Which future American president saved the lives of Waters Carman and two other young men in 1831?
Stay tuned to the end of the newsletter to find out more!
After his first wife died and his business went bankrupt, Waters Carman left his children with his father and joined the California gold rush in 1849. Without much luck, he moved to Oregon and became a border in the household of Albert Durham, founder of Oswego.
He worked in Durham's lumbermill on Sucker Creek (Oswego Creek) for a short time before marrying widow Lucretia Allyn Gurney and building a house on their donation land claim. This house is still the oldest existing house in Lake Oswego today.
But before he came west, Waters Carman was living in Illinois, which is where this incident took place.
Each year, we present the C. Herald Campbell award to someone (or a group of someones) who exemplify the Oswego Heritage Council's mission to preserve and promote local history. We were excited to present it to Lake Oswego High School's History Bowl Club for the hard work their students have put toward the Heritage House.
The club has done all sorts for us: spread dirt in the garden, decorated and cleaned the house, set-up and tore-down exhibits, transcribed documents, and even acted as ghosts from the archives for our Halloween event.
The award was accepted by co-presidents of the club, Kai Plumbo and Jake Brenden. Kai joined our board a few months ago, so you'll likely see him around! If you do, make sure to congratulate him on the award.
Kathryn Sinor Executive Director
CHECK OUT OUR 2025 ANNUAL REPORT!
Recently, longtime supporter Joe Smith donated this scythe, pictured in the c. 1938 photo of Donald Meyer (son of Clara and Don Meyer, great grandson of Waters Carman) harvesting field grass. The Meyer family was a dairy farming family living at the intersection of Atwater Lane and Atwater Road. Donald Meyer was a good friend of the Tedrow and Smith families until his death in 1997, which is how the scythe came to be in Joe's possession.
Joe wrote, "As I was salvaging some wood from the attic, I saw this wood handle and when I pulled it out, it became a scythe. I suspected it was Donald's Scythe because he was the only person in our neighborhood who ever used one. At minimum it was in the attic 20 years. [...] I know Dad had borrowed it from Donald a couple times in the early 1950s so he was familiar with it. When I compared the scythe with a picture from the Meyer historical picture collection, it was a match. I kept it in my shop for 7 years while I was trying to find a suitable home. When the completion of the new Heritage House Museum created an opportunity, I donated it in January 2026."
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.
ALSO... DO YOU SPEAK GERMAN?
If you speak German and would be willing to help us translate some World War I-era records for research into one of our family collections, we'd be grateful to have your help!!! The story of this family takes us directly to the frontlines of the war, and we're eager to learn more but need German to do so. Reach out to us by responding to this newsletter, emailing director@oswegoheritage.org, or giving us a call at (503) 635-6373.
Interested in being a museum docent? Want to volunteer to help the Oswego Heritage House open for additional hours?
Come to our DOCENT TRAINING on Saturday, April 4th, from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. You'll discover behind-the-scenes of our new exhibit, learn how to guide guests, and get an understanding of the logistics it takes to be a museum docent.
JOIN US ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4TH, AT 5:30 PM FOR OSWEGO PIONEER CEMETERY: REMEMBERING DEAD STRANGERS
More than just a resting place, the Oswego Pioneer Cemetery serves as an outdoor archive of our community’s heritage. Join us for a look into the cemetery’s 170-year history, ongoing maintenance efforts, and some remarkable life (and death) stories of the people who turned Oswego from just another place into a home.
INTERESTED IN THIS SEASON'S CHAUTAUQUA LINE-UP?
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
Join us Tuesday, March 3rd, at the Cultural Center at Historic City Hall for the opening celebration for a brand new, community-curated exhibit!
Hear from exhibitors to describe how their site and story are part of the unique fabric of places and people that make up this region. While not an exhaustive representation of regional history, this installation highlights the richness and diversity of our community. On view at the Community Cultural Center at Historic City Hall in West Linn, this evolving exhibit will return in future years with new voices and new stories. The Oswego Heritage Council is featured as part of this exhibit!
