History of Rockwood
So this blog is going to go way beyond "coffee talk" because "coffee talk" so often turns into "Rockwood Talk." And there are so many misconceptions and theories about Rockwood out there, that I am hoping with each post I can reflect the facts AS I KNOW THEM.
Before I would have said I will share "the facts." However, at least one of my facts has been challenged.
Let me start with the "old" Rockwood talk...stories from the long time residents and the recollection of what Rockwood "used" to be.....
Rockwood was an up and coming neighborhood built up with new homes for the middle income class in the late 50s and early 60s. Ranch houses were the theme of the time. Many long time residents purchased their house in 1957 -1964 as the neighborhood was growing.
Rockwood was by no means a dirty word....Rockwood represented families and children, a little white suburb with parks and the Rockwood Parade put on my the local businessmen's association. Many of these elderly people remain in their homes today - for various reasons.
The local plaza at the corner of SE 182nd and Division (Rockwood Plaza) held grocery stores, drug stores, clothing stores and everything you needed for your family. Fred Meyer himself had picked a wonderful visual location for a new store, at the dividing line of two busy streets - Stark and Burnside. Raising families in a nice ranch home with a nice sized yard was good. The home on 182nd that is now the Centennial Transitions Center was once the home of a mink farmer, who owned much of the property around.
Rockwood didn't belong to ANY city. The elders from the area recall NOT wanting to belong to the City of Gresham or the City of Portland. They were proud of their area and didn't want to "ruin" it. They were proud of their fire district 10 - the best - they thought - around. They gathered to start their own City of Rockwood. But the City of Portland and Gresham also formed an independent committee to determine the future of the area with the new sewer system coming aboard. Gresham took half, Portland took half. It was an unincorporated area of Multnomah County until 1987 at which time what people knew as Rockwood was then divided between 2 cities..(See upcoming blogs on "the identity of Rockwood.")
Some of these elderly members chose to still live in the houses where they raised their families. It is reported that many children of these elderly residents don't wish their parents to live in the neighborhood anymore. But they do, and don't have any plans to leave until they are carried away. But Rockwood isn't the same in the eyes of the elders. Of course it's not....and not convenient for elders with no convenient shopping locations or amenities easily available any longer.
Then there's another group of the old residents that don't live here because of choice, but because when the neighborhood started getting a reputation and home values were lower, there homes were not ones they could sell and make enough money to upgrade to another neighborhood. So, those with fixed incomes remain and add to the colorful mix that makes up Rockwood today. In some cases their children remain here after inheriting the homes.
1986 - Light Rail
1987 - Incorporation
Before I would have said I will share "the facts." However, at least one of my facts has been challenged.
Let me start with the "old" Rockwood talk...stories from the long time residents and the recollection of what Rockwood "used" to be.....
Rockwood was an up and coming neighborhood built up with new homes for the middle income class in the late 50s and early 60s. Ranch houses were the theme of the time. Many long time residents purchased their house in 1957 -1964 as the neighborhood was growing.
Rockwood was by no means a dirty word....Rockwood represented families and children, a little white suburb with parks and the Rockwood Parade put on my the local businessmen's association. Many of these elderly people remain in their homes today - for various reasons.
The local plaza at the corner of SE 182nd and Division (Rockwood Plaza) held grocery stores, drug stores, clothing stores and everything you needed for your family. Fred Meyer himself had picked a wonderful visual location for a new store, at the dividing line of two busy streets - Stark and Burnside. Raising families in a nice ranch home with a nice sized yard was good. The home on 182nd that is now the Centennial Transitions Center was once the home of a mink farmer, who owned much of the property around.
Rockwood didn't belong to ANY city. The elders from the area recall NOT wanting to belong to the City of Gresham or the City of Portland. They were proud of their area and didn't want to "ruin" it. They were proud of their fire district 10 - the best - they thought - around. They gathered to start their own City of Rockwood. But the City of Portland and Gresham also formed an independent committee to determine the future of the area with the new sewer system coming aboard. Gresham took half, Portland took half. It was an unincorporated area of Multnomah County until 1987 at which time what people knew as Rockwood was then divided between 2 cities..(See upcoming blogs on "the identity of Rockwood.")
Some of these elderly members chose to still live in the houses where they raised their families. It is reported that many children of these elderly residents don't wish their parents to live in the neighborhood anymore. But they do, and don't have any plans to leave until they are carried away. But Rockwood isn't the same in the eyes of the elders. Of course it's not....and not convenient for elders with no convenient shopping locations or amenities easily available any longer.
Then there's another group of the old residents that don't live here because of choice, but because when the neighborhood started getting a reputation and home values were lower, there homes were not ones they could sell and make enough money to upgrade to another neighborhood. So, those with fixed incomes remain and add to the colorful mix that makes up Rockwood today. In some cases their children remain here after inheriting the homes.
1986 - Light Rail
1987 - Incorporation
posted by Dina DiNucci at
2:18 PM
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