Charles K. Henry, Laurelhurst Company’s First President By Sharon Kidder

When I first considered writing articles about people of Laurelhurst, Charles K. Henry seemed like an obvious first choice as he was instrumental in putting together the deal to buy the Hazel Fern Dairy Farm which is where Laurelhurst was built. The farm was purchased for $2 million dollars in April 1909 and C. K. Henry and his associates formed the Laurelhurst Company to develop it. Mr. Henry served as the company’s first President.

In Sept of 1909, the Laurelhurst Company held a “big excursion” for the formal opening of the Laurelhurst property where they presumably began selling lots. They chartered 2 cable cars and up to 40 autos to transport real estate men and buyers out to the site for a reception with speeches and refreshments.

Mr. Henry said, in part: "Laurelhurst speaks for itself. I am impressed more and more with the splendid judgment of the elder Ladd in selecting such an ideal location for a farm in the pioneer days. I am sure nothing would please him better than to learn that at last it will become an integral part of this beautiful city. There are 460 acres here, and all platted to conform to the contour of the ground. There is also a part of 31 acres, just purchased by the city, in which is a natural lake. The park was sold to the city on condition that it should be placed in shape at once, and maintained on a par with the other parks of Portland."

By October 1909, they had already begun grading the streets. In Feb 1910, they began construction of our beautiful sandstone arches.

In the center portion of Laurelhurst—the location which was said to be the “most sightly spot in the

(Continued on page 4)

Volume 24 Number 1 Jan 2014

THE MEETING DATE HAS CHANGED. The Laurelhurst Neighborhood Association General Membership Meeting takes place on January 29, at 7PM—9:30PM at All Saints Church, NE Cesar E. Chavez & Glisan. Free pizza and soda will be provided. The meeting is open to all.

The agenda follows on page 3.

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The newsletter is published bimonthly except July. The deadline for article submissions is the 1st of the month of publication (January, March, May, September and No-vember). Advertising submissions are due one week earlier. Contact the Treasurer regarding advertising. Articles may be submitted to the Newsletter Editor at the below email. Articles published here are opinions of the authors unless indicated as LNA’s official statements. Similarly LNA assumes no responsibility with regards to the content of

advertisements or the credentials of advertising entities. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without

permission is prohibited. ***

Newsletter Staff Editor: Sharon Kidder newsletter.editor@laurelhurstpdx.org

LNA Board Officers

President – Eric Fruits 503-928-6635 Vice President – Lyle Howard Secretary – Catherine Zalanka Treasurer – Nancy Schwartz

Editor – Sharon Kidder 503-236-8357 SEUL Rep – Don Gardner 503-236-3153

NE Quad Rep – Elena MacPhee 503-453-6156 NW Quad Rep – Jacquie Keeney 971-400-2018 SE Quad Rep – Jeanne Ferguson 503-206-5953

SW Quad Rep – Jim Edelson 503-231-4665 General Rep – Gary Naylor 503-232-3398

LNA Committees

Arches: Doug Lovelace 916-207-4277 Neighborhood Cleanups: Tim Henkle,

timothyhenkle@yahoo.com Coe Circle: David Ferguson 503-206-5953

Garage Sale: Vacant Land Use: Gary Naylor 503-232-3398

Kids Club: Jennifer Lewis Parks: Marilyn Harlin 503-233-2555

Alice Knouff Public Safety: Fern Wilgus 503-231-8464

SOLE: Vacant Transportation: Goudarz Eghtedari 503-235-6136

Trees: Vacant

*** Website: www.laurelhurstpdx.org

Webmaster: Justin Hawkwood, justin@hawkwood.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LaurelhurstPDX

Wiki: our.laurelhurstpdx.org

From the Editor

By Sharon Kidder, LNA Newsletter Editor

It seems my goals for the newsletter are incompatible with the needs of the Board, so the Newsletter Editor position is now open for applications. The ideal candidate should be able to put together the newsletter, coordinate the printing and drop off with the quad reps for delivery. The job also includes locating and working with advertisers, including billing and requesting payments. The Editor should also be able to attend the monthly General and Board meetings and be willing to work with conflicting demands from different Board members. If you are interested, please submit your application to the LNA board president, Eric Fruits.

