PLSO The Oregon Surveyor May/June 2021

The Lost Surveyor 24 The Oregon Surveyor | Vol. 44, No. 3 continued T still standing today. Hallock’s architectural career in Portland lasted approximate- ly 23 years, spanning from about 1852 to his retirement in approximately 1875. In the 1860s, Hallock began to focus on oth- er career passions and civic involvement. He spent considerable time working in Portland as chief engineer of the volun- teer Multnomah Fire Engine Company No. 2. He served as city police commissioner, and served as a member of city council several times. He also patented designs to improve steam engine performance. In addition to these volunteer and pub- lic service positions, Hallock was known as a cabinet maker, a fine mechanic, and an expert draftsman, civil engineer, and, as you may have already guessed, a sur- veyor. (Find A Grave) Hallock surveyed several Oregon cities, including the Asto- ria townsite, and was appointed the first City Surveyor of Portland in 1863. (The Or- egon Encyclopedia) During his time as City Surveyor, Hallock laid out the line and grade for many Port- land streets. Documents available through The Oregon Encyclopedia show Hallock was also involved with grading of various blocks within Portland to aid with and di- rect construction. As shown by his 1863 schedule, Hallock maintained a busy and diverse workload intermixed with bird hunting and other activities unrelated to surveying. [Exhibit Schedule] According to the Multnomah County Surveyors of- fice website, A.B Halloch (sp.) surveyed the Central Block plat on Portland’s water- front, not far fromhis office. Other sources claim he also surveyed Couch’s Addition, however, it appears based on surveyor re- cords thatmay not be the case. TheCentral Block plat is the only document of record on the Multnomah County Surveyor web- site which bears his name. Hallock spent his retirement in the Tilla- mook area, living in a cabin he built in the doomed town of Bay Ocean, which even- tually washed into the Pacific. He passed away in 1892 andwas interred in the Lone Fir Cemetery in Portland. [Photos 2 and 3] Hallock rests near other notable surveyors of Oregon includingWilliamW. Chapman, a Surveyor General of Oregon. The north line of the Lone Fir Cemetery is Stark Street, which is the Willamette Baseline, and in the north wall of the cemetery you will find Stark Street mile marker number 2, a well-preserved piece of Oregon history on the baseline. [Photo 4] It seems fitting that as a surveyor and firefighter, Hallock’s final resting place is at a cemetery block corner and adjacent to the Firefighter’s Section (Block 5) just across the access road to the east. Lone Fir Cemetery is operated by the Port- land area governing body, Metro. Here is an opportunity for PLSO to bring rec- ognition to a surveyor of our past and a significant figure in Portland’s history. A review of the Lone Fir documentation of notable figures and pioneer beginnings who are buried here includes not a single surveyor. Chapman is listed, but as a devel- oper, not a surveyor. It would seem, with minimal effort, PLSO could call these sur - veyors to Metro’s attention. A man who is well documented as both the first City Architect, first City Surveyor, a firefighter, police commissioner, and council member might deserve recognition as a notable fig - ure in a prominent cemetery. He is, after all, the one who designed an unassuming building in 1857 which is still standing at the corner of SW Oak Street and SW Nai- to Parkway. x 1863 work schedule. Document reprinted with permission of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library.