By Robin Corrigan
“Fall for Elms,” is the fundraiser Saturday, September 20 at the Jagger House, 609 SE 16th Ave. from 4 to 8 pm.
The recently-restored Jagger House near the North Rose Garden in historic Ladd’s Addition is the feature, to raise money to help Save Our Elms’ inoculation of the neighborhood’s heritage American elm trees.
Emanuel Mische designed Ladd Circle and its four Rose Gardens in 1909 as Ladd’s Addition Rose Gardens and Peninsula Park became Portland’s first rose gardens.
Ladd’s Addition was the first planned community in Oregon with its unique hub-like street structure emanating from five circular gardens. For the past two decades, neighbors supporting Friends of Ladd’s Addition Gardens and Save Our Elms, with help from the Parks Bureau, have helped care for the gardens and its century-old trees.
Samuel Jagger, of Morrison Electric, was the creator of the spectacular lighting scheme for the famous 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition in Portland and he built the Jagger House for his family in 1911.
Uniquely situated near the North Rose Garden the house is a grand example of the Prairie Craftsman style.
With a succession of renters and owners over the past thirty years, Jagger House had fallen into disrepair. Its new owners have recently finished a meticulous renovation, restoring the home to its original glory.
Save Our Elms is an all-volunteer non-profit organization striving to keep Portland’s heritage elms and mature urban street trees healthy and Ladd’s Addition boasts the largest remaining urban grove of American elms in the country.
A short presentation on the history of Ladd’s Addition and “William S. Ladd’s legacy to Portland” by local historian, Richard Ross will be featured as well as a raffle for a half case of wine and gift certificates to neighborhood restaurants and businesses.
Tickets are available at www.SaveOurElms.org at $50 per person and $90 per couple. For additional details, visit www.SaveOurElms.org. Tickets are limited for this event and must be purchased by September 14.