History of Cascadia Association
Would you like to hear an interesting story? It’s about some hard work and good natured neighborliness that began almost 50 years ago.
The big day was September 17, 1934. A few people met at Gerald Wagner’s home at 145 Morningside Drive. They were all residents of sparsely populated Beverly Hills. This plat in Grand Rapids Township needed attention. Why not band together for the good of the neighborhood? The Cascadia Association was born.
The group chose Gerald Wagner as its first President, Mrs. Cullen Sugg as Secretary and Lawrence Dooge as Treasurer. These officers began regular meetings one month later. At that time, most board members had lived in Beverly Hills. A few members have come from Cascadia #2 extending eastward from Beverly Hills to Cascade Hills Country Club. Most other adjoining streets have been represented over the years too.
The official board meeting minutes from the first session showed important concerns: water and sewer, road improvements, weed cutting, securing a school bus, building a new school. And the Association had to file a suit against an oil refinery about one mile away. That kind of industry was polluting the pure air of Cascadia! Cascadia’s fine residents certainly deserved good air.
Not many homes had been built yet, but there were a few. The first one is at 3131 Oak Hollow Drive, serving for a time as the Beverly Hills Plat’s sales office. George Jackoboice’s home on Park Hills was next. "English Village" followed, with homes built by Dykema, Carmen and Dykema and also Owens Ames Kimball. English names marked the streets on the four boundaries: Uplands, Hathaway, Morningside, and Kingswood. Meanwhile, Cascadia Realty Company bought the Kelly Farm and developed it into Beverly Hills. For some strange reason, the company went broke within two years! As you may know, this plat lies between Cascade, Robinson and Fulton. It extends from the west side of the lots west of Lakeview Drive to the east side of the lots east of Morningside Drive. The Lawrence Dooges were Beverly Hills pioneer residents.
The projects mentioned in the first minutes concerned the Association for many years. The entanglements with the refinery continued until July 20, 1939. On that date, the Association finally secured an authorized suit to have all refinery operations ceased within two years.
Water supply proved as difficult a problem as oil. The only water supply in 1935 was a well near Hidden Lake, east of the Beltline, and this water was extremely hard. The sewers emptied into Eastboro Lake. Gerald Wagner and the Association attacked these problems vigorously. By February 7, 1936, a solution had been found. The announcement came that Washington had approved a W.P.A. project to supply Cascadia with city water and sewers. Property owners were required to raise about $13,500 as initial financing. A committee appointed to solicit the money was soon successful, and pipes were laid along Fulton Road. The Association, and Gerald Wagner especially, deserves credit for these improvements.
Our first fire protection was somewhat less than adequate. We depended on a promise from the City to send chemical equipment and a pumper... “If water is available and the distance is not to great over certain roads”. In 1944, the City promised better protection and reduced rates for all those signing a contract with them. Five years later a Township Fire Department was constructed. However, citizens had to make three calls before they got any action; to the Township Fire Department, the County Department, and the City Department (if a contract holder). A home might have burned to the ground very easily while the owner was still on the telephone. At present, our fire protection is from the Township Fire Department on East Fulton, near Forest Hills Avenue.
Originally the streets were made of cinders over a base of broken concrete blocks. The Association designated which streets to pave, and gradually the County blacktopped them all at the rate of one or two streets a year.
The street lighting system, now owned by the Association, has been a fortunate and progressive development. The original contract with Consumers Power expired in 1938. This left the Township paying itself for a few months. But by 1940, a new ten year contract with Consumers was negotiated. The cost to the Association was less than $10.00 per lot.
A thirty-nine pole lighting system was installed in 1928, but by 1968 Consumers advised that replacement fixture were unobtainable, and the underground cables were badly deteriorated, necessitating high repair costs which we in the Lighting District must pay. They recommended, and the Association approved, a complete new installation, incorporating a sixty-one pole system to give better illumination, with fixtures in keeping with the character of the neighborhood.
The park, bounded by Oak Hollow, Park Hills, and Midland, was originally owned by George and Mary Ellen Needham. In 1966 they deeded its ownership and control to the Association with the condition that the land remain in its current condition as an open area of grass, shrubs and trees. This is now the site for the annual Cascadia Association End of Summer Picnic.
Over the years, the Association has also worked effectively for traffic controls, master planning of the East Beltline corridor, building regulations, and control of weeds and mosquitoes. Much more could be included too. The entire Association is indebted to our officers and directors; and to our Grand Rapids Township board and supervisor, who have always been helpful.
Since the beginning, a neighborly spirit has been maintained. We still experience the friendly cooperation noted in the 1945 report of Lee Woodruff, Chairman of the Nominating Committee: “You will note that this list of six director nominees ranges from eastern hills to the distant western expanses of Cascadia. These men are chosen for their business experience, historical association with the community, genial personalities... and the fact that five out of six are from last year’s board, attended the meetings, and would properly sulk for months if not re-elected.”
This is the story in brief of the Cascadia Association up to now. It has a worthy record and every indication of a bright future.
Written around 1984, author possibly Thomas Jacoboice. If any member of the Association knows who has researched and written this history, please contact the Cascadia Association President with this or other Cascadia history.