Laurelhurst Park - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

In 1909, the land that is now Laurelhurst Park was purchased from the estate of William S. Ladd, who developed Ladd's Addition and twice was mayor of Portland. Ladd named his 486-acre parcel Hazel Fern Farm, after the name of one of the streets in the area. Here Ladd developed one of the most prestigious stock farms in the West. In fact, his purebred Jersey cattle probably laid the foundation for Oregon's future livestock industry. As East Portland developed, Ladd's tract of land became too valuable for agricultural use. Ladd sold his land for over $1,000,000 to the Laurelhurst Company around the turn of the century.

A spring-fed pond on the property had always been a favorite watering hole for cattle, as well as a favorite swimming hole for both children and adults. In 1911, seeing the potential for a park as part of the Olmsted Plan, the City of Portland bought 30 of the acres, including the pond.

In 1912, Emanuel Mische, Portland's park superintendent from 1908-1914, used Olmsted designs to create the park, based on his experience as the longtime horticultural expert for the Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm. His plan included several distinct sections - the concert grove, Firwood Lake, children's lawn, plateau and broad meadows, picnic grove, and Rhododendron Hill. Workers were hired to deepen the pond into a 3-acre lake. A 'play park' was developed between Oak and Stark Streets. The boys were to play on the south side, the girls on the north side, and general games were to be held in the eastern block. The park's comfort station building was added in 1914 and a series of paths and sidewalks were lit by electric lights in 1915.

Laurelhurst Park is a perfect example of the City Beautiful Movement in landscaping. In 1919, the park was named the most beautiful park on the west coast by the Pacific Coast Parks Association. Thanks to the efforts of the Portland Historical Landmarks Commission, in February 2001 Laurelhurst Park was named to the National Register of Historic Places, the first city park ever listed on the national register.

For years, the Rose Festival Queen's Coronation took place in the Laurelhurst Park pond on floating boats and decorated rafts. The event drew thousands of onlookers who were attracted to the music, dancing, and pageantry. In the 1950s, Easter Sunrise Services were held, drawing thousands of people.

In the park's early years, the pond was patrolled by a white swan named General Pershing (for his militant attitude). He forbade anyone to approach the edge of the lake shore. In later years a black-beaked, black-toed swan named Big Boy was lake marshal. A man, known only as Mr. Martinson, fed Big Boy every day for 15 years. Mr. Martinson taught Big Boy to nod his head and honk "Hello!" More recently, Portland Parks & Recreation held a Duck Round-up in Laurelhurst Park. They were trying to reduce the overpopulation of drakes because the males were killing females by pecking them as part of a mating ritual. Laurelhurst Park's ideal duck population is ten male/female pairs. In 1987, the normal duck population was at 120, with seasonal visitors sometimes boosting numbers over 200. Aside from the deaths of so many female ducks, PP&R wanted to reduce the duck population in order to clear up the murkiness from the lake water. The adopt-a-duck movement was unsuccessful because the company hired to catch the birds was unable to trick those crafty creatures into their traps.

PP&R tried many measures in their quest for clear water. In 1990, the City wanted to kill 10,000-20,000 catfish, carp, and black crappie fish because they, too, were stirring up sediment on the lake's bottom. The water smelled bad because of the overcrowding. Animal rights activists won a restraining order to keep PP&R from killing the fish en masse. PP&R Director Charles Jordan decided that killing ALL of the fish might be a mistake, so he issued a call to all anglers. The Oregon Bass and Panfish Club responded and tried to deplete the fish population to no avail. Even today, thousands of fish make their homes in the lake, along with the ducks and turtles.

Street address: SE 39th Ave & Stark St Portland, Oregon United States County / Borough / Parish: Multnomah County Year listed: 2001 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture / Engineering Periods of significance: 1900-1924 Historic function: Recreation and Culture Current function: Recreation and Culture Season start / Season finish: From: 01/01/2008 To: 12/31/2008 Hours of operation: From: 5:00 AM To: 11:00 PM Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Privately owned?: Not Listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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