Can you guess what famous musical company manufactured amplifiers in Lake Oswego in the 1980s?
We recently got this fascinating question about a famous company's little known existence in Lake Oswego, which led Archivist Mark Browne down a rabbit hole to discover the answer...
Stay tuned to the end of the newsletter to find out more!
Today, it's sunny outside, and after a busy February, we're preparing for an even busier March... While the museum will be closed to the public beginning on March 10th and through the end of the month, we'll be inside getting set-up for an amazing new exhibit. This exhibit was curated by the Jeffrey Allen Gallery, telling the story of a Vietnamese family who immigrated here 50 years ago through art, photography, and upcoming programs.
More information on this exhibit, along with ample programs to accompany it, will be coming soon. We are SO excited to the use the museum in a new way, and you won't want to miss out.
In the meantime, enjoy the sunshine, and take a walk through our garden, which the Lake Grove Garden Club has been working on to ready for spring!
P.S. If you see Caroline Glad, give her a warm congratulations on receiving the C. Herald Campbell Award, which we give out at the Chamber's Community Awards event to a well-deserving Heritage Champion. Caroline has led the charge on developing some much-needed finding aids for each of our collections, and these tools will prove useful to teachers looking to introduce local history into their classrooms, researchers, and the curious. A few can be found on our website here, but more coming soon!
Kathryn Sinor Executive Director
As part of our year-end appeal, we requested donations for a joint project with the Lake Oswego Preservation Society to transcribe and publish copies of 800 pages of original Board records for the Oregon Iron & Steel Company, from 1882 to 1930. This is an invaluable historical asset that follows an iron town's transformation into present-day Lake Oswego.
Last week, the Lake Oswego Preservation Society dropped off our copies! We look forward to digging into them to discover new insights into Lake Oswego's past. Here's a snippet from one of the volumes...
In October of 1888, the general superintendent of the Oswego iron furnace operations, Mr. F.C. Smith, submitted his letter of resignation to the Board of Directors of the Oregon Iron and Steel Company. The president of the Board, Simeon G. Reed, read the letter into the record of the Board minutes:
In addition to these marvelous records, we also accepted two new Jantzen bathing suits into our collection. These suits were worn by an Oswego resident, c. 1920s. One of these suits included the marvelous logo, pictured below. There was also a bathing suit dress, probably from a few years earlier. These textiles were kept in incredible condition, and we're thrilled to preserve them in our archives.
UPDATE:
Recently, one of our beautiful trees had to be taken down, as it had died. In the coming month, we plan to replant a tree on our property. We will match the original tree type and are looking forward to watching it grow for generations.
There is ONE WEEK left to come visit our exhibit, The Side of Better Government: Voting and Civic Engagement. March 7th will be the last day, and then we are closing down the museum for the rest of March to clear it out in time for our new and extremely exciting upcoming exhibit! The new exhibit will open in the beginning of April. More details soon!
The museum is open to the public FOR FREE on M, W, Th, and Fri, from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM.
This week, we also had a surprise visitor to the exhibit. Dora Espy Wilson (in the top left photo with her hands on her hips) was a prominent Oswego suffragist who was part of the Oswego Women's Club as they fought to get women the right to vote. She also helped organize local elections after women got the right to vote in 1912. Her husband, King Wilson, was one of the first mayors of Oswego.
A lot of the photographs and information about Dora Wilson came from her grand-niece, Sydney, who came to visit and tell stories about her Great Aunt Dora! Sydney's grandfather, Harry Espy, is next to Dora in the photograph. It was amazing to learn more about Sydney's family, Oysterville (where Dora's family is from), and see how Dora's legacy of getting things done continues to this day!
For February's Chautauqua, we welcomed Shelley Baker-Gard, Michael Freiling, Satsuki Takikawa, and Duane Watari to the Oswego Heritage House to talk about their book, They Never Asked: Senryū Poetry from the WWII Portland Assembly Center. This presentation included readings of poems composed by numerous Japanese American poets while detained at the Portland Assembly Center in both their original Japanese and translated English. Many people expressed a desire for additional readings related to this, which the group gladly shared:
Thank you to those who were able to attend, and we look forward to our upcoming Chautauqua presentations as well!
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.
CONSIDER SPONSORING THE EVENT TODAY
Were you able to guess what famous musical company manufactured amplifiers in Lake Oswego in the 1980s?
We recently got this fascinating question about a famous company's little known existence in Lake Oswego, which led Archivist Mark Browne down a rabbit hole to discover the answer... (Thank you to Andre for the question and context!)