Our opening celebration will be a chance to connect with exhibitors, network with other local history enthusiasts, and share some delicious treats.
When: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: Historic City Hall, 22825 Willamette Drive, West Linn, OR
Host: Willamette Falls & Landings Heritage Area Coalition
JOIN US AT THE MUSEUM OF THE OREGON TERRITORY FOR STORIES FROM THE OSWEGO HERITAGE COUNCIL ARCHIVES!
In 2020, a collection of love letters was discovered in the attic of a historic house in Lake Oswego. They revealed the story of a local man freshly back from World War I and the 306 love letters sent to him by multiple young women. Discover the voices of these women, the hardships they faced, and the love they shared, all the way from a Washington logging camp to a Portland hotel to an Oregon schoolhouse in a present-day ghost town. In this lecture by Kathryn Sinor, delve into the lives and perspectives that often get washed away to history, all through the eyes of an Oswego heartbreaker.
Did you figure out which future American president saved the lives of Waters Carman and two other young men in 1831?
One day in the spring of 1831, following 'the Winter of the Deep Snow' while trying to cross a raging stream in a canoe, Waters Carman found himself cold and wet trapped and clinging to a small flimsy tree.
Abraham Lincoln, John Hanks and John Johnson assisted by John Seamon and Waters Carman built the flatboat spoken of in his biography for Denton Offutt. He began in March 1831, just as the deep snow went off. Mr. Roll made the pins for putting the boat together. They made a dug-out canoe to go with the boat as a yawl. John Seaman and Waters Carman got into it to take the first ride. It upset with them and floated away while they took refuge in a tree. Lincoln saved them by swimming to the tree with a log, having a long rope attached.
After getting all on it, those on shore drew it in.
Want to learn more about Waters Carman's life before he came to Oswego? Explore the new biographical information, researched and assembled by OHC Archivist Mark Browne, on our website.
Do you know what building is on the right, near the old City Hall in 1966?
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.
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.”
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.
February 4th: Memory, History, and the Enduring Power of Place by author Dede Montgomery
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!
Can you guess what company issued these company dollars in 1883?
Thank you for helping us meet our goal!! We will release our annual report for 2025 soon, but I wanted to thank you all for helping us with our fundraising goal for the year. We had several major projects with high pricetags, including our museum renovation, and we are so thrilled with the support to make it happen. We couldn't have done it without you all, and with our museum set to reopen on January 16th, we couldn't think of a better way to begin the new year!
We really hope you'll join us for the opening, and if you can't, please stop by soon to check out what's been done.
This year, there will be a huge emphasis on history as 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the United States. We want to celebrate local history, highlighting the variety of stories that make-up our community. Keep your eye out for more news about our special projects commemorating this important anniversary!
DISCOVER THE MUSEUM LIKE NEVER BEFORE!
After months of renovation and hard work, the Heritage House museum is reopening on Friday, January 16th! Light food and refreshments from Nicoletta's Table will be served.
The Heritage Museum has gone through a makeover! After our last exhibit, we saw an opportunity to rethink the museum. Museum staff and volunteers took most of 2025 to compile a timeline of Lake Oswego history from 15,000 years ago to today. This extensive timeline will be our new permanent display. Featuring stories of local people, incredible photographs that tell the history of the community, and interactive elements to get your hands on history, our new display will have something for everyone -- whether you've just moved to the city or if you've lived here your whole life.
6:00 PM: For members and people who donated 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Open to the public
"I have seen a man from Oregon, who was acquainted with Watts, Durham and Armstrong. He says it is a mistake that Durham and Armstrong are dead." -October 20, 1849
Archivist Mark Browne has been researching a series of letters Waters Carman sent to a newspaper in Illinois. These letters give new insight into one of the early settlers of Oswego, whose family left a lasting legacy in the community. A few interesting tidbits:
MORE TO COME SOON!
