Gresham Historical Society · Northwest Digital Heritage

Description

Black and white photo of Burton and LaVerne Walrad as a younger couple standing together in a wooded setting. He wears a suit and tie, vest and hat. She wears an ankle length dress and coat along with a hat worn to the right side of her head.. People identified: Walrad, Burton Walrad, LaVerne (Caffee)

Provenance

From a collection of photos of Burton Walrad and his spouse LaVerne Caffee Walrad and their families. LaVerne was born in Portland in 1905 and grew up there, attending Washington High School. She married Burton Walrad in 1926. Burton was born in 1902 and moved with his parents to Gresham in 1912. They purchased a mercantile store on Main and 1st Street that became Walrad Mercantile. Burton graduated from Gresham Union High School in 1921 and started his first business, Gresham Transfer Co., in 1922. His next venture, Walrad Insurance, remained in business from 1928 until his retirement 50 years later. In 1931, he became the first president of the new Gresham Chamber of Commerce and was instrumental in bringing a new bank to Gresham after both of the town’s previous banks had failed in the stock market crash. He became known for charitable giving and investment in civic improvement, purchasing the Gresham Fire Department its first fire truck. Burton and LaVerne had no children. Burton died in 1990 and LaVerne in 2001. Their friend and neighbor David Widmark donated the photos after their deaths.

Burton and LaVern Walrad

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