In the mid-1960s, the Sundholds began producing Sunn amplifiers in a factory in Lake Oswego. These Sunn amplifiers expanded into amplifier models for both bass guitars and electric guitars, which were produced here until the mid-1980s, when the company was purchased by...
FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Fender bought the extant amplifier manufacturer to build Fender amplifiers and phase out the old Sunn amplifiers. The question that came up was... Where was this factory?
It took a while to find, but we have a plucky archivist! Mark Browne discovered through business records that the factory was located at 6024 SW Jean Rd., Building D. Fender occupied the site from Dec. 18, 1985, to Feb. 13, 1997.
ANOTHER HISTORY MYSTERY SOLVED!
Can you recognize this historic Lake Oswego home just by a glimpse?
The house was built in 1898 by Frank Dooghie and was moved in 1906 to its current location in First Addition. In 1931, it was purchased by the Vose family.
We hope you all are staying warm with the possible snow coming our way! For us at the Heritage House, the new year has brought a lot of planning, planning, planning and prepping, prepping, prepping.
A few things you can look forward to this year:
Listen to an interview with Let's Go LO! Podcast
Join us on Saturday, February 15th, from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM for our annual meeting! Discover how the Oswego Heritage Council did in 2024, learn more about our archival projects, and engage with your fellow community members at this event. There will be treats and coffee available.
Liz Hartman, Executive Director of the Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce, will be introducing the program with a brief talk.
While meant to update our member base, this meeting is open to the public.
We will share more details about our 2024 Annual Report at our annual meeting on February 15th, but here's a sneak peak...
Did you recognize this historic Lake Oswego home just by a glimpse?
The house was built in 1898 by Frank Dooghie and was moved in 1906 to its current location in First Addition. In 1931, it was purchased by the Vose family. The photograph on the left was taken circa 1905, and the photograph on the right was taken in 2022.
Can you guess the artifact?
Can you guess what this object might be from our collection? It's palm-sized and shiny and, most importantly, connects to Lake Oswego history in a big way...
Stay tuned to the end of the newsletter to find out!
Thank you for helping us reach our end of year goal of collecting an additional $2,000! You DOUBLED our goal, with all proceeds going towards a joint project with the Lake Oswego Preservation Society, preservation consultants for some of our most fragile artifacts, new and expanded educational programs, house maintenance, and more opportunities for people to engage with local history.
In 2024, we grew the number of people the Oswego Heritage Council reached by 48.6%! That means over 2,000 people engaged with local history, and because of generous donations from community members like you, we're excited to grow that number even further in the new year.
So whether you gave monetarily, are a member of the museum, share our posts on social media, or connect with us in a different way, you're part of a growing effort to preserve the past and enrich the future of our community. Our work would not be possible without you.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT!
Last month, our Board of Directors was invited on a special trolley ride with the Willamette Shore Trolley. If you haven't had the chance to take the trolley from Lake Oswego to Portland, we highly recommend it! The guides were filled with amazing historical information, and given how much we all love history, it was a perfect little expedition.
THANK YOU, WILLAMETTE SHORE TROLLEY, FOR THE RIDE!
COMING SOON...
We will also be presenting this annual report at our upcoming ANNUAL MEMBER MEETING, so make sure you mark your calendar for Saturday, February 15th, from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM!
Recently, Archivist Mark Browne took one of his presentations out on the road. This presentation covered the topic of Edith Schryver and Elizabeth Lord, two landscape architects who were the first women in the Pacific Northwest to own and operate their own landscape architecture firm between 1929 and 1969.
Using research from the Lord & Schryver Conservancy in Salem, along with additional resources, Mark Browne highlighted several places in Lake Oswego designed by the pair, including some still in existence today.
Did you guess the artifact?
Here's a quote that will reveal all:
"At intervals and at the end of each casting the cinder, or slag, embracing the bulk of the impurities of the materials charged into the furnace, is drawn off and run out of doors. This is a product of no particular value, though it is sometimes crushed and used for paving streets, when not too hard and sharp." -Iron Manufacture at Oswego, The West Shore, Nov. 2, 1889
Were you able to guess this is SLAG, a byproduct of Oswego's iron furnace? Many people think it's obsidian, which makes sense given its shiny appearance! Have you ever handled slag before?
What Oswego organization led drives for blood donations, rubber, paper, metal, and more during World War II?
