The Hillsboro House
My great-grandparents’ property served as the backdrop for all family photos.
My grandpa (“Coach” to his grandkids) and my Auntie Linda in Great-Grandma Jessie’s yard around 1943.
In going through my dad’s old family photos, I noticed that all of the celebratory and group photos were taken at the same location: his grandparents’ house in Hillsboro, Oregon. Rumor has it my Great-Grandma Jessie was an avid gardener, and as a result her yard was the go-to backdrop for family pics. It struck me as I looked over these photos how the house became a character in their story: it’s always present for family functions, holidays, and other celebrations. It’s always sunny and dry, and the subjects always seem to be having a good time. I’ve seen so many photos of that property that I feel like I was there. So I guess it’s part of my story, too.
I tracked the house down years ago, and it’s still standing and serving as the office for a business in Hillsboro. The garden is no longer there and the house is surrounded by commercial buildings, but it’s been well cared for, and that makes me very happy. Quite befittingly, the great-grandchildren of Jessie’s brother, Clyde, own the picturesque Schiedel Nursery in Aurora, Oregon. I think Jessie would be tickled to know that her green thumb runs in the family.
The Hillsboro house today. Fewer plants and more concrete, but it’s still standing!
