Dave Knows Portland

Archives for February 2011

February 10, 1996: OR&N 197 Removed from Oaks Park

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OR&N 197The City of Portland owns three locomotives, the oldest of which is Oregon Railroad & Navigation #197 (OR&N 197).

The OR&N 197 is a 4-6-2, or “Pacific” type steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1905. Originally built to pull passenger trains on the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Co., a predecessor to the Union Pacific Railroad in the State of Oregon, this locomotive served successive companies for half a century. The engine was eventually renumbered to 3203, and was finally retired by the Union Pacific in the 1950s.

The City of Portland saved the OR&N 197 from the scrap yard and placed her on display at Oaks Amusement Park where she sat until the mid-90s. In 1995 a group of railroad aficionados got together to consider ways to return her to operation.

On February 10, 1996 (coincidentally near the height of severe flooding along the Willamette that year), they removed her from the riverside Oaks Park and brought her to the Brooklyn Roundhouse for restoration.

The Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation is looking to move her (and the Spokane, Portland & Seattle #700 and Southern Pacific #4449) to new digs by the end of the year – they are being evicted! The goal is to secure a new home for these historic behemoths near OMSI.

February 9, 1996: Flood Waters Subside

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After months of heavy rain and snow and unseasonably warm weather that melted much of that snow the Willamette and Columbia, and numerous other Northwest rivers, flooded in February of 1996. In Portland the Willamette flood waters crested at around 30 feet on February 9, 1996.

To put this flood into perspective for those who weren’t here, think about that big seawall at Waterfront Park. It’s about 30 feet high. The city constructed additional sandbag barriers – a.k.a. Vera’s Wall – around the railings at the top of the seawall as a last ditch effort to prevent flooding in downtown Portland. Imagine violently eddying, debris-filled chocolate milk colored water surging up to the brim, basically on the same level as the sidewalk. The seawall disappeared . . . but then the waters subsided.

Portland’s downtown was lucky. Oregon City and Tillamook’s downtown areas were submerged for days, and flooding occurred throughout the entire Pacific Northwest. In Oregon eight deaths were attributed to the flood. Over half a billion dollars in property damage was sustained throughout the Pacific Northwest, and 30,000 residents had to flee their homes.

Take To The Ship! – A 24-Hour Reading of Moby Dick (11-February-2011)

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Moby DickTake To the Ship, Portland’s First Continuous Reading of Moby Dick begins Friday, February 11th at 5pm and will go on for about 24 hours, finishing up on Saturday.

I know what you’re thinking: Why they hell would you do that?

For both fans of the Melville masterpiece, and those who have never cracked its pages, the reading will celebrate the epic sweep of one of the greatest reads in history, as well support the IPRC. When first published, Moby Dick was a near flop. It remains a totem to the importance of small, independent publishing for keeping alive great works ahead of their time.

Each of the 135 chapters of Melville’s classic novel Moby-Dick will be read by different readers, a host of area writers, artists, luminaries, and landlubbers alike.

The reading begins at Powell’s Books (1005 W Burnside) at 5pm in the 4th floor reading room. At 10pm the reading moves onto another location to be disclosed to readers and members of the Independent Publishing Resource Center.

Wurstfest 2011 (February 12-13)

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Dust off your Lederhosen, starch up your Dirndl and join the happy folk in Mount Angel for two fun days of celebration in honor of the WURST!

WurstfestWurstfest: A Mount Angel Celebration of German Sausage returns to Mount Angel for a third year.

Wurstfest was dreamed up in 2009 by the Bavarian-phile merrymakers in Mount Angel, Oregon, home of Oregon’s largest Oktoberfest celebration every fall. Heather and I attended the inaugural festival and enjoyed it immensely – it’s just like Oktoberfest, but in the winter.

Mount Angel area sausage makers present their best wursts at the fest, authentic German beers are on tap, and regional wines and Bavarian glühwein is available. Entertainment includes Oktoberfest-style music and dancing.

The fest takes place at the Mount Angel Community Building (500 S Wilco Highway) on Saturday, February 12 and Sunday, February 13. Hours are Saturday 11am until 11pm, and Sunday 11am to 5pm. Included in the $10.00 adult admission fee is a souvenir glass Bavarian beer mug (for first 2000 attendees). Kids get in free with an adult until 9pm.

This will be your last chance to celebrate in the old beer hall! Demolition of the Biergarten and construction of the new Mount Angel Community Center begins shortly after Wurstfest.

In 2009 we visited Wurstfest on Valentines Day, which coincidentally is Oregon’s Birthday. Read Heather’s review of the festival, I Went To A Sausage Fest, and check out the festival’s rendition of Happy Birthday Dear Oregon:

Happy Birthday Dear Oregon from Mile73 on Vimeo.

Elevated Living PDX: Tree Houses

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I don’t recall how exactly I stumbled upon the site, but I was immediately hooked. I can’t imagine the permitting process, but I would truly love to have of these. First, however, I’ll need to find a tree, in particular, according to the FAQ, a “straight-trunked tree such as a Pine, Spruce, or Fir tree” – I think I can probably find one around here . . .

Elevated LivingPortland-style urban infill reaches new heights with Elevated Living:

Elevated Living, based in Portland Oregon, is a manufacturer and installer of high-end, customizable treehouses fully supported by a tree. Each pre-manufactured treehouse is a fully functional living space with options such as plumbing, electrical, and any other modern-day convenience found in a standard home. Elevated Living is also eco-conscious. Every treehouse is made using green products and building methods.

Elevated Living was founded by Portland native Schuyler Silva, who has a Master of Fine Arts in Scenic Technology from the University of Illinois and has been remodeling houses and building theatrical sets for over a decade.

Visit ElevatedLivingPDX.com for answers to all your inevitable questions. Stay on top of developments at the Elevated Living blog and you can also follow @ELPDX on Twitter.