LO REVIEW: Historical exhibit displays political activism in Lake Oswego over time
Looking to learn more about your community's history and get more involved? Join an Oswego Heritage Council team today! You don't have to be a Board Member to volunteer with one of our committees. We have four main focuses:
Education & Outreach: help plan and implement initiatives to connect people to local history through engaging programs
Museum & Archives: help create valuable tools to make our archives more accessible to the general public
Recruitment & Retention: help get others involved with projects as needed
Development: help ensure our long-term sustainability by connecting to other organizations, building a community of members, and supporting special events
With a flexible time commitment and support provided, we're looking for people like YOU.
Discover our new, downloadable lesson plan for high school classrooms, aligned with Oregon standards on Civics and Government and Historical Thinking!
Students will answer the question: What can voter registration cards tell us about our community in 1913, one year after Oregon women gained the right to vote? By analyzing real historical documents from their community, students will:
Practice evaluating primary sources to better understand Lake Oswego's past and how it might influence its present
Identify trends within their communities and possible causes, including what might influence a person's political view
Discover how Oswego residents were involved in local government in the 20th century
Find local history curriculum on our website, along with complementary resources for each lesson plan:
Join us on Wednesday, December 4th, from 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM for a market of holiday cheer! 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!
This week, we took in several new quilts into our collection from the Oswego Quilters! While we plan to share more information soon, here's a little teaser: the quilt in the photograph here is called the "silk cigarette ribbon quilt." The images are pulled from old cigarette cases.
We are incredibly grateful to be trusted with the care of these historically significant quilts from such a long-running, local institution!
You might remember how one of our big pushes this past year has been creating an index for the public library's history collection, along with our own. Our volunteers are taking it one step farther: they are creating finding aids to make researching easier than ever.
These finding aids will be a good summary of each of our collections. They will include dates, names, biographical information, and other key words so you can discover Lake Oswego history at a glance.
Once completed, these finding aids will be available on our website and will be an important guide to digitizing historical work. This is just a sneak peak, building off our now-complete index!
WE NEED YOUR FEEDBACK!
With new tools for the Oswego Heritage Council (OHC) on the horizon, including a full collection index and finding aids, we want to make sure our next priorities fit the needs of our community.
Whether you are a historical researcher, a student or teacher, or just a person curious about their city's history, we're looking for feedback on other tools, tips, workshops, or research you'd like next.
This survey closes December 15th and should take about 5-10 minutes to complete.
Did you guess which Oswego organization led drives for blood donations, rubber, paper, metal, and more during World War II?
THE OSWEGO CIVIL DEFENSE
On State Street
Led by Hortense Gore-Slocum (bottom photo, far right with the dog), women, children, and the elderly all participated in drives for blood donations, rubber, paper, metal, and more. The group staffed an observation tower to watch for any strange planes flying overhead and worked with state police and the FBI. After the war, they took half the money they earned and gave it to Lake Grove for a safe swimming area.
She created a scrapbook, now preserved in our archives, titled "Memories of the Oswego-Lake Grove Civilian Defense Offense." The book traces the history and work of the office during World War II, from 1942-1945.
Some of the photographs from the scrapbook are on display in our current exhibit, but check out a few that didn't make it in, highlighting the hard work of Oswegans during this difficult time.
When we posted this on Facebook, we received this comment...
"I was about nine years old and was a volunteer at the Oswego Civil Defense Office scrap drive. [...] I and several other kids toured the town with wagons collecting scrap metal, newspapers and such. The lady boss had a WWI German spike helmet that she let us wear sometimes. As a reward she let us read the comic books before they were turned in to be scrapped. I sure do wish I'd kept them."
Can you guess what year this tally record is from?
This tally sheet is from the City of Oswego, recording some important information... Can you figure out what it's for and when?
October was a BUSY month! Here's just a glimpse:
This month, we have officially surpassed last year's records for the number of people the Oswego Heritage Council has served. This means we are staying true to our mission to preserve the past and enrich the future. You can discover more in our upcoming annual report!
And if you have not gotten the chance to see our new exhibit, THE SIDE OF BETTER GOVERNMENT: VOTING AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, be sure to check it out during open museum hours! It will be present in the museum until mid-March.
After cleaning out the office, we have a few items we are trying to get rid of: a television screen and a printer. Both are in working order. We do not use the television screen anymore and have upgraded our printers.
If you're interested, please let me know! There is no charge.
