The history of Irvington is replete with lore of the builders, early residents, and architects that helped shape our neighborhood landscape. Historian Robert Mercer, who has for the last 16 years researched the histories of all the homes on the Irvington Home Tour for each year’s brochure, will share his knowledge in walking tours scheduled from June through August, 2017.
The tour makes for a great introduction for newcomers to Irvington. They can learn how the neighborhood was created through the vision of pioneering developer Elizabeth Irvington from the early days in the 1880s through the boom years of the Streetcar Era through the end of trolley car service in 1948. Even long-time residents will learn a bit of the lore and history that help make Irvington such a special place that it qualified for the National Register of Historic Places.
There isn’t a specific charge for taking the Tour, but attendees will be encouraged to make a suggested donation of $10 each to the ICA’s Historic Preservation Committee, which will use the funds for its programming.
Reservations for each tour are required. For reservations or questions send an email to Robert Mercer at robert@househistorypdx.com, being sure to indicate which date you’d like to take the tour. The number of attendees for each tour will be limited to the first 20 people to request reservations.