The Hackleman National Register District

The Hackleman District contains 228 properties within about 28 city blocks. The District is named after Abner Hackleman, a farmer from Iowa, who in 1845 immigrated to Oregon by crossing the plains with ox teams. Hacleman settled in the area that became the Hackleman Historic District. During the winter of 1845 Abner Hackleman took up the donation land claim, which is known as Hackleman's Addition in Albany. Hackleman laid off 70 acres of land for the first addition, and this was followed with three more additions now totaling over 100 acres.

Other immigrants began arriving and Mr. Hackleman hired Hiram N. Smead to hold another claim for him until his son arrived from Iowa. Only a year after arriving in Oregon, Abner died while returning to Iowa to fetch his family.

In 1847, Abner's son Abram relocated his father's claim and built a log house in an oak grove still known as Hackleman's Grove. He later built the house that still stands at the corner of Fifth and Jackson.

In 1853, residents of the newly-settled district had enough influence to persuade the Territorial Legislature to change the name of Albany to "Takenah," a Kalapuya word describing the pool created by the Calapooia River as it meets the Willamette. Certain irreverent old-timers translated the new name as "hole in the ground." This seemed unsuitable for the aspiring community, so it was changed back to Albany in 1855.

Historic Albany "Firsts":

Located in the Hackleman District are twelve different historic architectural styles including Classical and Gothic Revival, Rural Vernacular, Italianate, Queen Anne, French Second Empire, Stick, Craftsman, Eastlake, Colonial Revival, Transitional Box, Bungalow, and American Renaissance. There are also many eclectic hybrids that combine elements from different styles. The Hackleman Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

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Contact Historic Resources

Anne Catlin
Community Development, Planning Division
541- 917-7560, E-mail

 

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