Those of us at Oswego Heritage Council want to give a quick shoutout to the AMAZING performers who helped make our Haunting History event possible: Eli as the overdramatic painter, Daniel and four students from LOHS's History Bowl Club as Daniel Magone and his gang out to steal a body, and Nancy as a determined suffragist out to haunt you until you voted. These wonderful volunteers brought history to life in a fun and interactive way this Halloween!
Thank you all so much!
Did you guess what year this tally record is from?
Tally Sheet of the Election Held in 1913 Oswego!
The election of 1913 was the first big election where women had the right to vote in Oregon. And women in Oswego did not hesitate to do so!
At the bottom of the tally records, the person responsible for the sheet, the Election Clerk, and the Election Chairman all signed. Immediately after gaining the right to vote, many Oswego women got involved in the election committees, including Edna Bickner, who signed this tally record.
While these tally sheets are too large and fragile to put on display, they are currently housed in the Lake Oswego Public Library's collection. You can find other important voting records for viewing, including the story of Edna Bickner and others, at our new exhibit, THE SIDE OF BETTER GOVERNMENT: VOTING AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
Can you guess what building is featured on the back of this postcard from 1908?
"I recieved your postal a few days ago ad was glad to hear from you. I havent heard from Beryl since Harry was back to see her. I see Harry about every five weeks. this is the Oswego high school Your friend Will"
Happy autumn to all who celebrate! If September was busy, just wait until you hear what we have going on in October. This past month, folks at the OHC have:
One of the most important things from all of these different areas is the understanding of how many more people we can reach when we work with other local organizations. In September alone, we worked with:
Because of these connections, we've already managed to serve more people this year than last year -- and we aren't stopping there! There is so much more to come before this year is through, so stay tuned and stay in touch!
Even without the legal power to vote, women and people of color worked to increase their influence and effect positive change in their community. How did they do this? What can the past teach us about today, in what feels like a politically fraught moment in American history?
And most importantly: how did life in Oswego change for the better because people cared enough about their town to do the work? Uncover the history of voting and civic engagement through the eyes of local people in this exhibit.
JOIN US FOR THE EXHIBIT OPENING!
Last year, the Oswego Heritage Council received a grant to join in MercyCorp Northwest's Capacity Building Recovery Assistance (CBRA) Program. This program involved COVID-19 relief funding and then capacity building support for a year with mentors and other experts. The area of this support would be determined by surveys to OHC's staff, volunteers, and Board.
So what did that mean for the Oswego Heritage Council?
We quickly discovered we didn't want help in one singular area; we wanted to build a map for the next three years and the systems to support it. Our Board had long discussions about what the Heritage House meant, what it could do, and what we needed to focus on. Along the way, we strengthened our financial reporting and budgeting, built resources for Board and volunteer training, and connected with important community partners.
Because of this program, we will be able to share a vision with you for the next three years, covering 2025-2027. This vision was shaped and will continue to be shaped by you, our community, and all that is possible with local history.
And you are an important part of that story!
Check out an interview OHC Director Kathryn Sinor did with Karli from MercyCorps about OHC's experience in the program!
Left: Volunteers Karen and Ann at the Farmer's Market
Right: Our shared booth at the Stafford Hamlet Family Fest
As we have mentioned before, OHC volunteers, led by Archivist Mark Browne, spent over a year at the Lake Oswego Public Library. We helped organize and catalog their collection, creating an index for researchers to better utilize their amazing historical archive. We then took those same volunteers back to the Heritage House to index our own collection. While this index is now in the final stages of edits, we will use it to create accessible finding aides that will be available on our website to better use our collection for research purposes.
For his hard work at the library, Mark Browne has received a volunteer award from the amazing staff at the Lake Oswego Public Library.
Congratulations, Mark!
Were you able to guess what building is featured on the back of this postcard from 1908?
The Oswego School, now Lakewood Center for the Arts!
This is a newly acquired photograph of the Oswego School, which the postcard references as "the Oswego high school"! Even our archivist Mark proclaimed he'd never seen this photograph before.
Judging from the background of the photograph, we are placing it before 1906. We've gotten lots of great ideas for checking the possible date, but what do you think?
Can you guess what we recently added to our collection, based on the image above?
Thanks to all who attended this year's Collector Car & Classic Boat Show! We had beautiful weather and beautiful vehicles, and so many people expressed what the event meant to them. The proceeds from this event all go toward preserving local history, and because of the amazing turnout of vehicles, sponsors, and donations, we'll be able to accomplish the following:
This event, and the projects we are able to fund because of it, would not be possible without the volunteers, committee members, and participants to make it happen. So if you see someone who helped put on the show, which celebrated twenty-five years this August, say thank you!