Did you guess what company issued these company dollars in 1883?
THE OREGON IRON & STEEL COMPANY
With the Oregon Iron & Steel Company owned thousands of acres of land and employing a huge portion of the population in Oswego, it is no doubt that Oswego was a company town. Nothing demonstrates that more than this, issued by the company for merchandise in the company-owned store. This item is located in the Davidson Collection, which you can explore below.
What neighborhood is featured here in this historic photograph from c. 1920s?
Dear friends,
Your support through membership at the Oswego Heritage Council has been critical for our work this past year! Because of you, we were able to complete these major projects:
Our ambitious plans for 2026 include several exciting initiatives, which we anticipate will cost approximately $17,000 to complete:
Our ability to undertake these projects depends 100% on charitable donations from friends such as you, who understand the vital importance of our local history.
Please consider the impact of our work on the quality of life in our community, and make the most generous contribution possible for our work to grow in the New Year.
AND THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE DONATED SO FAR!
After months of renovation and hard work, the Heritage House museum is reopening on Friday, January 16th! You'll see our new permanent display on Lake Oswego history, from 15,000 years ago to today. Light food and refreshments will be served.
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: For members and people who donated 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Open to the public
A few months ago, we acquired a bound series of letters from early Oswego mayor A. King Wilson to his wife, Dora Espy Wilson. The bound letters come from King Wilson's 1902 trip east. He traveled by rail across the United States and documented his travel experiences, business reflections, family matters, and social observations of early 20th century America.
He served as the fourth mayor of Oswego from 1914 until his death in 1918. His wife, Dora, was a member of the Oswego Women's Club and an early suffragist.
Get to know King Wilson through the transcribed letters and research annotations by OHC Archivist Mark Browne.
SPEAKING OF A. KING WILSON...
WELCOME TO THE WILSONIA TRAIN STATION!
Named after A. King Wilson, this small train station existed in northern Oswego. King and his wife, suffragist Dora Espy Wilson, moved to Oswego around 1905. He was elected mayor in 1914 and passed away in the early months of his second term.
We would like to recognize one of our amazing volunteers, Caroline Glad. She and her mother (pictured above) planted a new tree in our heritage garden, this one for someone special: Caroline's father. Earlier this year, we had to remove one of our long-standing trees which died, and we had been looking to replace it for a number of months. We are honored to watch this tree grow in honor of a family which has given the Heritage House so much!
Did you figure out what neighborhood is featured here in this historic photograph from c. 1920s?
Here's a hint: the NOW version of this photograph, taken just a few weeks ago!
This photograph was taken on the corner of C Avenue and Fifth Street in FIRST ADDITION, Lake Oswego! Can you find what's stayed the same in the 100 year difference between these photographs?
CLICK HERE TO RENEW, JOIN OR GIFT A MEMBERSHIP TODAY!
What structure, used by the Bickner family c. 1906, is pictured here on Oswego Lake?
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
We were so lucky to host cemetery walking tours at the Oswego Pioneer Cemetery last weekend. Despite heavy rains the day before, our two tours had good weather and good attendance! (We actually SOLD OUT both tours extremely quickly.) From the oldest gravestone onsite to Civil War veterans to the first mayor of Oswego to so many more, visiting the cemetery provides a great and unique chance to come close to Lake Oswego history.
We hope to host more of these when the weather's a little better, focused on specific themes!
RENOVATION UPDATE!
If you've ever done a renovation project in your home, you know that, in trying to do one thing, you end up doing ten others to make it happen. We have new flooring in the museum space, painted walls, and our new permanent exhibit in its final stages of production. What started as a small overhaul has turned into a big one, and since we want to make sure we're doing this right, it's taking a little longer than expected!
But the museum will open again to the public soon! Members, those who donated to the project, and special guests will be invited to a private opening. Details coming soon!!
THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE DONATED SO FAR!
