Rick Cook, Lake Oswego
“As stewards of this “jewel” we
take great pride in trying to preserve, improve and
protect one of the oldest “treasures” in the state.”
In 1900 James Preston Cook bought
130 acres from Adam Randolph Shipley, who had crossed
the plains via the Oregon Trail to Portland in 1852.
Shipley was an early homesteader in the Hazelia area,
now Oswego. In 1883, my Great Grandfather (J.P. Cook)
traveled from Ohio to work in Oswego’s early iron ore
industry. After working in Oregon for a while he
returned to Ohio to bring his bride back to live in
Oregon, eventually purchasing and settling in the
Shipley house.
“He took an “active interest in
beautifying the farm…and the unusual trees planted by
the Shipley family.” A partial list of the trees on the
property at the time of Cook’s death in 1931, include:
Eastern Chestnut, Cedar, Beechnut, Black Locust, Eastern
Hard Maple, Eastern Sugar Maple, Rock Oak, Eastern
Persimmons, Elm, Mulberry, Wahoo, Vine Maple, Oregon
Laurel, Alaskan Cedar, Shelbrook Hickory, Mountain Ash,
Yew, Sequoia, Poplar, Native Oak, three varieties of
Willow, Eastern Elderberry, Lavendar, Dogwood, and Fig
Trees.” (From the application narrative to be listed
on the National Register of Historic Places, 2008).
The Shipley and Cook families were
involved in the local grange, having many family members
serve at the state level as well. The Hazelia grange
was located on the original Shipley property and
supported by both families, supplying buildings for
meetings and a water pipeline in the early days.
Over the years as farming became
less productive and taxes increased, parts of the 130
acres were sold. The Cook property is currently 6.1
acres.
Some of the significant dates for
the property are: 1970s – The City of Lake Oswego buys
property from John Emery, creating “Cook Butte Park”;
1990s – The farm was designated as a Clackamas County
Historic landmark; the original farmhouse was renovated;
and, Pinot Gris and Marchael Foch Vineyards were planted
and established an historic link to the agricultural
past; 2000 – Property was designated as a “Century Farm”
by Century Farm & Ranch Program; 2008 – Shipley-Cook
Farmstead was listed on the National Register of
Historic Places; and, 2008 – An Excellence in
Stewardship Award-Clackamas Heritage Tree Program was
received.
The farm has been a family treasure
for 108 years. Four generations of Cooks have lived on
the property and continue to strive to keep the “legacy”
and rich traditions of the early Hazelia and Oswego area
of Clackamas County alive. As stewards of this “jewel”
we take great pride in trying to preserve, improve and
protect one of the oldest “treasures” in the state. |
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These are authentic stories from real
farmers. Any editorial content does not
necessarily reflect the beliefs of the Agri-Business
Council of Oregon or our members.
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