Apr 1910: 4th Plat Opens

Oregonian 16 Apr 1910
Today is the Opening Day for the Southeast Quarter of Laurelhurst

With the platting of this Southeast quarter, the entire 444 acres, which comprise Laurelhurst, are now on the market. When we take into consideration the fact that this tract is one mile long and three-quarters of a mile wide, and think of it as a whole, entirely improved on one comprehensive plan, it is easy to realize that there can be no place more delightful to its residents in this or any other city, and for that reason it is justly termed "The Addition With Character." This is one of the great reasons for our enormous sales of over one and one-half million dollars since last October.

Money invested in Laurelhurst lots will yield very large and quick returns, because these lots are now being sold at just about one-half the prices asked for similar property in other parts of the city. It is safe to say that the lots now selling from $1000 to $1500 each will sell at more than $2000 each within two years, and these values will continue to grow with the growth of the city.

There will be 26 miles of asphalt streets in this tract, 26 miles of 4-inch gas, 8-inch water and 10-inch sewer mains. There will be 52 miles of cement walks, 52 miles of 9-foot parking strips, shade trees and handsome cluster lights. This means 52 miles of handsome homes, built according to a building restriction which limits the use of the property to single, detached dwelling houses, ranging from $2500 to $5000 each, and which compels all buildings to be set back at least 21 feet from the sidewalks. This will ensure a uniform standard of improvements, with fine lawns and gardens and which will make Laurelhurst the most attractive residence spot in Portland.

In planning the improvements for Laurelhurst, the streets and boulevards have been laid out to conform as nearly as possible to the natural contours of the land. Four of the main boulevards are 80 feet wide and all of the rest are 60 feet wide.

Not the least among the attractions of Laurelhurst is the beautiful wooded tract of 31 acres which has been purchased by the city for park purposes. Ladd Park is to be improved and will have a natural lake and extensive botanical gardens. All of the streets of Laurelhurst have been laid out to conform to the driveways now planned for the park.

A residence district, protected as Laurelhurst is, by building restrictions and with all of its natural beauties and advantages, will naturally be occupied by cultured and refined people—people who have the home-loving spirit and everyone within the whole area will be assured good neighbors. This is a matter of great importance, especially to those who have families of growing children, because nothing contributes so much to their peace of mind as the knowledge that they are living in an atmosphere of refinement, and that their associations always be desirable.
See Laurelhurst now!

Spring 1910 Sales Updates

Oregonian 27 Feb 1910
Laurelhurst Is Active

BUILDING OPERATIONS START IN NEW ADDITION
Purchase of Lots So Great That Second Part of Section Will Soon Be on Market
One of the features of the week in real estate circles has been the large number of sales in Laurelhurst. The new addition, formerly the Ladd Hazel Fern Farm, was originally platted into four distinct sections and but one of these was placed on the market. Until a week ago less than half this property had been sold, but the heavy sale of the last week took almost all the lots in the original plat and soon a second division will be offered.

Building has become apparent with the return of the warmer weather. All over the fine residence addition ground is being broken for new homes and it is estimated that between 50 and 60 (portion missing) cause of the Spring weather.

The $10,000 home of C.V. Cooper is one that will soon be commenced. The plans for this structure call for an elaborate home with the first story in stone, the second story stucco with a red tiled roof and solid mahogany finish throughout. One of the homes now nearing completion is that of P.S. Easterday, which will be occupied by March 15. This is to cost about $5000. Francis Dubois is preparing plans for his home and will start at once the building of a $5000 home. It will be a concrete bungalow of seven rooms and will have hardwood finish in the interior.

H.C. Gressell will start building a $5000 home on April 1.

Charles S. Russell is now planning a home to cost about $8000. He will start work in a few weeks. These homes are all of high grade.

Feb 1910: Park Naming Controversy

Oregonian 17 Feb 1910
Sunnyside Voices Protest

Protests were made at a meeting of the Sunnyside Push Club last night against having the new park at Laurelhurst called the Ladd Park, and against the proposed change in the name of the Sunnyside school. The meeting went on record as favoring the park being named Sunnyside Park. A committee was appointed to apply for more lights in the district, and it was voted that the organization should become affiliated with the United East Side Push Clubs.

Jan 1910: Infrastructure Progress

Oregonian 23 Jan 1910
Old Red Barn Bought

LADD TRACT LANDMARK TO BE USED AS WAREHOUSE
Development Work Opens in Laurelhurst Where Sales Have Been Heavy This Month

Development work is going ahead again in Laurelhurst, the fine residence addition on the East Side, where the sales since the first of January have amounted to $115,000. The opening of the weather has permitted the street work to be carried forward, and this is now being done rapidly. This work has been retarded greatly during the two Winter months on account of the unfavorable weather, as during the long cold spell the ground was frozen to a depth of nearly a foot, and until the last few days grading was impossible. Under present conditions, however, the work will be completed within a short time.

One sale of considerable importance was negotiated last week to Archie Mason and C.J. Currigan, grading contractors who have been working in the addition. A purchase of an irregular shaped tract was made by the two contractors, who secured about an acre of ground on the O.R.&N. tracks at East 28th Street. This tract was bought for $13,000. They also bought the old red barn, which has stood in the center of the Ladd Farm for many years. The barn, 200x60 feet, will be moved at once to the acre purchased, and will be used for warehouse purposes. The old barn has been one of the landmarks of the district for many years.

