Three Lynx Village

c.1920 - 2022

The Growth of Three Lynx Village

1950s - Community Pool

Three Lynx residents banded together and using company equipment built a community pool in the middle of the compound, to provide for recreation. The pool included a small equipment room for the filter and heater, and a little changing area and restroom, all within a wood-fenced area. As the community declined in population, especially as families and children moved into town, the use of the pool declined. Prone to leakage, it ceased being used by the early 2000s.

1960s – Growth of the Communities

Growth of Three Lynx Village and the surrounding communities increased the number of children attending the school and in the 1960s there were major upgrades and additions to the original two-room schoolhouse that included more classrooms, a cafeteria, gymnasium and even an outdoor ballfield.

1970s - Occupancy Decline

Despite the beauty of the setting and the low $7.50 monthly cost (including utilities) for a Three Lynx Village house, company occupancy rates began to decline in the early 1970s. PGE employees, increasingly, chose to live closer to town, schools, and other opportunities. At the same time, improved technology and modernized operations reduced the need for on-site staff at the Oak Grove project.

1988 - Improved Infrastructure

The Three Lynx School District merged with Estacada in 1975 and with reduced enrollment, improved roads and safer buses, classes ended at Three Lynx and the school was closed.

Three Lynx Village

c.1920 - 2022

1929 - 1930 - House Kit

PGE added a 2nd generation unit at Oak Grove and expanded Three Lynx. A group of “kit houses” were purchased from the Aladdin Company and built to form the “inner ring” of the village.

1923 - 1925 - Birth of Three Lynx

In preparation of Oak Grove going online in 1924, PGE needs to have operators and maintenance staff on-site, so Camp 8 is converted into permanent employee housing and Three Lynx Village is born. Seven “traditional” cottages were built on the outer ring.

1921 - Clackamas River

Due to increased power demands, PGE expands operation up the Clackamas River and begins development of the Oak Grove Powerhouse and Flowline. Oak Grove construction workers tent-camped at Camp 8 but once the project went into operation, PGE needed a place for them to live that didn’t require traveling up and down the valley every day.

Pre - 1920s - The Start

Earliest references to the area of Three Lynx village refer to it as “Camp 8,” one of series of camp sites that were established by Southern Pacific Railroad crews mapping and logging the area for future development beginning around 1907-1908.

The Beginning of Three Lynx Village

Decline and Preservation

The Growth

The Beginning

Aladdin Houses

Visual Timeline

From Camp to Village

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

The Beginning