As in many communities in Oregon, lumber lured white settlers to the area now known as Lake Oswego. Albert Alonzo Durham, from Oswego, N.Y., ventured here in 1850 to build a mill north of Sucker Creek — which we know as Oswego Creek.

Besides starting his mill, Durham laid out the original town site and named it after his old hometown. He remained owner of the newly-formed community for 15 years until both the township and mill were purchased by John Corse Trullinger.

In 1865, a consortium of businessmen began plans to build an iron-processing plant in the area — thanks to the rich iron ore deposits that dominate the vicinity. The Oregon Iron Company was incorporated, the first of three companies that hoped to make Oswego an industrial center, or the “Pittsburgh of the West.” Two years later, an iron smelter was built in modern-day George Rogers Park.

At its peak, the iron industry employed some 300 men. Oswego was booming. It boasted a growing population, four general stores, a bank, two barbershops, two hotels, three churches, nine saloons and Davidson’s drugstore. An opera house proved to be a profit-able investment.

Until 1886, when a narrow gauge railroad between Portland and Oswego was built, Oswego was a remote place. But iron wasn’t destined to be the area’s lifeblood and, in less than three decades, the industry died out here.

With the demise of the iron industry, Oregon Iron & Steel turned its attention to land development. It built a power plant on Oswego Creek and sought permission to erect power poles to provide electricity to the community.

In the early 20th century, Oswego became a favorite “escape” for wealthy Portlanders, and Sucker Lake was surrounded by summer homes. In 1913, the U.S. Geographical Survey changed the name of the lake from Sucker Lake to Oswego Lake. In 1926, the first City Hall was built on A Avenue between State and First Streets.

By the 1930s, Lake Oswego’s growth as a year-round living environment was well un-derway. Murphy built the first water system to serve the west end of the city and encour-aged noted architects to design fine homes during the 1930s and ‘40s. This gave rise to Oswego’s reputation as a community of fine homes.

Residential development around the perimeter of Oswego Lake accelerated in the 1940s and ‘50s. Residential uses with access to the now private lake occupied  most of the shore area of Oswego Lake.

It wasn’t until 1959 that the city of Oswego annexed numerous unincorporated properties in the Lake Grove area, located to the west. The result was the City of Lake Oswego.