathryn Sinor
Executive Director
WANT A SNEAK PEAK OF OUR 2025 ANNUAL REPORT BEFORE OUR ANNUAL MEMBER MEETING?
INTERESTED IN THE FULL THING?
You are welcome to join our Annual Member Meeting on Saturday, February 21st, from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM! While only our members have voting authority, this meeting is open to the public. We'll review how OHC did in 2025, what we're planning in 2026, and more! Special guest Dr. Jennifer Schiele, superintendent of the Lake Oswego School District, will open the meeting with a brief talk about the school district.
This month, our archives team is highlighting the Wilmot-Carman family. With a recent influx of new items in our collection, including the marriage certificate between Richard B. Wilmot and Mary L. Carman and love letters between the couple, we're able to fill in some of the gaps of the family's history.
This ornate certificate records the wedding of Richard B. Wilmot and Mary L. Carman at the Carman residence on April 19, 1874, witnessed by friends and neighbors.
Among the Wilmot-Carman letters is a handwritten love letter, by Mary L. Carman to Richard B. Wilmot, dated November 7th, 1876, written in warm, flowing ink. In it, Mary shares the rhythms of home life—returning from her work at the Springbrook School, washday chores, and making mince pie—while confessing, “Words cannot express how very much pleased I was when, on my arrival at home last Friday evening, I found your dear letter waiting for me.”
If you have historic photographs from Lake Oswego, including its early residents, we'd love to see them! They may be used in an upcoming project. You don't have to gift them to our archives; we'd be happy to scan them and return them to you. Reach out to us by responding to this newsletter, emailing director@oswegoheritage.org, or giving us a call at (503) 635-6373.
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JOIN US ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH, AT 5:30 PM FOR MEMORY, HISTORY, AND THE ENDURING POWER OF PLACE
Dede Montgomery is a sixth-generation Oregonian and long-time West Linn resident. She is a thoughtful and introspective author whose work weaves personal narrative, historical reflection, literary fiction, and social awareness into the books and blogs she publishes.
In this talk, Dede will share stories from her books, photographs, and family archives, weaving together her deep personal and historical ties to Wilsonville and Lake Oswego, the Willamette River, and the broader Willamette Valley. Join her on this journey through memory, history, and the enduring power of place and story.
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INTERESTED IN THIS SEASON'S CHAUTAUQUA LINE-UP?
February 4th: Memory, History, and the Enduring Power of Place by author Dede Montgomery
March 4th: The Oswego Pioneer Cemetery by Courtney Clements and Angie Baker
April 1st: Living on Cascadia: Are We Ready for the Big One? by Professor Scott Burns
May 6th: Porch Time: Home Life and Leisure in the Early 20th Century by Kay Demlow
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Do you figure out what building is on the right,
near the old City Hall in 1966?
THE LAKE OSWEGO FIRE STATION!
Here is a closer look at the building. The sign reads "Police & Fire Dept." Did you know we actually have a Fire Department collection in our archives? 39 boxes of photographs, directories, reports, and more!
