Friends of Historic Forest Grove

Projects

Alvin T. Smith Property Preservation & Restoration

Friends of Historic Forest Grove (FHFG) has purchased 3.2 acres adjacent to the Alvin T. Smith property on the south edge of Forest Grove! FHFG is accepting ideas and partners to develop this land in a manner beneficial to the community and economically viable while preserving the historic integrity and context of the Smith property.

The FHFG board has worked long and hard to get to this point, and we have a lot of challenges still before us. Our first goal - one of many - is to raise $10,000 by October 30, 2012, to meet our next financial obligation!

The Alvin T. Smith House was one of only two structures in Forest Grove that were documented for the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) in the 1930s. The house was placed on the National Register in 1971 by the Zurcher family who were the owners at the time. This 1938 photo is on record with the National Parks Service (NPS) and the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).

Built with oak timber framing, the house has defied nature and human neglect. The Classical Greek Revival elements are simple and elegant. The remaining 6-over-6 original windows were restored in 2005-06 and non-period windows will eventually be replaced. The roof replacement was completed in 2007.The stabilization plan of enhancing the basement support and adding a perimeter drainage system has been completed.

The FHFG purchased the house in 2005, and has finally paid off the mortgage! The house is now ready for the next phase of its restoration.

 

Washington County Heritage Online (WCHO)

FHFG has agreed to be a supporter and contributor of WCHO, a cooperative project of Washington County libraries, museums, and cultural institutions that will bring the visual history of our county to the public. This project is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Oregon State Library.   Many of the organizations have begun digitizing their collections, and are trying to make them more accessible to our citizens. This project will bring these efforts together and leverage our individual resources to create a single, integrated collection, easily available via the Internet.   WCHO Newsletter, Volume 2, Issue 1 WCHO Newsletter, Volume 2, Issue 2 WHCO Newsletter, Volume 2, Issue 3 WHCO Newsletter, Volume 2, Issue 4