Wendy Squires and Angel Lopez own the house known in Bridlemile as the Walther House at 4021 SW 45th Avenue. Angel and Isabel Lopez gave me a tour of their home. Fred and Rosa Walthers built the house in 1948. The architect was Ericson. The signature feature the houses Ericson built in Portland are wagon wheel windows. The one in the Walther home is in the guest bathroom.

Hamilton is key to traveling across and in Bridlemile.

As of the end of July 2008 I am no longer BNA Web master. You can read more about me, my work, and interests at my Web site www.vonsalza.com and my flickr page.

talk about the Wilcox Manor in this interview done by Ginger Danzer and Bev Shaw on March 21, 2003 (with some additions from a visit with Ruth Powell, March 24, 2003).

Bridlemile has many notable homes, homes of historical and architectural interest. This walking tour includes notable homes located in the southwest section of Bridlemile.

History and descriptions by Ginger Danzer. Photographs, walking instructions and map by Victor von Salza.

by Linda Bonder and Victor von Salza
Photos by Victor von Salza

If you know anything about the origins of Hamilton Park please contact Ginger Danzer at 503-292-9460.

Information about the Bridlemile Creek Restoration that runs along the east end of Hamilton Park can be found here.

photos by Victor von Salza

The completed level play area.

A History

by the Foulecourt Press 2004 Portland, Oregon

Rev. Albert Kelly 1814-1873

Albert Kelly was an early settler in Oregon, a pioneer minister or "circuit rider".

He was born in 1814, descended from an old colonial family, which had settled in Pulaski County, Kentucky.

In 1848, Albert and three of his brothers set out for Oregon. He and brother Clinton got as far as Independence, Missouri, when Albert's livestock were scattered by a storm and lost. Brother Clinton kept on going, but Albert turned back and delayed coming west until the next year. In 1849, Albert and his family joined with a military party under one Capt. Jones, being sent west in response to the Whitman massacre.

talk about the early development of Bridlemile, including the beginnings of the Brookford and Wilcox developments in this interview done by Ginger Danzer and Bev Shaw on January 13, 2003 (edited for web site publication February 2005).

Ruth Powell & Jane Tweeddale. Photo by Ginger Danzer

Mrs. Ruth Powell was a land owner, resident and developer of land. Jane Tweeddale owns a home on Jerald Way.

talk about living in Bridlemile during the second half of the 1950's

John and Nancy Haleston. Photo by Ginger Danzer

As young twenty-five year olds, John and Nancy Haleston bought their Bridlemile lot and began building their home in 1954. They bought the property on 3805 SW Jerald Way from the realtor, Lyle Nosler who was developing the property with Dr. John H. Powell, the owner, and John J. Whelan, architect. John has an original of the brochure promoting the area that had been recently named Bridlemile. Their home and several others in the area were built by Louie Cotsifas and his son George. The land was in Multnomah County and they bought their water from Portland. John does not think the area was well plotted. Some of the lots are very deep and because of the grade, frequently resulted in huge front yards with no privacy at the expense of disproportionately small back yards.

Video clips by Melinda McCrossen
Photographs by Victor von Salza

During the 2005 - 2006 school year, the Fourth and Fifth Grade students at Bridlemile Elementary School(BES) investigated the history of Bridlemile and surrounding neighborhoods. The students interviewed longtime Bridlemile residents about the history of the neighborhood and what it was like to live and grow up here back then.

The history committee conducts interviews about and with residents, past and present, in order to develop a record of our neighborhood.

Thank you to everyone who has generously shared their time and stories.

May 6th, 2006 Photographs by Victor von Salza

Six Friends of the Open Space Park together with 5 Bridlemile Creek Stewards and 3 other volunteers (total of 14) rescued about 4 dozen trees from the clutches of ivy, cleared about 500 sq. ft. of ivy from the ground, took down 3 holly trees, and removed a few blackberries.