Aloha-Reedville

Images of America: Oregon

by Janel Josephson

What we think of today as Aloha or Aloha-Reedville in Washington County, Oregon, was once a collection of small villages that developed near rivers and established overland routes. Bridgeport, later Farmington on the Tualatin River, was settled in 1845. Nearby, homesteads emerged along the lower slope of Cooper Mountain and the Plains-Falls Road, an official route of the territorial government of Oregon. The 1850s donation land claim era brought additional settlement and increased agricultural production. Throughout the 1860s, farmers and entrepreneurs scrambled for an effective means of transporting surplus products for export from the prolific Tualatin Valley to Portland, San Francisco, and beyond. A railroad line, completed in 1872, established Reedville as a commercial center, and by the early 1900s, passenger depots were built at Huber, Tobias, and Aloha on the interurban Red Electric railway. Today, the suburban community of Aloha, once part of Oregon's oldest agricultural centers, maintains a significant role in the development of the Portland metropolitan region.

Genres: History

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 17, 2013

Reviews

[Anouk · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was cool to see how many familiar streets were named after historical families in the area and to learn the history of buildings I've run past that I didn't know were that old (like Reedville Elementary).

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to know the proper score for this book. The history is thoroughly researched, and there are lots of pictures, but the telling of the history is rather dry. It probably would not interest people without ties to the area. I am tied to the area, though, so even though the repetition was frustrating, there was all of this familiarity. There's the Grange, and Blanton House, and Harvey's. There are the Reeds, of both Reedville and Reed College. I know that building. There is a lot of pleasure with that.

The other thing that was interesting is realizing how quickly the time spans. The early settlers have grandchildren that are around for the World Wars and the Depression, and their grandchildren might have children that I went to school with. It was interesting to think about in that way.

[Julie Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a native Oregonian, and extend that to a native Alohan... I love this community and have been sad to see it change, and in a lot of ways decay... the book was interesting, lots of good photos, and lots of familiar names that rang a bell in my head... a fun read for anybody from the area!!! Worth checking out!

[John Orman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many black and white photos of this community near me in the Portland Metro area.

I learned quite a few things about that area I frequently drive by--including the giant rabbit at Harvey Marine. He holds something different in his hand every holiday season!

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aloha native, so I enjoyed the factoids. Would have liked a bit more depth. And more maps / overlays to show locations mentioned, and to compare to modern-day things at the same location (url for interactive overlay map, perhaps :-)