Sherwood Forest

jack October 12th, 2007

by Toni and George Krummenacker                    

We have been residents in Sherwood Forest since “about” 1974 and we are original owners. We still live in the house we bought when it was newly build and plan on staying here until we go to “The Home.” During the years since 1974, we have observed a few things that might be considered interesting history of this neighborhood and have been asked to write about them.                            

First of all, the part of Sherwood Forest where we live was developed under the name of Sherwood Forest 3 (south of the Oak Tree), so we were the last area to be built. Because of this, we don’t know much about the history of the neighborhood prior to the building of Sherwood Forest 3. (Since Sherwood Forest 3 connects to Sherwood Forest 1, it is now considered part of Sherwood Forest 1.)

The builder who developed this neighborhood was named Robinette – thus the Sherwood Forest theme. The original signs to the entrances of Sherwood Forest 1 and Sherwood Forest 2 had a picture of the head of Robin Hood on the signs – now replaced by those durable but ugly plastic trees (sorry, we HAD to say that!). Within the neighborhood, all the street signs were attractive, rustic signs with the street name along with the same picture of the head of Robin Hood. The city long ago replaced those signs with the standard street signs only because someone kept ripping off the original signs.

Every house in the original part of the neighborhood came with a gas-burning lantern in the front yard. As time went on and gas became expensive, many residents changed these lanterns to electric. Eventually, the lanterns were removed by many of the owners, but you might sett a few still around.

The original deeds that came with the sale of each house had some very specific regulations. As we recall, the deeds stated that you HAD to have a split shake roof, could not park recreation vehicles of any kind in your driveway, could not have basketball hoops in the front of your house or in you driveway, and the cats had to wear bells. There may have been more restrictions; those are just the ones that we recall. Since a neighborhood association was never formed, these deed restrictions were never enforced. Also, as split shake roofs feel out of favor, many people have replaced their roofs with other materials…probably for the best.

We were asked if we knew any of the history of why “The Oak Tree” was left at the intersection of Devonshire, Doncaster and Chessington Lane. We don’t. The Oak Tree was almost always considered the neighborhood square where signs were posted, etc. Even for a time at The Oak Tree, a 4th of July speech was given by a resident followed by a neighborhood parade with drums, horns, flags, walkers, and bicycle riders.

So there you go, a little bit of history of Sherwood Forest in Gladstone, Oregon.

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