As you can see, we're doing a lot of work to both return the historic character to the Heritage House and to create a permanent exhibit that is engaging, interesting, and will last a long time (while also continuing our tradition of a smaller, rotating exhibit every 6-8 months). These projects have been made possible because of contributions from community members like you!
We have moved forward with these projects thanks to grant funding, donations, and our fundraising events, but our goal is to have more of the final cost covered! There is still time to make that happen. Please consider a small donation, which will go towards the renovations. Those who donate will be invited to a private opening of the new exhibit. All donations are tax deductible.
JOIN US FOR A MARKET OF HOLIDAY CHEER ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3RD!
Vendors will be throughout the house with local-made goods available for purchase. Santa Claus will also be visiting from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM for photos, with food donations accepted for the Lake Oswego Food Pantry!
Art by Queen of Hearts Atelier Carman Rusca Art Collett Woodwork Crown Miniatures Donald Guenther Wood Turned Bowls Granny Fi's Shortbread Ha Austin Ceramics The Hand that Rocks the Cribbage Board Joie de Weave Karen Harris Accessories Laila Dutta Studio Liz Peterson Metalartist M. Alexis Bomarito Fine Art Papercrafts Nana's Choice Goat Milk Products Paul Bartos Ornaments Snazzy Swags Wigglewyrm Workshop
November 5th (AT THE SPRINGS): Power, Politics, and Public Access: The Contested History of Oswego Lake by Dr. Stephen Beckham
December 3rd: Holiday Marketplace
April 1st: LO Reads Topic
Were you able to figure out what structure, used by the Bickner family c. 1906, is pictured here on Oswego Lake?
You may recognize it, as there are many on the lake today! This is the Bickner boathouse, photograph taken by William Bickner c. 1906.
The Bickner family moved to Oswego in 1894 and purchased the Henry Gans general merchandise store in South Town. This photograph of the family below, taken c. 1896, shows them in the back of their home in South Oswego (on McVey & Erickson St.). They would move to First Addition in 1902 and open a new grocery store on Front Street. Eventually, their store would be bought by Safeway.
William Bickner (in the back row, second from the left) took an amazing series of photographs at the beginning of the 20th century that capture life in Oswego with amazing clarity.
What was the first Oswego newspaper, beginning in 1891?
If you're wondering how the museum revamp is going: We're getting a new floor! (Sort of.)
When it was built in 1928, the original Ladd Estate Company did not include most of the exhibit room. When Dr. William Cane and his wife purchased the building in the 1940s, he extended this room to make the building into a livable home. The wood flooring, now visible in the photo above, was likely added on during this period.
The building was then purchased by Bill Headlee in the 1990s with the intent to be the Heritage House. This room was once again extended to house our museum. You can see how the wood changes at the end of the room where this extension happened.
When we pulled out the carpet in this room, we weren't sure what to expect! It's exciting to uncover a bit of the evolving architectural history of our building.
The new exhibit (and renovated space) will open again in October! Stay tuned for the specific date.
We have moved forward with these projects thanks to grant funding, donations, and our fundraising events, but our goal is to have more of the final cost covered! You can make that happen. Please consider a small donation, which will go towards the renovations. Those who donate will be invited to a private opening of the new exhibit. All donations are tax deductible.
Along with our newly revamped exhibit later this month, come see GLASS LANTERN SLIDES: A 1920S VIEW AROUND THE WORLD.
Throughout his career, Rev. William Wallace Youngson traveled all across the globe, taking extensive photographs of the places and people he saw. He would develop these (along with photographs from National Geographic) into glass lantern slides, some of which were then hand-painted for color, and use them in lectures.
The Oswego Heritage Council possesses 1,255 glass lantern slides once belonging to Rev. Youngson, along with lecture notes. Come discover hand-picked slides from Japan, Alaska, Egypt, Greece, and more!
JOIN US FOR A WALKING TOUR OF THE OSWEGO PIONEER CEMETERY ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25TH!
Come one, come all, to discover those buried at the Oswego Pioneer Cemetery!