It has been a pleasure to share a small amount of history with you all and I hope to continue to share my research at the Laurelhurst wiki located at our.laurelhurstpdx.org.

I still believe this beautiful Laurelhurst neighborhood is the best place in Portland to live.

Attention dog owners: please pick up after your dogs. As a dog owner myself and one who walks my two

dogs twice daily, I have noticed plenty of dog poop on lawns and the strips next to the sidewalks. Please

keep our neighborhood clean. ~Tanya Baikow-Smith

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The Laurelhurst Neighborhood Association General Membership Meeting takes place on January 29, at 7PM—9:30PM at All Saints Church.

1. Crime prevention

2. City of Portland regulations regarding bed-and-breakfasts in residential neighborhoods

3. Laurelhurst tree inventory

4. 3505 NE Multnomah Street (aka Word of Life Slavic Baptist Church)

5. Laurelhurst decorative sign caps

6. Coe Circle update

7. Arches update

8. Providence Medical Center

Agenda items are subject to change

January LNA General Membership Meeting Agenda

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whole tract” (at the corner of NE Glisan and Laddington)—Mr. Henry and his new wife, Eugenia, bought nearly ten lots and erected an extravagantly beautiful house. They spent upwards of $60,000 on the house and grounds at a time when $3,000 bought a nice house. The Oregonian did an article hailing it as an “East Side Landmark” on 26 Feb 1911 and included several black and white photographs of some of its beautiful interiors.

In October 1910, Mr. Henry resigned his position as President of the Laurelhurst Company and would say only “he was tired of being a figurehead in the office.” Ultimately, he decided to relocate to Pasadena, California permanently. It took him a number of years to dispose of his many real estate holdings in Portland, including the Henry Building which still stands downtown.

In Feb 1912, the Oregonian published a full-page tribute, “Upbuilding of Portland Great Achievement of Charles K. Henry,” boasting of his career in Portland.

By June 1913, the Henry family grand mansion was put on the auction block. It received two bids; the winning bid was for $41,000 and the house was sold

(Continued from page 1)

to the Scott family.

I found little evidence that Mr. Henry remained active in real estate once he arrived in California. I found a listing for Charles Henry, Dealer in Lands and Real Estate in 1921. I know he had two children by his second wife and perhaps he enjoyed his second chance at a family until he died in 1940 in Los Angeles, California.

View of front corner of Henry house

The illustration of the house and grounds as shown in the 1916 sales brochure. In the left foreground is a shared garage. Homer I. Keeney’s house is behind the garage.

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The overhead illustration of the location of the four grand house lots located at 39th and Glisan. (By 1916, called the Scott house.)

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By Jennifer Lewis, Laurelhurst Neighbor, lewis_jennifer@yahoo.com

Welcoming in the New Year always makes me realize how lucky I am to have a healthy and happy family. Many people in the world are not so fortunate. One of our Laurelhurst neighbors, Tory Stine, is working with Project Helping Hands to change that. Tory is a Trauma Nurse Coordinator at Emanuel.

Once a year, with co-leader Michele Cathey-Hamley, she takes a medical mission trip with Project Helping Hands to Turkana in NW Kenya. This February will be their third year in Turkana. Her sons Taylor and Christian will be volunteering with them, taking time out of their sophomore year to help those less fortunate. This will be their second trip for each of them, but the first with each other.

The Turkana District is the largest in Kenya. People there belong mainly to the pastoral tribes of the Turkana and Pokot. Drought, tribal fighting and an inflow of refugees from Somalia has further stressed the limited resources of the Turkana people. Malnutrition, high infant mortality, poor hygiene and a lack of education are pervasive. Unfortunately malaria, typhoid, TB, HIV and other diseases indicative of poverty, lack of water, nutrition and sanitation are all too common.

Tory, through Project Helping Hands (a non-affiliated, not-for-profit organization that sends teams of volunteers to provide medical and health education in developing nations) is working to make life better for the people

of Turkana. “I have been blessed to be able to help support the people of Africa, especially Turkana. Being able to form relationships and connect with these beautiful people this past year has not only created the groundwork for our future aid and relief, but also nourished my passion for serving those who are less privileged. I believe we will make an immense difference with our involvement in the lives of these communities,” says Tory.