LO Review: Lake Oswego's car and boat show attracts thousands to town
A different kind of car show in Oswego... from the 1930s!
Check out these historic photographs from our collection, depicting another car show in the city from nearly 100 years ago.
We need help locating photographs of early prominent Oswego women!
Our new exhibit, opening in early October, highlights voting and civic engagement throughout Oswego's history, featuring stories of how women engaged in politics before and after they gained the legal right to vote. We are hoping to find images of the following women:
Anna Schneller Conway (1872-1936) and Mary C. Smith (c. 1863-?): Conway and Smith were the first two women to run for Oswego City Council in 1913
Hilma Lindberg (1911-1989): Lindberg ran for City Council in 1952, and the Oswego Review ran a candidate profile
Ellen Bergis (1898-2003): Bergis was the first woman elected to the Oswego City Council and served from 1955-56
Do you have photographs of any of these women? Please reach out to us today at director@oswegoheritage.org!
Were you able to guess what we recently added to our collection, based on the image above?
American Legion memorabilia, from the Oswego post, was recently won at an auction and donated to the Oswego Heritage Council's collection. The hat and membership cards (dating to the 1940s) belonged to Felix Frederick Fors, pictured below and to the right in 1964 in the LO Review.
Fors was a teacher and has been mentioned in other parts of our collection. To receive this piece, and the history that goes along with it, was an exciting addition!
Want to Sponsor OHC's Newsletter? Join as a Sponsor Level Member Today!
CLICK HERE TO RENEW, JOIN OR GIFT A MEMBERSHIP TODAY!
IN HONOR OF OUR UPCOMING CAR & BOAT SHOW...
Can you guess what year this picnic took place,
and what park they were at?
Welcome to August, the month where we host our annual COLLECTOR CAR & CLASSIC BOAT SHOW! This year marks 25 years since the very first show was introduced to Lake Oswego, and at the show, we'll be highlighting several of the very important individuals who brought it to life.
As our major fundraiser of the year, the Car & Boat Show brings together over 4,000 people to enjoy the amazing collection of vehicles on display. This year, we'll even be hosting some food trucks to encourage more of the festival feel that we all know and love.
There's still time for you to get involved! Looking to volunteer? Want to register a car, boat, or booth? Interested in sponsoring an award? We need all the involvement we can get to make this year as special as it can be. We especially need someone with a truck that can help us move some of the equipment to the field!
All of the funds donated throughout this event directly support the Oswego Heritage Council's mission to preserve and promote the history of Lake Oswego.
Kathryn Sinor
Executive Director
VOLUNTEER FOR THE SHOW TODAY!
We need help locating photographs of
early prominent Oswego women!
✅ Anna Schneller Conway (1872-1936) and Mary C. Smith (c. 1863-?): Conway and Smith were the first two women to run for Oswego City Council in 1913
✅ Hilma Lindberg (1911-1989): Lindberg ran for City Council in 1952, and the Oswego Review ran a candidate profile
✅ Ellen Bergis (1898-2003): Bergis was the first woman elected to the Oswego City Council and served from 1955-56
Were you able to guess what year this picnic took place,
Even more than a hundred years ago (circa 1915), people were excited to visit Oswego Lake's beach! They lined up at what is now George Rogers Park, on the lawn in front of the iron furnace, often with picnics to celebrate the beautiful days.
Can you guess what avenue this is,
pictured here in circa 1908?
Thank you to all those who attended The Bootlegger's Ball this last Saturday! We transformed the Heritage House, had a wonderful turnout (with new and familiar faces), and raised some money for both the Oswego Heritage Council and West Linn Historical Society. Our speakeasy show was a huge success for something very different than anything we've done at the house before! Some of my favorite comments:
"The Heritage House has outdone itself!"
"I dragged my sister here, who didn't expect to have any fun, and she left the event raving about the burlesque show."
"Hey, I learned something new tonight!"
I would like to thank the Historic Music Preservation Project for the incredible music they provided and Lacy Knightly for producing the Speakeasy Soiree. What a blast!
The funds from this event will go towards several major projects for the Heritage House, including:
If you weren't able to make it to the event, you can still support these initiatives by donating below!
Thank you again for all your support!! We couldn't exist without people like you, who care about and support historic work.
