Jacob Zimmerman House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Jacob Zimmerman House
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The Zimmerman House in 2008
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 Location in Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Location | 17111 NE Sandy Boulevard, Gresham, Oregon |
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| Area | 1.58 acres (6,400 m2) |
| Built | 1874 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001226 |
| Added to NRHP | June 5, 1986 |
The Jacob Zimmerman House was the home of Jacob and Lena Zimmerman. They were a German American family who traveled west on the Oregon Trail in 1851. They settled in what is now Multnomah County, Oregon. Built in 1874, this house was once part of a large 600-acre dairy farm. The Zimmerman family lived on this farm for over 120 years, from 1870 to 1992. Today, the house and 1.58 acres of land are part of the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special place recognized for its history.
In 1994, the city of Gresham started planning to create a public park. This park, called Zimmerman Heritage Farm, is about 5.98 acres. The historic Zimmerman House is the main feature of this park.
Contents
The Zimmerman Family Story
Jacob and Lena Zimmerman were among the first five families to settle in Fairview. They arrived in the Willamette Valley in 1851. Their first home was on Hayden Island in the Columbia River.
Moving to New Land
After floods ruined their first crops, the Zimmermans moved. They found a new home about 10 miles east of Portland. This land was a 320-acre "donation land claim." This was a special way settlers could get land back then.
In late 1869, Jacob Zimmerman bought more land. He moved into a log cabin on this new site. Then, in 1874, he built the house we see today.
A Successful Dairy Farm
The Zimmermans' son, George, made the farm even bigger. He expanded it to 660 acres. George ran a very successful dairy business there. Other relatives and people who rented the land continued the dairy farm into the 1900s.
The House Becomes a Park
The city of Gresham now owns the land where the house stands. The Fairview-Rockwood-Wilkes Historical Society (FRWHS) owns the house itself. They work together to manage the Zimmerman Heritage Farm.
Saving a Historic Home
In 1992, the FRWHS bought the house. They bought it from Isobel Faith Zimmerman. She was the youngest granddaughter of Jacob and Lena.
By 2006, the historical society had spent a lot of money to fix up the house. They rebuilt the foundation, which is the base of the house. They also improved the security system. They fixed the porch, repaired the chimneys, and replaced the roof and gutters. The outside of the house was also painted.
Visiting the Zimmerman House
Today, you can visit the Jacob Zimmerman House. It is open for public tours on the third Saturday of each month. You can visit from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It's a great way to see what life was like for early settlers in Oregon!