The key to her team’s success is the commitment they bring to impact people in a life-changing way. Beyond treating illness, disease, trauma and providing care, her team works to educate locals and village health care providers with the goal for them to become self-sufficient.

In Turkana, she works to augment the existing community health program by educating community health workers (CHW) and the people regarding health maintenance. At their clinic, they provide immunizations, treat and refer those not already connected to CHWs, and help people with treatment

Neighbors Helping Those in Need

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or referrals for HIB, TB, peri-natal and children’s health, river blindness and cataract surgery to name a few.

If you would like to help her mission, you can donate to her efforts at www.projecthelpinghands.org. Click on the “Donation Options” tab. When it asks where to direct your donation, please pick the “Turkana

Kenya February 2014” option. To see the amazing work she does in Turkana, you can watch a video that was taken during her mission in 2013. Thank you for sharing in her excitement, and becoming involved in this effort of helping others in need.

www.studiokate.us/project-helping-hands.

In February, Childswork Learning Center will begin accepting applications for enrollment for the

2014-15 school year. Childswork is a non-profit, early childhood education school located at SE

42nd/Salmon. Since 1984, Childswork has focused on the development of the whole child with

respect and compassion. For more information, please visit childswork.org or call 503-234-3611.

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would support traffic volume without increased queuing, travel times or traffic diversion to adjacent streets.

In order to determine if this reconfiguration is feasible, PBOT will test the single westbound lane model this spring by constructing temporary barriers restricting access to one westbound lane at the signalized intersections of 20th and 28th. PBOT will collect data before and during the test to assess impacts on travel times, delay at the signals, queuing at the signals and vehicles diverting onto other roadways. The duration of the test period will be approximately 30 to 45 days. If the test indicates adequate capacity, re-striping of East Burnside could begin in early autumn.

To learn more about the project contact PBOT’s High Crash Corridor program at 503-823-4998 or clay.veka@portlandoregon.gov. or visit PBOT’s program website at:

https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/61206

By Doug Lovelace

Residents and business owners in the Kerns and Buckman neighborhoods west of Laurelhurst are working with Portland Bureau of Transportation’s High Crash Corridor team to improve traffic safety on East Burnside between 14th and 32nd. This part of East Burnside has been identified by PBOT as a High Crash Corridor, a segment that has more crashes than other similar roadways in the city. Members of the community and the Burnside East Business Association (BEBA) have long expressed a strong desire for PBOT to address the safety issues along this section and in early 2013 a formal working group was formed.

The working group met with PBOT personnel on three occasions to develop goals and discuss different measures that might improve the overall experience and safety of all users of East Burnside. Following these discussions, PBOT staff tested various models to determine if new configurations would support current and projected traffic volumes.

In September, a public meeting was held to present the working group’s findings and solicit input from the community. These meetings found significant interest in the business and residential community for a roadway configuration that would re-align East Burnside as one lane westbound (inbound), two lanes east/outbound (as is) with one center two-way turn lane. There’s also significant support for pedestrian improvements and an overall posted speed reduction to 30 MPH.

This realignment is expected to reduce crashes by 20%, provide space for left turning vehicles to pull out of the travel lane, provide space at intersections for right turn lanes, provide space for pedestrian islands and provide overall improvement for all users.

Unfortunately, PBOT’s modeling data does not conclusively determine that a single westbound lane

Safety Improvements Coming to E. Burnside

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By Ed Rentz, NETworking

Winter weather can offer many challenges. Be prepared for situations before they occur. If you are traveling by car, keep an emergency supply kit in your car. This kit should include blankets, flashlight, water and food, like energy bars.

If stranded, do not leave the vehicle unless you know where you are and how far it is to get help. Keep warm. Run the engine and heater for about 10 minutes every hour. Use the blankets. Tie a bright colored cloth to the antenna. This may attract attention. Use the flash light or flares at night.

Winter driving requires special attention to road conditions. Use your headlights so others can see you. Slow down. Give yourself plenty of room to stop. Brake gently to avoid locking up the wheels and skidding. If you do skid, stay off the brakes. Steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go.

Chains and studded tires improve traction. Use them if going into snow country or mountains. Black Ice can occur when ground temperatures are freezing but the air temperature is just above freezing or there is some rain. This will cause moisture to freeze on the road but it looks like water.