History experts will guide you through the cemetery, introducing you to the stories of its permanent residents beneath the soil. You'll hear tales of people who once called Oswego their home, brought to life through knowledgeable interpreters. From grim and grisly ends to fascinating folks to tragic tales, find yourself immersed in early history as you walk through the headstones and get to know this remarkable location.
A Haunting History will feature a guided tour of the Oswego Pioneer Cemetery. There will be two time slots for tours, with limited availability per time slot.
October 1st: The History of the FBI and FBI Portland by Assistant Special Agent in Charge Mari Panovich
The Oswego Iron Worker first published in 1891, with Herbert Gill as the owner and editor. Before the Iron Worker, Oswego had a section in the Oregon City newspaper. The paper only ran for a few years.
What happened in 1910 to propel Jerome Thomas (pictured below) into Lake Oswego History?
Thank you to all those who attended this year's Collector Car & Classic Boat Show! Even with the heat, we had a great attendance and a great show, bringing in over $25,000 for the Oswego Heritage House! As our largest fundraising event of the year, this show funds our free museum exhibits, educational programs, and general operations at the Heritage House, allowing us to bring you history throughout the year.
Speaking of bringing you history...
The main exhibit hall will be closed for the majority of this month. We are busy touching up the place and will be putting together a brand new exhibit all about Lake Oswego history. Our members will get a special preview for the new exhibit in a few weeks, so keep your eye on your email for upcoming details!
HAPPY 60TH REUNION TO THE LAKE OSWEGO HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1965!
The graduating class of 1965 hosted their reunion at the Oswego Heritage House, and we couldn't have been happier! Several of these long-standing community members have served on our Board of Directors or are current members of the museum. They hold onto so many memories of Lake Oswego, including of times when it was just "Oswego"!
Are you interested in getting involved with the Oswego Heritage Council at a deeper level? Do you have passion for connecting people to the local history around them?
Consider joining our BOARD OF DIRECTORS! We're looking for two new members who are excited about preserving and promoting history through educational programs, unique events, outreach, and membership development.
Board members will join one of the following committees:
DID YOU KNOW MEMBERS GET ACCESS TO ONLINE EXHIBITS?
We are incredibly grateful for our members. Without you, we would be unable to continue to important work of preserving, researching, and educating about the history of our area. Outside of support, there are many exciting benefits to being a member of the Oswego Heritage Council, including access to members-only pages on the website.
In order to access these pages, you can login using the icon on our website, above the banner at the top-right of any page. Enter the email address in which you signed up for your membership, and if you have any issues, please contact us at director@oswegoheritage.org.
Did you figure out what happened in 1910 to propel Jerome Thomas (pictured below) into Lake Oswego History?
The City of Oswego, which included just First Addition, was incorporated. Jerome Thomas was elected as Oswego's first mayor that same year! Thirteen years after its incorporation, Old Town and South Town would support annexation and join the City of Oswego.
Preserving Our Past, Enriching Our Future
What was the first sternwheeler to pass through the Oswego Canal in 1873?
Operated by the Kellogg family, this steamer ran several routes, including one across Sucker Lake (now Oswego Lake).
We broke an exciting milestone for the Heritage House: more people have come through the museum so far this year than in total for 2024 OR 2023, when we first started tracking numbers. While we are in the last weeks for our current exhibit, The Story Begins: Through the Eyes of One Vietnamese Refugee, we are extraordinarily grateful for working with the family and the Vietnamese Cultural Arts Alliance to bring new events, new reflection, and a whole new kind of exhibit to the Heritage House.
SO... WHAT COMES NEXT?
We've hinted at it, and more details will be released soon, but we've taken this opportunity to completely redesign our museum. The new permanent exhibit will feature an expansive timeline of Lake Oswego history, along with artifacts and stories on display, some of which will be displayed for the first time. We will continue to have changing exhibits every 6-8 months and continue to use the meeting room as a photo exhibit space. There will also be some changes coming to our parlor.
