Oregon+Electric

Research
Jessie Sweeney, MLS

In October 1907 word spread around Washington County that Oregon Electric was planning to expand its railroad out to Forest Grove, reporting that //“(a)ccording to the Oregonian it is the intention of this company to build on to// Eugene//, but not until the// Hillsboro-Forest Grove-Portland //road is completed//."(1) The article went on to reveal details of a branch road that would be 21 miles long, and that would allow this railroad to serve “//a section of country now without transportation facilities and will traverse a rich dairy and agricultural district//." (2)
 * The Oregon Electric**

In April 1908, newspapers reported that "//Forest Grove and the western part of Washington County will be linked to Portland by a trolley line operated by the Oregon Electric company by January 1, 1909, seems to be an established fact//."(3) It was in late summer that construction of the line reached the beginning of town. The excitement of the citizens can be inferred by the multitude of newspaper articles which ran during this time detailing the progress, and setbacks, of the new rail line. An article which ran in //The Hillsboro Argus// in early September of 1908 depicted a rousing scene:

//Last Thursday night an engine and construction train arrived in town, over the Oregon Electric line, amid the ringing of bells, explosion of bombs, and the cheers of the populace. The whole town, attracted by the engine’s repeated whistling, lined the track, as the train (heavily???) loaded with Greek employees of the construction company, besides citizens and boys galore, came up Washington street to Second, where hundreds of citizens, led by Postmaster Cornelius’ stentorian voice, gave three cheers for the Oregon Electric. The Greek laborers seemed as well pleased as the citizens, and clapped their hands and shouted like school children on a picnic excursion. A purse was raised to furnish refreshments for the construction gang, which numbered about 100. The construction train is now able to bring steel and ties from Garden Home, on the main line, to Hillsboro, and Hillsboro and Portland are connected by another and of steel//. (4)

Once the regular service began, it allowed Hillsboro residence to get from Portland to Hillsboro or vice versa within an hour’s time, with six trains arriving each day, as well as a late train known as the “//Owl Train//.”(5)

With the rushed laying of the track, the first month of service brought several difficulties which at times interrupted the train’s regular service schedule. On January 7, 1909, “//The Oregon Electric car was blockaded at Mortonville on its return trip to Forest Grove by a tree that had fallen across the track//.”(6) Then a couple weeks later around January 21st, service to Forest Grove was required to be discontinued for a week when the train settled into quicksand near Martindale. By the 28th they were able to restore service to Hillsboro, and on the 29th trains returned to Forest Grove.
 * A Troubled Start**

Despite these setbacks during the beginning of the line’s operation, the Oregon Electric provided the people of Washington County, and particularly Forest Grove, with excellent transportations options on which they could conduct travel for business or pleasure. The Oregon Electric allowed Forest Grove citizens “//direct communication by travel into Hillsboro, as well, without going a mile and a half to the Southern Pacific depot//."(7) By June of 1914 Forest Grove had 36 Oregon Electric passenger trains arriving into town each day.

Citations

1. Eric Stewart Collection, Washington County News, 10/10/1907 2. Eric Stewart Collection, Washington County News, 4/2/1908 3. Eric Stewart Collection, WashingtonCounty News, 4/2/1908 4. Eric Stewart Collection, Hillsboro Argus, 9/10/1908 5. Eric Stewart Collection, WashingtonCounty News, 10/29/1908 6. Forest Grove Times 1/7/1909 7. Hillsboro Argus, 12/24/1908