DONATE TODAY
LO REVIEW: Love letters shine light on century-old Lake Oswego courtships
Have you stopped by our Historic Rose Garden yet this year? Things are in bloom, and our garden is coming alive with color!
The Oswego Historic Rose Garden is open daily from dawn until dusk. It was established in 2010 to commemorate Dr. William Cane, whose practice and residence was located at the Oswego Heritage House. At the time Dr. Cane occupied the house (1940-1970s), there was a large circular drive up to the front door planted with roses.
The Historic Rose Garden is an attempt to recreate Dr. Cane's rose garden using plants that he probably bought from JB Pilkington & Son Nursery.
DISCOVER THE HISTORIC ROSES HERE
A reminder that the annual Collector Car & Classic Boat Show will take place on Sunday, August 25th, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM!
If you're interested in registering your car or boat, signing up to sponsor a trophy or other award, or even looking to volunteer, find more information on our website! This event is only possible through wide community participation, and we can't wait to see you there.
DISCOVER THIS YEAR'S CAR & BOAT SHOW
Were you able to guess what avenue this is,
This is B Avenue in Old Town Oswego! On the righthand side forefront, you can see Henry W. Koehler's home, which is now Baird's on B Bar and Grill, and on the lefthand side is the Johnson Hotel. The Bickner Store and Bickner house are also faintly visible.
The view is looking east.
Can you guess what all these women have in common?
The Oswego Heritage Council wants to offer a warm CONGRATULATIONS to two important people within our organization:
Jeannie McGuire, Board Member Emeritus, was awarded the HRAB Merit Award for Historic Preservation, which will hereafter be named the Jeannie McGuire Historic Preservation Award, for her hard work to save multiple historic properties through the years.
Mark Browne, Archivist for OHC, was awarded the C. Herald Campbell Heritage Champion Award at the Chamber of Commerce's Community Awards on Thursday, for his impressive work in archival preservation across the city.
These two amazing individuals have done wonderful work, not just for us at OHC, but for organizations across the city. If you see them out and about, make sure to offer your congratulations!
We are thrilled to be working with the Oswego Quilters, who recently completed a documentation day for several historic quilts -- including a few from the OHC archives! Very soon, we will be bringing in a part of their organization's archives to preserve and educate about this important slice of history. These quilts, and those that made them, tell so many stories, and we can't wait to share!
If you're excited to learn more, take a listen to an oral history interview that the Oswego Quilters did with one of their members, Emmy Lou Johnson.
OSWEGO QUILTERS: Oral History with Emmy Lou Johnson
Join us on Saturday, June 1st, for the opening of LO in LOve: Love Stories from Early Oswego!
The museum will be open for visitors THIS SATURDAY from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Discover love vignettes that are scandalous, romantic, and sometimes doomed from throughout Oswego's history. From the love letters of multiple women in love with the same man to early examples of 20th century wedding dresses to the charming story that explains the simple diary entry "married in a hurry. had to," you'll learn the deeply personal stories from Oswego falling in love.
In early April 2020, the Executive Director of the Oswego Heritage Council received a phone call from a resident in First Addition, Lake Oswego, wanting to know if we would like a cache of "vintage letters" she found in her attic. The collection would end up consisting of 306 love letters to Charles Benjamin Hill, a lifelong Oswego resident, from multiple young women he met during his travels.
The letters were organized, scanned, and transcribed as written with misspellings, grammatical errors, and non sequiturs. The Oswego Heritage Council's research team added explanatory footnotes, family histories, and genealogies to provide an understanding of the lives of these women.
This is a condensed version, available online in a storymap format and with excerpts from the people who wrote to him. If you would like to read the full copy, please visit the Heritage House or the Lake Oswego Public Library.
VISIT THE STORYMAP
Were you able to guess what all these women have in common?
These photographs were all taken in 1920s Oswego, specifically between the years 1921-1925! The left photograph features Cora and Clara Wilmot, twins who labeled the photograph "45 year old flappers!" The middle photograph is Leah Davidson in 1925, and the final photograph is Rosella Woodward (middle) with two of her friends in 1921.
This month, we are highlighting fashion and scenery from this era for inspiration for our June 29th event, the Bootlegger's Ball! This is a fundraising event for both the Oswego Heritage Council and the West Linn Historical Society, and donations will benefit both historical organizations. There will be a silent auction, live jazz band, prohibition-style drinks, the optional speakeasy show featuring burlesque professionals, and other opportunities to give.
GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
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
Copyright © 2024, Oswego Heritage Council. All rights reserved.