We hope these changes will breathe new life into our local history. We want to tell the story of how our community has changed, the people who made those changes happen, and how those changes shape our lives in Lake Oswego today.
If you're a member, you'll receive a special invite to this new exhibit in the next few months. Stay tuned!!!
A few weeks ago, an AMAZING thing happened at the Heritage House: by coincidence, two branches of the Carman family (all descended from Waters Carman, one of the earliest pioneers living in the town of Oswego), met each other for the first time!
While discussing family lore and history, the Heritage House was hard at work intaking two tubs to add to our collection! These tubs contained letters, photographs, journals, and a wedding dress from the Carman family, all between the years 1870s-1920s. We will stabilize the many items and make sure they are properly preserved. We're equally as excited to discover the treasures contained within them!
One such example: Lucille Stone, a resident of Oswego, kept "The Girl Graduate," a way to journal her time going to high school in the 1910s. She actually caught the trolley from Oswego to attend the "new" Lincoln High School in Portland.
More stories will come soon, as we process these marvelous additions to our collection!
ARE YOU READY FOR THIS YEAR'S CAR & BOAT SHOW?
Sign-up your vehicle or get a booth for this year's event!
The Collector Car & Classic Boat Show is an annual tradition, celebrating more than 25 years! As one of the largest community events in Lake Oswego, our show is exceptional because it’s not a strictly judged show but rather a fun and unique event for families and enthusiasts. All proceeds from the event go toward the Oswego Heritage Council's mission of preserving and sharing local history.
Featuring...
Many Collector Cars More Motorcycles NEW! - Historic Bicycles 20 Classic Boats and Some Modern Innovation Vendor Booths Food Trucks from Morning 'Til Afternoon
Did you guess that ONWARD was the first sternwheeler to pass through the Oswego Canal?
Operated by the Kellogg family, Onward ran several routes, including one across Sucker Lake (now Oswego Lake). It traveled along the Tualatin River, entering the lake via the freshly completed Oswego Canal, and carried cargo. Once, in 1874, it even transported famous Oregon suffragist Abigail Scott Duniway, who wrote about in her newspaper The New Northwest!
What modern Lake Oswego neighborhood sits atop the Oswego Mine?
This 1893 map was produced by the Oregon Iron & Steel Company.
Summer's a busy time for everyone, but this season is the Heritage House's big fundraising event season! Our two main fundraising events for this year (The Bootlegger's Ball and the Car & Boat Show) are more important than ever, as all proceeds will go towards supporting a few major projects underway:
A few weeks ago, we highlighted that we had acquired a 1902 book of bound letters from Oswego mayor A. King Wilson to his wife. If you visited our last exhibit on voting and civic engagement, you may recognize his wife's name: Dora Espy Wilson, an early suffragist in Oswego who was part of the Oswego Women's Club and worked as Election Chair in 1913 (along with many, many other accomplishments).
King Wilson served as mayor of Oswego from 1915 - 1918, making him one of the first to serve in the role. The Wilsonia train station is named after him. And while the letters themselves have fascinating information about his life and thoughts, they include some truly charming pieces too: a series of photographs from a booth, menus, receipts, and other scraps from his travels that allow us to view a larger world.
Recently, a volunteer transcribed the collection, which is now available to read. Archivist Mark Browne is working on a researched, annotated version to reveal more information about the contents and context for these letters. One of our volunteers is also working on a Storymap to track his journey. Stay tuned for more, but in the meantime, check out the transcribed version!
Come support local history, bring your family, wear your Lake Oswego gear, and join the Heritage House to walk in the Fourth of July parade!
We will be walking with a vehicle and tossing out candy as we parade from Iron Mountain Blvd to Chandler & 10th Street, onto A Avenue, and concluding at 2nd Street & Evergreen Road. If you would like to join us, just respond to this email! You'll be able to park at the Heritage House, and we'll have a Lake Oswego hat you can wear if needed.