The contract for covering the entire addition with sewers has just been let to the Barber Asphalt Company. That work will be started as soon as the materials can be placed on the ground. A contract was let yesterday to build a residence at a cost of $5500 on Multnomah Street near Sandy Road. This house, which will be of mission design, and will be one story, save for one of the ends, which will have a room on the second story, will be used as the home of the resident agent for the Laurelhurst Company. One room will be used during the season as an office for the Laurelhurst Company. It will be built at once.

Contracts have been let to two nursery companies for setting out shade trees on all the streets in the plat at intervals of 30 feet. It requires more than 2000 trees to cover the tract. The varieties chosen for this are maple, linden, cut-leaf, purple-leaf birch, elm and hawthorne.

Dec 1909: Water Agreements

Oregonian 29 Dec 1909

Mayor Balks the Plan
Laurelhurst Park Projectors Fail to Win Executive

Mayor Simon yesterday afternoon refused to give his consent to a plan, suggested by Oskar Huber, on behalf of the Laurelhurst Park projectors, for the laying of water mains under the bonding act. He is opposed to the city taking any part in the proposition, he states, as it is against his policy to permit the municipality to have control of or incur any expense in pipes where there is not at least 6% revenue on the amount required to install.

There was considerable discussion between Mr. Huber and the Mayor and members of the Water Board, to whom Mr. Huber applied for permission to proceed with the installation of the water mains in the Laurelhurst district, he wishing the consent of the Board so that the property could be bonded, although, as he said, the projectors of the new district propose to pay for all of the improvements themselves, the city not being charged for any of it.

Mayor Simon was unable to see it that way, and the matter was taken under advisement until the next regular meeting, which will be held in two weeks. The Mayor is very much opposed to city being behind any such project, as he says it certainly would be were it to permit the laying of the mains by the consent of the Water Board and under its direction, so that the property abutting the mains could be bonded.

"If the promoters of Laurelhurst wish to lay water mains, I have no objection, most certainly,” said Mayor Simon. "But if they wish to lay the mains and have the city behind them, so that, in case any property owner there refuses to pay the assessment, or the property its not worth the price, the city must pay it, I am opposed to it. The only thing for Laurelhurst people to do is to lay their mains and pay for them privately.”

“The Laurelhurst people intend to pay for the mains themselves,” explained Mr. Huber, replying to Mayor Simon. “All they want is for it to be done under direction the city, so that, under the charter, the property can be bonded. The proposed street improvements, which are very extensive, will be done the same way. It costs the city nothing.”

“I am unwilling to have the city behind the project in any way," said the Mayor. "I see no way whereby you can bond property without the work being done at the order of the city and under direction of the city, by the regular manner of advertising and following all of the regular provisions of the charter.”

Dec 1909: Busy December

The Oregonian, 12 Dec 1909
Entrance Arches

Permits for each day follow in detail: Friday, December 10.
Laurelhurst Company--Erect entrance arches, East Glisan Street corner of East 33rd; builder, Philip Neu; $2000.
Laurelhurst Company--Erect entrance arches, Sandy Road between Multnomah and Peerless Place; builder, Philip Neu; $2000.

Nov 1909: Old People's Home Plans

The Oregonian, 7 Nov 1909
Plans Being Made

Old People's Home Will Be Luxurious Place
FOUNDER VISITS THE EAST
Mrs. P.J. Mann Studies Other Like Institutions and Will Make Portland's Finest in Country. Cost Is to Be $60,000

Plans are now being prepared by Whitehouse, Lazarus & Fouilhoux, architects, for the Old People's Home to be built on the Ladd tract by Mrs. P.J. Mann in memory of her late husband. For the purpose of studying institutions of like character in the East Mrs. Mann has visited the principal places of this character in an extended trip through the East, and she has taken the best points found in these various institutions and has requested the architects to embody them in the plans for the Portland home.

Mrs. Mann has been communicating at all times with the architects concerning the proposed building and has sent numerous suggestions for the comfort of the inmates of the home. These have been embodied in the plans. On her trip through the East, Mrs. Mann visited the St. Regis Asylum for Old People, Quebec; the Protestant Home for Women and Children, Quebec; The Home for Aged Women, Boston; the Home for Aged Men ad the Home for Aged Couples, Boston; the Home for Aged People, Cambridge; the Home for the Aged, Methuen, Mass.; St. Luke's home for Aged Women, New York; the Home for Aged Couples and Old Men, New York; the Old Ladies' Home and the Chapin Home, New York; and other institutions in the first city of the land. In Philadelphia she visited the Presbyterian Home for Old Ladies, one of the oldest institutions of this character in the country, and at Bola, PA, the Home for Aged Couples and Old Men. The Cathcart Home for Aged People and Incurables was also visited and reports were received from numerous other charitable institutions.

The Portland institution will be erected on the west end of the Ladd tract, on the site of the old Ladd farm, in what is now Laurelhurst. The site is located on the Rose City carline and was purchased by Mrs. Mann. The buildings to be erected will cost $60,000, in addition to the cost of the site.

The building will be built of brick and will be of Tudor, Gothic and Elizabethan styles of architecture. The structure will be U-shaped and will be 51x132 feet in size, exclusive of wings. It will be of red brick with white trimmings. In the rear of the southern part of the building will be beautiful landscape effects, and special attention will be given to the gardens, which will be made a spot of beauty for the old people who are inmates of the home.