The house of Alvin T. Smith at the south end of what is now Elm Street in Forest Grove, Oregon. This photograph shows the front, or eastern side, of the house as it appeared circa 1890-1910. This photograph was likely taken by or on behalf of one of the members of the Manley Shipley Family, who lived on the property around that time.
The house was built by Alvin T. or "A.T." Smith between 1854-1856 on his donation land claim, which he first occupied in 1841. He earlier had several log cabins on the property; possibly including the cabin structures visible on the left side of this image. Smith was a former missionary, a minister, and a carpenter by trade. He lived in this home with his first wife, Abigail; and later with his second wife, Jane. The house remained in the Smith Family until around 1920, though it was rented out to several families. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 8, 1974, but was abandoned around 1990. Since 2005, it was been owned by the Friends of Historic Forest Grove, who have done extensive stabilization and restoration work.
This photograph is part of the Nettie Shipley Haines photograph album. Some members of the Shipley Family lived near this house in the early 1900s.
Log cabins on the property of Alvin T. Smith at the south end of what is now Elm Street in Forest Grove, Oregon. This photograph shows the cabins as they appeared circa 1900; they are no longer standing.
These cabins stood on the land of Alvin T. or "A.T." Smith on his donation land claim, which he first occupied in 1841. He built these cabins soon thereafter. Smith was a former missionary, a minister, and a carpenter by trade. The cabin on the left was his residence; the cabin on the right served as a store and as the first post office in Forest Grove. Smith built a large framed house nearby (not pictured in this image) between 1854-56, at which time he ceased living in the cabin. The framed house, now known as the "A.T. Smith House," is still standing.
This photograph is part of the Nettie Shipley Haines photograph album. Some members of the Shipley Family lived near this house in the early 1900s. For another, clearer view of the same cabins with additional notes, see Pacific University photograph, PUApic_009198.
A portrait of an older Alvin Thompson Smith, who was the first pioneer to the area that would eventually become Forest Grove. He arrived in Washington County in 1843 after previously moving west for missionary work. He brought with him his wife Abigail Raymond who he married March 19, 1840. After Abigail passed in 1858 he remarried to Jane Averill on October 19, 1869. He was an influential member of the Forest Grove community and was involved with Tabitha Brown's orphanage, as well as serving as a trustee member for Tualatin Academy in its early decades.
Portrait of Alvin Thompson (A. T.) Smith, early settler in Forest Grove. He was among the first to travel the Oregon Trail, was a board member of Tualatin Academy, and participated in the meeting at Champoeg that helped Oregon get on the road to statehood.
Gravestone of Alvin T. Smith, which is in what is now called the Mountain View Memorial Gardens in Forest Grove. Alvin T. Smith traveled to Forest Grove with Harvey Clark, where they pursued missionary work, founded a church, and helped found Tualatin Academy. Smith died in 1888, at age 85, in Forest Grove.
