Maxine's Story
Tigard
You might say that Tigard and I grew up together, though maybe "matured together" would be more accurate. I was a 19 year old bride when my husband and I moved here in 1947. Tigard was a bedroom community not yet a designated "city"---unincorporated city, I believe it was called. Now 54 years later it is a very different place just as I am a very different person. A one horse town some might have called it---though that would not be technically correct! Nearly everyone who had a field, had at least one horse standing in it. Which was probably what attracted my husband to Tigard in the first place.
One doctor was what Tigard had! Dr. Ralph Bisset was his name, and he delivered all our babies, and attended our sick, in our homes if we asked him to. A book could be written about that good man. His portrait is prominently displayed in Meridian Park hospital, the project of his later years, though I believe he died before it's completion.
It was several years before we had a telephone installed---and received the same prefix that every one else in Tigard had, Mercury 9.
With one vehicle and no telephone, it was not always easy to get local news right away---so it was surprising and amusing when Hank would come home from work with tidbits of information.
How we laughed when our town got a semaphore! At the corner of 217 and Barbur Blvd., those streets that we now know as Hall and Pacific Hwy. Our present 217, wasn't even on the drawing board at that time. If the Baldock (or Salem) freeway was, we didn't know it.
If we wanted to go to Portland, it was via Barbur Blvd. To Salem, we had a choice. We could go to Oregon City to cross the Willamette river, or we could go to Wilsonville (via Boones Ferry Road), and cross on the Boones Ferry. There were, and still are, two other nearby ferries that serve the driving public, the Canby and Wheatland. We used them all, depending on our destination. If we attended the dance at the "Top of the Hill Grange Hall", we'd be late coming home and at the Canby ferry, have to honk and yell at the ferryman to come and get us!
We had a choice when we shopped for groceries. There was a Safeway, directly across Hall Blvd., from their present location .... Then there were also two locally owned stores, Warners and Girods. Since the Warners were our neighbors and closest friends, we shopped exclusively at their store. I agonized a bit over that--their prices were high! They also rented freezer lockers and that is where we stored our meat. I should mention the old country store that stood at the comer of Pacific Hwy. and McDonald. It was like stepping into the 19th century. I was only there a couple of times before it was tom down. Somehow I didn't appreciate the quaintness---pickles in a barrel ---I think they carried everything from clothing to hardware, and of course, had a wood stove in the back!
If we wanted to eat out we had 2 choices---both Chinese. Taiping burned down and was not replaced, but the High Hat is still in business. They did relocate, moved across the street.
There were no fast food places that we now take for granted. None! No pizza---nor Mexican food of any kind. No McDonalds---nor Burger King---nor Wendy's. The very first to build in this community was a Frost Top restaurant, built by Hyrum Mertlich and continues today under the name "Davidsons". Hy and Eva's business was welcomed by the entire town. It became a place for social gatherings and served the best root beer that we had ever tasted. Their famous "Hy Burger"is still available, now called the
"Master Burger"
There were 2 taverns downtown---and they are still right there in the same places. Since I've never been in either one, I couldn't judge any changes. I assume that they are successful since they seem to be the most stable of all the local businesses.
Hank and I laughed again the day he came home and announced that Tigard had a policeman! Why would we need a policeman? Maybe it was because we now had a traffic light? Or maybe it was because of those taverns? We used to leave all the doors open when we went away in the summer time, so that the house wouldn't get too hot. Or in case the neighbors needed something.
If we saw someone walking we stopped and gave them a ride to wherever they were going. We would, of course, recognize them, and there was no one walking unless it was to get somewhere!
If we wanted recreation we would go to our choice of parks---the Avalon on the East side of the Tualatin river, and Roamers Rest on the west side. There was swimming, picnicking; paddle boats and concessions. My children took Red Cross Swimming lessons in the Tualatin river!
We had four schools. The high school was located downtown, right where Main St. joins Pacific Hwy. Grade school was Charles F. Tigard, also on Pacific Hwy., as was (and is) the Catholic school, St. Anthonys. And of course the old Durham elementary, where my four children attended the first six grades. The year my oldest son went into grade 7, Twality Jr. High was opened.
If we wanted anything other than groceries, we went downtown (Portland). We did have our own movie theater. The "Joy" is still there in the same location, apparently as successful as the taverns.
We lived in houses in the forties and fifties--- There were no apartments. There were no housing developments, not yet much building, though that would soon change. No King City, no Summerfield and very few Churches. There were no traffic problems!
Progress? I suppose so---today I have so many choices---for shopping---for recreation---for spiritual and physical and emotional need of every kind. Our good library, our Senior center, our City buildings, all new. (I do remember a library from many years ago. It was a small store downtown, dark and dreary, with a small selection of books.)
But, I live behind locked doors, even when I am home. I hardly know my closest neighbors, and since we have little in common, that is not likely to change.
It is however, in the population growth that I find my greatest blessing. My dearest friends have come from many places, to make Tigard their homes. They bring their skills and talents and willingness to share whatever they possess---their friendship and good times--- a shoulder to cry on for the bad times. And help in time of need.
I am satisfied that Hank and I chose well--- We didn't foresee the future of our town anymore that we could have predicted our own fate .... And I believe that the Pioneers who first settled here would be completely blown away by a single look at this area in the year 2001! One can't help but wonder what the next fifty years will bring!
YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY TIGARD!
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Website by Maxine