If the temperature is close to freezing, slow down and watch for ice. This is especially true on overpasses, bridges, ramps and low spots where the road dips.

Winter Driving Safety

svtvtvtvtvtvu

Mike Di Blasi is organizing the installation of additional Historic Laurelhurst Sign Caps around the neighborhood.

Sign Caps have been placed at a number of loca-tions around the neighborhood by the Laurelhurst Neighborhood Association.

Private donations will be collected for additional sign caps. The cost of the purchase and installa-tion of the sign caps is $150 each.

If you are interested in having a sign cap near your house, contact Mike Di Blasi at:

md4you@comcast.net

Historic Laurelhurst Sign Caps

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[Significantly edited to conserve space] There are some big things coming up in January regarding the short-term rentals law. At the January meeting we will discuss these rules with a City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability representative. The police are working on the tire slashing issue. Suspects may be on bikes. Car break-ins have been happening around 6am. Don’t leave valuables visible in your car. Approved a change in our by-laws to require two signatures on checks over $200, rather than the previous $50. City held a hearing to consider the Word of Life Slavic Baptist Church’s application for expansion. Because of the proposed expansion of the church facility, there was a hearing. [Omitted several deadlines already past.] After the written record closes and the hearing officer makes a decision, if there is an appeal, the only material that can be used and referred to is what is in the written record. The LNA could appeal the hearings officer opinion. The LNA Board had an issue with on street parking and the impact on the larger church facility. [The rest of this section has been omitted as it is now irrelevant because the City’s decision has already been issued.]

3390 NE Sandy (aka Diamonds Portland Gentlemen’s Club fka Mynt Gentlemen’s Club) is for sale. Jim Atwood is looking for people who are interested in buying the club space for $1,250,000.

Laurelhurst decorative sign caps. Mike DiBlasi is interested in gathering names of residents who would like to buy sign caps for their street. E-mail Mike if you are interested in having a sign cap. Another idea is to make it a donation to the LNA. The estimated cost will be $150 total for the sign ($75) and installation ($75). The Coe Circle is in the Winter Cycle, no expected work parties or improvements in near future. Friends is in communication with the Transportation Bureau about maintenance of the grass. Portland Providence Medical Center Guest housing facility is going to begin construction with demolition of the current building in the spring and construction in late spring. There is a subcommittee called the Transportation Work Group, tasked with particulars having to do with parking. Two medical office buildings are in the planning stages, one on NE 47th and Glisan. There will be another office building at the opposite side of the campus on NE 53rd.

Unapproved Minutes from General Meeting, Nov 26

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Church, with the final agreement to be approved by the LNA Board. Keeney made the motion, Naylor seconded it. Unanimous, 8 Yes.

Friends of Trees and Tree Inventory, Presenter: Cal-houn. Martha Irving is the coordinator for LN. 32 families have requested trees this year. The tree in-ventory project is something that many neighbor-hoods are doing.

Information about the tree inventory project: Started about 3 years ago in 8 neighborhoods during the sum-mer for a two year cycle. Apply by mid-Jan, decision in Feb. Information on street trees collected goes in a database, then the city discusses improvement ideas and objectives for the neighborhood. The neighbor-hood can create a succession plan. What’s your re-placement strategy for 100 + year old trees? What kind of trees do you want? One part of the applica-

(Continued on page 14)

Unapproved Minutes from Board Meeting, Dec 19

[Significantly edited to conserve space.]

Held at home of Nancy Schwartz

Quorum reached. Edleson moves to approve the min-utes. Schwartz seconds. Unanimous, 8 Yes. Minutes approved.

3505 NE Multnomah St. (Word Of Life Slavic Baptist Church), Presenter: Gary Naylor. 7:08.

Motion: The LNA Board authorizes the LNA Land Use Sub-Committee to have the option to speak for the LNA in an appeal a decision allowing the Word of Life Slavic Baptist Church to continue in their plans to build a Sunday School. In the event of an appeal, the LNA requests a fee waiver for the appeal. Unanimous, 8 Yes.

Motion: The LNA Board authorizes the LNA Land Use Sub-Committee to negotiate a Good Neighbor Agreement with the Word of Life Slavic Baptist

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tion requirements is an approval by the LNA Board.

