Businessman and ordained minister William MacLaren helps found the Portland Commons Mission, Settlement, Kitchen and Employment Service for Homeless Men and Returning Prisoners in downtown Portland. Alexander Kerr, founder of the Kerr Glass Manufacturing Company joins him. The name is soon changed to the Pacific Coast Rescue & Protective Society. Both men remain active in the organization throughout their lives.

Lola Baldwin, the nation’s first female police detective, spurs city leaders to open the Louise Home for girls in Southwest Portland in 1908. The home is taken over by the Society. Because of rapid growth, a new home is built on nine acres of farmland in present-day Gresham in 1915.

Alexander Kerr’s young wife, Albertina, dies suddenly of typhus in 1913. Alexander gives the Society their family home in Northwest Portland to be a nursery in her honor. The Albertina Kerr Nursery Home provides adoption services and respite and day-care for children of single mothers. It too runs out of room, and the organization fundraises to build a new home at NE 22nd and Sandy in 1921.

The Wynne Watts School is built on the property with the Louise Home in 1936 and becomes part of our present-day Gresham Campus. The school is named for Dr. Wynne Watts, who served as medical director from 1909 until his death in 1937.

In 1940, the Louise Home and the Albertina Kerr Nursery incorporate under the name of Albertina Kerr Homes.

In 1956, with fundraising help from the community, Albertina Kerr builds two cottages on the Gresham Campus to offer residential treatment for young boys.

The Nursery operates as an adoption home until 1967, when state regulations and a changing society turn away from institutional care and towards foster homes and community-based care. Fred Hutchinson becomes the third director of Albertina Kerr in 1969.

Albertina Kerr begins an innovative “continuum of care” program for children with mental illness and emotional developmental disabilities, creating residential and outpatient psychiatric treatment services for children, and counseling for their families.

In the late 1970s, Salem’s Fairview Training Center, the state-run institution for people with developmental disabilities, begins curtailing services and makes plans to move its residents to community-based homes. Albertina Kerr steps in and begins its first programs for individuals with mental illness and developmental disabilities, opening the Kerr Center for Handicapped Children on the Marylhurst campus.

The Albertina Kerr Nursery building closes for renovation and re-opens in 1980 as the volunteer-run Albertina’s Restaurant and Shops. These businesses are completely volunteer-run and donate all their proceeds to Albertina Kerr.

As more Fairview residents leave that institution, Albertina Kerr opens neighborhood group homes for individuals with developmental disabilities in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties. Albertina Kerr begins supported living services and significantly expands employment services and life skills training for people with developmental disabilities. Chris Krenk is named the fourth executive director in 1990.

In 1997, the Oregon legislature orders the closing of Fairview. The last resident leaves Fairview in 2000 and the institution closes its doors forever. Albertina Kerr opens more community-based group homes for adults leaving Fairview.

Also in 1997, with $3.2 million raised from community donations, Albertina Kerr constructs a new building on the Gresham campus and begins operating a Crisis Psychiatric Care program for children who are a danger to themselves or to others.

In partnership with Morrison Child and Family Services, the Foster Family Care Network is formed in 2001 to recruit and train the best possible foster parents.

In 2006, Albertina Kerr adds nine new group homes for adolescents with both a developmental disability and mental health difficulties that require specialized care and treatment. Today, adolescents and adults with developmental disabilities are living in 43 Albertina Kerr group homes throughout the Willamette Valley.

In 2007, Albertina Kerr celebrates 100 years of service in Oregon.

Into its second century, Albertina Kerr is not slowing down. We continue to adapt and change to meet community needs and create innovative programs.

We hope you will join us as we take on this complex but immensely rewarding work. We are confident that together we can face the challenges and needs of our growing community and build a better future for all Oregonians.