SW Neighborhoods, Inc. Empowering Citizens since 1978

The Office of Neighborhood Involvement and the Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. are excited about the opportunity to speak to you about the completion of your projects and how the small grants program has helped you to build local partnerships, increase neighborhood involvement, attract new and diverse members and sustain and build a strong local network.
 

Fifteen Bridlemile homes are on the Historic Resource Inventory of Portland, Oregon. A few of the neighbors whose homes are in the Inventory shared stories about them at the November 2006 BNA meeting.

Land going west from the Walther house to SW Shattuck and beyond was owned by Woody Froom. John Walther feels that the original Woody Froom home still exists on SW Shattuck, on the east side at about Thomas Street. Fred Walther "share cropped" the Eastern segment with other Swiss Dairy Farm people to help pay the Multnomah County taxes.

John Walther, the grandson of Fred and Rosa Walther, tells this Bridlemile story. The Walthers farmed land in what is now Bridlewood. The property, 68 acres, originally was owned by Chris and Lena Kerlking who grew nursery stock, primarily apple and pear trees. The Kerklings sold to the Walthers in 1946. The brick house on 45th Avenue was built in 1948.

Bridlemile is composed of many small subdivisions. The History Committee is attempting to make a complete list.

Here's here are the ones we know of: Bridlemile, Bridlemile Place, Bridlewood, Brookford, Clarion, Doschdale, Hamilton Woods, Montmore, Raleighwood, Orchard Hill, Semler Park, Smoke Rise, Stonebrook, Tunnelwood Park, Wilcox Estates, Wilcox West.

While you are strolling through Bridlemile this summer, you may want to walk the loop in the Skylark subdivision. From Hamilton just west of 54th there is a path that goes south to Seymour St in Skylark. Or you can drive in from Beaverton Hillsdale Highway on SW 56th. If you know anything about when this area was developed or who developed it please share.

The Red Electric Railroad, Southern Pacific’s Oregon Interurban did not run through Bridlemile but it was close. It ran just south of the current Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway. It was built in 1871 and ran until the mid 1920’s. There are a few stories about Bridlemile folks riding it, if you have any please share.

Rod McKuen wrote a song, "Love's Been Good To Me" in 1969. A verse goes, "There was a girl in Portland/ Before the winter chill/ We used to go a-courtin'/ Along October Hill....".

Walking Tours
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There's a lot to see in Bridlemile, trees, creeks, parks, historic buildings, hidden pedestrian only connections, many different architectural styles of homes, great gardens, and more.

have been among the most often asked about and requested improvements in Bridlemile. The major impediment has always been funding. If you're looking for the SW Hamilton Halo LID pilot project page, this is it! And its also about pedestrian improvements that meet ADA standards, and bicycle improvements too.

Transportation & Pedestrian Safety

Pedestrian safety is one of the main priorities of projects past and present.

Swales to trails, side walks, speed bumps and limits, safe routes to school for walking and biking, crosswalks, street Collector Plan, pedestrian safety, bicycling, bus service, traffic lights, stop signs... there's alot essential Transportation elements in Bridlemile that could greatly benefit from some futher improvements.

Committee Chair and Volunteers Needed

If you are interested in improving any of Bridlemile's many transportation needs please volunteer to help with projects of interest to you.

Bev Vogt who has done great things for Bridlemile transportation over the years resigned as Committee Chair at the end of 2006, and acting Chair June 2008.. And we are desperately in need of a volunteer to take over that position. Resposiblities of the Transportation Chair include attending Bridlemile NA meetings (2nd Wed of each month), SWNI Transportation Meetings(3rd Wednesday of each month), keeping these Bridlemile Transportation web pages up to date (help and training available from our web Chair), and coordinating other BNA Transportation Committee volunteers. Bev recommends that the new Chair "have more energy and strength, and be more adept and interested in doing all the politics that this position requires. This position requires someone who really burns with interest in and enthusiasm about dealing with all the inner workings of City, Metro, and State transportation politics. It is really an important position to have for the neighborhood association".

If you are interested in serving in this important post or helping with one or more BNA Transporation projects listed above please contact the BNA Board and/or come to the next BNA Board meeting.

The history committee collects photos and conducts interviews about residents, past and present, in order to develop a visual and oral record of our neighborhood.