LAST DAY TO GET TICKETS
With tickets going fast, get yours before they're gone.
Step back in time to the 1920s, when the music was big and the booze was illegal! There will be live jazz music, light dining, and for those willing to bend the rules, for those who have the secret invite, a burlesque show in our speakeasy soiree. Don your skirts that fall above your ankles, put on your best suits and biggest hats, and be prepared for a night of vices, history, and fun.
The Bootlegger's Ball is a fundraising event for the Oswego Heritage Council and the West Linn Historical Society. Donations will benefit both historical organizations. There will be a silent auction, live jazz band, prohibition-style drinks, the optional speakeasy show which features burlesque professionals, and other opportunities to give.
Dressing up is encouraged, but not required!
The Ne Plus Ultra Jass OrchestraThe Headless Carriage ClubHistorical Burlesque Performers A 1920s One Day Exhibit Behind the Scenes TourAnd more!
Did you figure out what modern Lake Oswego neighborhood sits atop the Oswego Mine?
The top image is an 1893 map of the Oswego Mine produced by Oregon Iron & Steel Co. The bottom image was created by City Surveyor Gerald King and is overlaid atop the same 1893 mine map by the present day Uplands neighborhood.
There's so much history beneath our feet! Discover more maps from our collection and the library's on the Lake Oswego Public Library's digital history portal: http://history.ci.oswego.or.us/
What is this marshy area, c. 1909, now called?
The Oswego City Council passed an ordinance after the area was flooded in 1928 to fine anyone who referred to it by its old name. Stay tuned to the end of the newsletter to find out more!
SPOTLIGHT AROUND TOWN: Discovering local legacy: A visit to the Oswego Heritage House
I hope you're enjoying the peeks of sunshine that have been poking through more and more. At the Heritage House, we've been busy wrapping up some school programs (in May, we taught 76 4th graders local history and, in June, we'll teach 75 2nd graders), preparing for our summer events, updating our permanent exhibit to open in late summer, and getting the garden ready with the help of LO High's History Bowl Club and local garden clubs. In short, we've been busy!
We hope you'll join us for some of the events in summer and fall we've been working on so you can see some of that hard work in action. Our goal this year is to increase the number of people served, the depth of their engagement with local history, and increasing access to the research and artifacts in our collection.
If there are things you'd like to see or are curious about, please feel free to reach out for a chat! We're always excited to hear more about people's experiences of life in Lake Oswego and to incorporate their feedback in the work we do.
One of the most common inquiries we get at the Heritage House is people searching for information about their houses and neighborhoods! With hundreds of maps in our collection, it can be difficult to find exactly what you're looking for, especially since many are too fragile or too large to easily access.
All that has changed! Most of our maps are now available digitally through the Lake Oswego Public Library's Digital History portal!
We are still working on updating all the descriptions, but you can match the numbers to our maps collection index, which includes descriptions and further details here: https://oswegoheritage.org/Collections
We will continue to work to make this as easy to use as possible, so anyone, anywhere, can access Lake Oswego history.
Explore the Digitized Maps Now
We're excited that the City of Lake Oswego has gifted us with an important artifact in the history of the lake: one of the two signs stating private access that was recently removed! This object will join our collection to tell the story of the lake.
VIP TICKETS SOLD OUT!
Get Your Tickets Before They're Gone
Dressing up is encouraged!
The Ne Plus Ultra Jass OrchestraThe Headless Carriage ClubHistorical Burlesque PerformersAnd more!
Did you recognize this marshy area, c. 1909, and figure out what it's now called?
The foreground of this image is a marshy area called the Duck Pond, which would be flooded to create Lakewood Bay in 1928. The Oswego City Council then passed an ordinance to fine anyone who referred to Lakewood Bay as the Duck Pond, although several residents said they still call it that to this day!
Oswego Heritage House and Museum398 10th St.Lake Oswego, OR 97034(503) 635-6373
Hours of Operation:Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday10:00 AM - 3:00 PMFree entrance
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