R.V. Short Fir
(Pseudotsuga menziesii)

This Douglas fir stands on the Donation Land Claim of Robert Valentine Short, a prominent land surveyor in the mid 1800’s.  R.V. Short arrived in Oregon in 1847, when he was hired on a wagon train in the command of General Joel Palmer.  R.V. opened up a tailor shop in Oregon City, but switched to surveying as his skills were soon in demand. He was hired to survey amd map the city of Portland in 1850. He created the first plat on record of downtown Portland.  This fir tree was saved, possibly to serve as a marker tree, while most of the others on the property were logged.

Location: Merryfield City Park, Wilsonville
Circumference: 193 inches
Height: 119 feet
Crown Spread: 55 feet
Age: 250-300 years

Dedication Ceremony: May 2014