Sep 1930: Coe Circle Park

The Oregonian, 4 Sep 1930
Coe Circle to Be Park

The other half of the Coe circle will become a parked area, with the removal of the building which has been there for several years, Commissioner Pier said yesterday, when provision was made for the removal of the building which has been at East 39th and Glisan streets. The public works department will deed the strip to the park bureau, which will maintain it hereafter.

May 1925: Coe Circle Named

The Oregonian, 28 May 1925
Site Named Coe Circle
Site Donor to be Honored by City Commissioners

The circle at East 39th and East Glisan streets, which is the site for the statue of Joan of Arc given to the city by Dr. Henry Waldo Coe, will be known hereafter as "Coe Circle," it was determined by the city council yesterday.

The Laurelhurst Daddies' club suggested that because of the numerous gifts Dr. Coe had made to the city and his public spirit generally, the city should honor him by naming the site after him. An ordinance will be prepared by the city attorney and presented at the meeting of the council next Wednesday.

The statue will be unveiled and given to the city Saturday at 11 AM at patriotic ceremonies.

The Oregonian, 17 May 1925
Clear Statue View Aim
30 Trees to be Removed for Joan of Arc Gift

About 30 trees will be removed from the circle at East 39th and East Glisan streets so the view of the statue of Joan of Arc to be given the city by Dr. Henry Waldo Coe will be obscured.

Opposition to the removal of the trees appeared from the art commission, which that a suitable frame of trees should be left for the statue and all of the dead and undesirable trees removed. Dr. Coe, however, wanted the view of the statue clear from all angles and in this view Commissioner Pier agreed.

The trees will be removed by the park bureau and some of them may be used elsewhere. Shrubs and flowers will be planted in the lot about the statue, which will be dedicated May 30 at patriotic exercises.

Dec 1924: Statue Controversy

The Oregonian, 12 Dec 1924
Funds for Statues Promised by Mayor
Plans for Overcoming of Veto Kept Secret
Tax Commissions Refusal Angers Portland Officials and Hot Row is Started

Funds for the bases for two statues to be given to the city by Dr. Henry Waldo Coe will be provided despite the state tax conservation-commission which eliminated $7000 from the city budget for that purpose. Mayor Baker announced yesterday. Just how the mayor planned to overcome the veto of the tax commission, he did not indicate yesterday, but he declared that the money would be forthcoming and the statues saved to Portland. One is a statue of Joan of Arc and the other is George Washington. Later, Dr. Coe has announced that he plans to give the city a statue of Lincoln.

All city officials were irate yesterday at the refusal of the tax commission to grant the funds for the statue bases. There was a suggestion from city officials and from attorneys and business men that a collection be taken to raise the funds. Dr. Coe is opposed to the collection idea because it would mean a heavy tax on the few who would contribute, and he feels that the statues will be of benefit to the whole city. He has had invitations from Seattle and many other cities to donate his statues there, but he said that he would wait awhile, as he had hopes that Portland would want them.

"You always have more trouble with your best girl than with any other," the doctor said, "and Portland is my best girl. I am just now getting my breath after this shock. I don't want them to take up a subscription because they would get the first few men available, and the tax on them would be too great. If the commission had left those items in the budget, it would have meant that each person in Portland would have paid 2 cents, and I think that is a mighty cheap price for art."

Feb 1924: Joan of Arc Statue

The Oregonian 24 Feb 1924

Dr. Coe to Give City Joan of Arc Statue
Bronze Replica of Famed Work to be Cast
Figure, Reproduced From That by Frémiet, Will be Received Here Within Six Months

Paris, Feb 23-- A full-sized replica in bronze of the most celebrated of all the statues of Jeanne d'Arc is to be placed in one of the public squares of Portland as the gift of Dr. Henry Waldo Coe.

This announcement was made today by Dr. Coe after he had completed arrangements for the casting of the statue, which is to be ready for shipment in four months.

The statue is that by Emmanuel Frémiet, noted French sculptor of 50 years ago. It stands at the Place de Rivoli, off the Rue de Rivoli, just opposite the gardens of the Tuilleries. Every American tourist who has been to Paris has an eye for art knows the statue, for not only is it one of the most celebrated of the hundreds of public statues in Paris, but it is placed in the heart of the fashionable hotel district where Americans and other foreigners gather.

The statue is to be cast from the original moulds by Barbedlenne, a noted establishment which holds reproduction rights to all Frémiet's statues. It will be shipped through the canal to Portland, and should reach the Rose City within six months at the most.

This gift by Dr. Coe is in addition to the other three statues--one of Lincoln, one of Washington, and one of Dr. John McLaughlin--which he will give the city, as announced by him upon his departure from Portland for his European trip.

"I think it is most fitting that the sturdy French pioneers who helped to settle the Oregon country should have some recognition," said Dr. Coe. "That stretch of the Willamette valley between Portland and Salem, including the French Prairie region, was largely reclaimed from a wilderness by the early French."

