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 famous Oregon Trail in 1851. They settled in what is now Multnomah County, in the state of Oregon.
The house was built in 1874. It was part of a large dairy farm that was about 600 acres (243 hectares). The Zimmerman family lived on this farm for a very long time, from 1870 until 1992. In 1986, the house and about 1.58 acres (0.64 hectares) of land were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
In 1994, the city of Gresham started to buy land around the house. They planned to create a public park called Zimmerman Heritage Farm. The old Zimmerman House became the main part of this new park.
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About the Zimmerman Heritage Farm
The Zimmerman Heritage Farm is managed by two groups working together. The city of Gresham owns the land. The Fairview-Rockwood-Wilkes Historical Society (FRWHS) owns the historic house itself.
Caring for the Historic House
The FRWHS bought the house in 1992. They bought it from Isobel Faith Zimmerman. She was the youngest granddaughter of Jacob and Lena Zimmerman. By late 2006, the 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. The porch was fixed, and the chimneys were repaired. A new roof and gutters were put on. The outside of the house was painted, along with other important repairs.
Visiting the House
Today, you can visit the Zimmerman House. It is open for public tours. You can explore the house on the third Saturday of each month. Tours are available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Zimmerman Family's Journey
The Zimmerman family was one of the five founding families of Fairview. They arrived in the Willamette Valley in 1851. Their first home was on Hayden Island in the Columbia River.
Moving to a New Home
After floods ruined their first crops, they moved. They settled on a 320-acre (129.5-hectare) donation land claim. This new spot was about 10 miles (16 kilometers) east of Portland.
In late 1869, Jacob Zimmerman bought another land claim. He moved into a log cabin on this new property. He lived there until he built the main house in 1874.
Growing the Dairy Farm
The Zimmermans' son, George, made the farm even bigger. It grew to about 660 acres (267 hectares). He ran a very successful dairy business there. Other family members and people who rented the land continued the dairy business into the 20th century.
