Three Lynx Village
c.1920 - 2022
The Aladdin’s ‘Victory’ Kit Homes
Three Lynx Village was built above the Oak Grove powerhouse so the operators, engineers, and maintenance staff required to keep everything working could live in a nearby community with their families and easily get to work year-round. With one exception, all the houses at Three Lynx, were “kit” houses from the Aladdin Company. Their “Victory” Plan S model being used also came with the optional full-front porch included. To get to the village, the Victory homes were loaded onto Portland Traction Company box cars and shipped up the Springwater Line through Gresham to Cazadero (Faraday) and then beyond, to the rail siding at Three Lynx where they were off-loaded and assembled.
Aladdin “Victory” House, Aladdin Redi-Cut House Company, 1928 (Author Collection)
PGE was responsible for the materials and construction of the concrete foundation and basement walls, hot water tanks, and plumbing materials and fittings
– (UO, 2001)
The Aladdin kit or “pre-cut” houses consisted of wood framed construction with horizontal painted wood-lap siding. Exteriors were trimmed with corner boards below the gable roof. The projecting hipped front porches, sheltering the main entry, have brick bases and large wood column supports. Porch railings were varied, likely the result of reconstruction at some locations.
Aladdin House Construction (Author Photo)
Three Lynx Village, Typical Aladdin House (Author Photo)
The interior finishes in the homes were simple painted lath and plaster walls with painted board trim. Door and window surrounds include an exterior raised frame. The flooring was Douglas Fir, some covered with later wall-to-wall carpeting. As with most homes, kitchens and baths exhibited the most modifications although some kitchens retained original or early wood cabinetry. Basements have concrete floors and walls, with open ceilings, primarily used for storage and utilities.
Three Lynx Village was built above the Oak Grove powerhouse and the operators, engineers, and maintenance staff required to keep everything working could live in the community with their families and easily get to work year-round. The houses at Three Lynx, with one exception, were “kit” houses purchased from the Aladdin Company, being the “Victory” Plan S model with the optional full-front porch included.
The Victory cabins for Three Lynx were loaded onto Portland Traction Company box cars and shipped by the company up the Springwater Line through Gresham to Cazadero (Faraday) and then beyond, to the rail siding at Three Lynx where they were off-loaded and assembled.
Aladdin “Victory” House, Aladdin Redi-Cut House Company, 1928 (Author Collection)
The Aladdin’s ‘Victory’ Kit Homes
Three Lynx Village, Typical Aladdin House, Dining & Living Rooms, July 2021 (Author Photo)
Three Lynx Village, Typical Aladdin House, Kitchen, July 2021 (Author Photo)
Three Lynx Village, Typical Aladdin House, Basement, July 2021 (Author Photo)
From Camp to Village
Visual Timeline
Aladdin Houses
Three Lynx Village
c.1920 - 2022
For more than 60 years, the school served children from PGE, USFS, and other families that lived in the upper Clackamas drainage. With classes from Kindergarten to Grade 6, the school was the heart of the community and the basketball team was a source of pride.
– (McArthur & McArthur, 2003:951)
Three Lynx Village was built above the Oak Grove powerhouse so the operators, engineers, and maintenance staff required to keep everything working could live in a nearby community with their families and easily get to work year-round. With one exception, all the houses at Three Lynx, were “kit” houses from the Aladdin Company. Their “Victory” Plan S model being used also came with the optional full-front porch included. To get to the village, the Victory homes were loaded onto Portland Traction Company box cars and shipped up the Springwater Line through Gresham to Cazadero (Faraday) and then beyond, to the rail siding at Three Lynx where they were off-loaded and assembled.
Aladdin “Victory” House, Aladdin Redi-Cut House Company, 1928 (Author Collection)
Aladdin House Construction (Author Photo)
The Aladdin kit or “pre-cut” houses consisted of wood framed construction with horizontal painted wood-lap siding. Exteriors were trimmed with corner boards below the gable roof. The projecting hipped front porches, sheltering the main entry, have brick bases and large wood column supports. Porch railings were varied, likely the result of reconstruction at some locations.
Three Lynx Village, Typical Aladdin House (Author Photo)
Three Lynx Village, Typical Aladdin House, Dining & Living Rooms, July 2021 (Author Photo)
Three Lynx Village, Typical Aladdin House, Kitchen, July 2021 (Author Photo)
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History of PGE
Electrifying Oregon
Powering Progress
A Thoughtful Transition
History of PGE
Electrifying Oregon
Powering Progress
A Thoughtful Transition
History of PGE
Electrifying Oregon
Powering Progress
A Thoughtful Transition
Forever Evolving
Powering the Future
A Thoughtful Transition
Clackamas Project Expansion
Building Reliable Power Plants
Powering Progress
Willamette Falls
Clackamas River Construction
Electrifying Oregon
History of PGE
Aladdin Houses
Decline and Preservation
Growth of Three Lynx
Beginning of Three Lynx
From Camp to Village
Decline and Preservation
Decline and Preversation