Winter 1922: Circle Park Controversy

The Oregonian, 18 Dec 1921
Objectors Are Answered
Laurelhurst Building Proposal Held Legal
Building Restrictions Declared Not to Bar Structure Designed for Purpose of Market

That building restrictions in Laurelhurst never had applied to the small park block at East 39th and Glisan streets was the answer yesterday of the Laurelhurst company, Paul C. Murphy andd the J.W. McFadden Building company to the injunction suit filed in the circuit court by A.C. Ward and other residence owners seeking to prevent the erection of a combined meat market, grocery and drug store at the location.

It is further asserted that the companies planning to erect such a building--which, it is claimed, would have all the artistic appearance of a private residence--are financially interested in maintaining the "class" of the residential district to a far greater extent than any of the petitioners.

Up to November 28 last the Laurelhurst company maintained its business office on the park block in question and the building has always been a voting place for elections. The block is not a part of Laurelhurst Northeast, Laurelhurst Southwest, and the restrictions on Laurelhurst Northwest were never placed on nor intended for block A and B of that plat, it is asserted.

The McFadden Company contends that it would be the last to desire property values injured by permitting undesirable business houses to enter Laurelhurst, claiming to have for sale homes in that district ranging in price from $5000 to $38,500.

Aug 1919: Laurelhurst Park

The Oregonian, 9 Aug 1919
Laurelhurst Park Prettiest Spot in All Portland
by James D. Olson

Virgin forests which in bygone days covered the area now comprising the large east side of Portland are brought to mind when one enters Laurelhurst Park. Standing on all sides of a beautiful lake, augmented by a wide variety of choice shrubbery, the trees furnish a picturesque scene difficult to surpass.

Laurelhurst park is the mecca for those who seek to rest, those who desire to commune to nature and, above all, the delight of the kiddies who love to romp without restraint amid the natural beauties of the universe.

Thirty acres were obtained by the city of Portland in 1911 for Laurelhurst park. Sit as it is in the center of a beautiful residential district, easy of access from street car lines and main automobile thoroughfares, the park has become one of the most popular recreation spots in Portland. On hot days, especially when Old Sol’s rays are beating on the city’s pavement, the breezes murmuring in the trees in Laurelhurst bring comfort to all within its confines. It is said by park authorities that there is never a time when breezes do not blow in Laurelhurst park.

Lake Covers Three Acres
The lake is this park covers three acres and furnishes the home of countless ducks and geese. In supreme control of this lake, its inhabitants and its trespassers is General John J. Pershing, the all-white swan, whose name, given him in honor of America’s famous military chieftain, is a result of the swan’s constant militant attitude.

Day of sight, General Pershing “polices” the lake, and either by inference or speedy action, forbids children or grownups from approaching the edge of the lake shore. For General Pershing believes, it seems, that the beauties of the lake can be discerned from a distance. As a result of his watchfulness, the officials of the park bureau say, many children have been prevented from falling into the lake and thus obtaining an uncomfortable ducking or, possibly, even worse, loss of life.

In addition to his “watch on the lake” General Pershing assumes parental attitude on each brood of ducklings which appears at Laurelhurst. Acting as guard over the nest, preventing overzealous amateur ornithologists from making casual or other investigations, has become a fixed duty in the life of this recognized supervisor of the lake.

Lake Once Favorite Swimming Hole
Many of Portland’s austere, business men remember Laurelhurst lake as their favorite “swimmin’ hole” 30 years ago. At that time it was much smaller and was fringed with tules. Then, as now, a spring fed the lake, preventing stagnation and providing a clear, fresh body of water.

The park bureau drains the lake once or twice each year, after which Bull Run water is used in refilling it. At all other times the flow from the spring is sufficient to keep it in fresh condition. A few years ago, when Portland was faced with an unemployment situation, with thousands of men seeking work, the old swimming hole was transformed into a lake by enlargement and deepening.

Portland lays just claim to the greatest variety of choice shrubs planted in one place on the Pacific coast, and this display exists in Laurelhurst park. The planting of these shrubs was done with the idea of having something in bloom at all times. The shrubbery is augmented by annuals and perennials which add to the color scheme and beauty of the park.

Nov 1917: All Saints Church

The Oregonian 4 Nov 1917
New Church in Laurelhurst to Be of Tudor Gothic Style
Work is well underway on the new All Saints' Roman Catholic Church, to be built at East 39th and Hoyt Streets, in Laurelhurst. The church edifice for which the architects are Jacobberger & Smith, will be of the Tudor Gothic style. The chapel will be all wood panels and beams. The rectory will be attached to the church building, and will include an office, living room, kitchen and four bedrooms, in additional to the sacristy, which is partly in the rectory and partly in the church building proper. The cost of the church is to be about $10,000.

The Oregonian, 21 Jan 1918
New Chapel is Dedicated
Archbishop Christie Presides at Services at Laurelhurst

A beautiful service yesterday morning was the dedication of All Saints Chapel at Laurelhurst. The Rt. Rev. Alexander Christie, archbishop of Oregon, presided at the mass delivered and the dedicatory sermon.

Father de Lorimer sang the mass and in the ceremonies Father William Cronin, who build the church and who is its pastor, assisted. The new building is at East 39th and Glisan streets, in Laurelhurst, and already has a large membership. It is artistically designed and well situated. The parishioners are taking a decided interest, as was evidenced yesterday in the good attendance at the ceremonies.