Motion: LNA Board states support for and author-izes the standing Tree Committee to apply for and initiate the tree inventory project. Keeney moves, Naylor seconds. Unanimous, Yes 8.

Decorative sign caps, Presenter: Jeanne Ferguson.

Motion: LNA Board approves a $100 check from the LNA to the Laurelhurst Market to Rick Jaszczult in thanks for his time and effort in making the Laurel-hurst Sign Caps possible.

Newsletter: advertising and delivery, Presenters: Nancy Schwartz. Schwartz shares that her job work-ing on advertising is time-consuming. Ad revenue is declining. Concern that there is no oversight with the content of the newsletter. The font is bigger, and the newsletter is much longer. Summarizing the minutes with a smaller font is an idea. The only re-quirement for the newsletter is that the agenda is in the newsletter. Section 7, Article 6: the board shall

(Continued from page 13) adopt guidelines for the newsletter editor. The objec-tive: provide information relative to the neighborhood and generate revenue for the newsletter and the LNA. Newsletter guidelines will be on agenda for February Board Meeting.

Portland Providence Medical. The annual committee meeting was on Nov 6. The discussion was about the guest housing facility on the Moore Lithograph build-ing. They are looking at demolition as early as this spring. Through the GNA, feedback from LNA and North Tabor NA was added to the Providence Plan. The standing committee meeting – transportation work group (the prime subcommittee) – issues will be discussed on January 8th. Issues have to do with transportation and North Tabor NA issues. Good example of a GNA working (connects to the Word of Life Church issue).

Adjourn

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Jan 29 LNA General Membership Mtg, 7PM-9:30PM, All Saints Church, NE Cesar Chaves & Glisan.

Feb 20, LNA Board Meeting, 7PM-9:30PM, Laurelhurst Club, 3721 SE Ankeny.

Mar 25, LNA General Membership Mtg, 7PM-9:30PM, All Saints Church, NE Cesar Chaves & Glisan.

Apr 17, LNA Board Meeting, 7PM-9:30PM, Laurelhurst Club, 3721 SE Ankeny.

May 27, LNA General Membership Mtg, 7PM-9:30PM, All Saints Church, NE Cesar Chaves & Glisan.

Jul 8, LNA Board Meeting, 7PM-9:30PM, Laurelhurst Club, 3721 SE Ankeny.

Upcoming Events

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Happy belated new year! While the holidays seem to be a time to withdraw into our homes and enjoy our families, the Laurelhurst Neighborhood Association

has been busy working on issues important to our neighbors.

The date of our next general membership meeting has been changed, it is now Wednesday, January 29, at 7:00 pm at All Saints Church. All LNA meetings are open to the public and anyone interested in our neighborhood is encouraged to attend and get involved—we supply the pizza and soda.

As always, the meeting will be covering several important and/or interesting topics and we’d love to get your input. In particular, staff from the City of Portland will describe proposals to create a permit to allow one- and two-bedroom bed and breakfast facilities in residential zones, including Laurelhurst. If you have an interest in this issue, now is the time to speak up and get involved! For more information, see: www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/ricap.

The City of Portland hearings officer has approved the Conditional Use application from Word of Life Slavic Baptist Church at 3505 NE Multnomah Street for an 8,000 square foot addition to the existing church. The hearings officer noted that he was not unsympathetic to the neighbors primary concern about the on-street parking. One of his conditions requires the applicant have a transportation demand management (TDM) plan with the goal of reducing the number of

vehicles coming to the site prior. In addition, prior to receiving the final occupancy for the addition the applicant must develop a Good Neighbor Agreement with the Laurelhurst Neighborhood Association or meet in good faith with the LNA to reach agreement on a GNA.

There has been overwhelming interest in expanding our Laurelhurst Neighborhood decorative sign caps. Neighbor Mike DiBlosi will be working with the city to buy and place more signs. At this time, the estimated cost would be $150 a sign ($75 for the sign and $75 to the city for installation). If you are interested in buying a sign for your corner, email Mike at md4you@comcast.net.

LNA is making a big effort to communicate more with our neighbors. In addition to the website, you can also “Like” our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/LaurelhurstPDX and follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/Laurelhurst_PDX.

I hope to see you at our general membership meeting on Wednesday, January 29!

President’s Perspective

By Eric Fruits, President