Dave Knows Portland

Archives for March 2011

History Pub: Power Vs. Fish on the Columbia (28-March-2011)

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History PubJoin the Oregon Historical Society, Holy Names Heritage Center, and McMenamins this Monday, March 28 for the latest installment of History Pub, your chance to learn some local history while enjoying a couple pints! The topic of this month’s presentation is Power vs. Fish on the Columbia: Building a Hydropower System and the Death of Celilo Falls

For over 12,000 years, the Columbia River was a vital trade route connecting the Plateau Tribes and supplying the sacred salmon. Celilo Falls was one of the largest fishing sites and trade gathering areas for indigenous people. Then, in 1949, federal, state, and local authorities made choices about developing the Columbia River that brought great changes, affecting both culture and landscape.

Celilo Falls was submerged on March 10, 1957 after construction of The Dalles Dam.

Independent scholar and craftsperson Pat Courtney Gold, a Wasco Native whose ancestors lived along the Columbia River for more than 12,000 years, will be speaking, as well as Portland State University professor William L. Lang, author and editor of books on Pacific Northwest history and editor-in-chief of the Oregon Encyclopedia.

This event takes place at the Kennedy School Theater (5736 NE 33rd) at 7pm. Admission is free, but please bring canned goods for the Oregon Food Bank! All ages are welcome.

Trillium Festival (April 2-3, 2011)

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TrilliumThe 2011 Trillium Festival, brought to you by the Friends of Tryon Creek, takes place Saturday and Sunday, April 2 and 3, 10am to 4pm both days.

Celebrate the coming of our spring festival featuring our Native & Hardy Plant Sale, Trillium Market, and Garden Art Sale. Enjoy many family fun events including guided hikes, children’s crafts, and storytelling.

Visit the website for the event schedule and details on the plant sale, market, garden art sale, and more.

The festival takes place at the Tryon Creek State Natural Area. Directions and shuttle information are available at the Friends of Tryon Creek website.

And a reminder: please do not pick the trilliums!

Via Exploring Portland’s Natural Areas.

March 27, 1964: Tsunami Hits Oregon Coast

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A tsunami struck the Oregon coast on Friday evening, March 27, 1964 following the great Alaskan earthquake, the second largest earthquake ever recorded and largest ever recorded in North America. In Alaska nine deaths were attributed to the earthquake, but the tsunami took the lives of 106 Alaskans, and wreaked havoc across the Pacific.

The Oregonian reported the local damage on March 28, 1964:

Astoria – Some high water but no damage.
Depoe Bay – High water, wharf broke loose.
Point Adams Coast Guard Station – Coast Guard boats moved into the Columbia River to avoid high water
Newport – High water hit in two surges, but no damage
Florence – Siuslaw River rose eight feet in eight seconds. It tore loose at least four boats.

What they didn’t know until later was that four members of a family camping at Beverly Beach State Park were crushed by logs and drowned in the tsunami. Further down the coast the citizens of Crescent City, California suffered the worst fate outside of Alaska, with eleven deaths attributed to the tsunami.

Green is the Color: A Brief History of the Portland Timbers, 1975-Present (30-March-2011)

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TimbersJoin the Northwest History Network and Michael Orr this Wednesday, March 30 at the Thirsty Lion Pub (71 SW 2nd) for the presentation Green is the Color: A Brief History of the Portland Timbers, 1975-Present.

2011 marks the inaugural season of Major League Soccer (MLS) in Portland, but the sport has a long and storied history in the region. At the start of the Portland Timbers’ first MLS season, the Northwest History Network is pleased to partner with Thirsty Lion Pub to host Michael Orr’s presentation on the history of the team, players, and legions of loyal fans.

The Northwest History Network (NHN) is The Northwest History Network is a non-profit consortium of history, library, and archives professionals and other people interested in preserving and bringing history to the public.

Michael Orr is managing writer and editor at the Portland startup FC Media, which is dedicated to documenting Timbers history. He is currently writing a history of the inaugural 1975 NASL Portland Timbers season. Michael also hosts the radio show mao’s Football, maintains a blog of the same name, and writes for the Timbers blog at The Offside and other publications.

Wednesday’s presentation starts at 7pm. It is part of the NHN’s General Meeting, but the general public is invited to attend.

Soccer City, USA: The Birth and Rise of the Portland Timbers (29-March-2011)

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The Birth and Rise of the Portland TimbersJoin the Oregon Encyclopedia project this Tuesday, March 29 at the McMenamins Edgefield in Troutdale (2126 SW Halsey) for a special OE History Night presentation, Soccer City, USA: The Birth and Rise of the Portland Timbers.

Michael Orr takes a look back at the first season of the Timbers team in 1975, a season so successful that it landed the Timbers in the NASL Soccer Bowl and earned Portland the nickname “Soccer City USA.” Learn more about the team that inspired huge crowds and featured stars like Peter Withe and Willie Anderson.

Michael is managing writer and editor at the Portland startup FC Media, which is dedicated to documenting Timbers history. He is currently writing a history of the inaugural 1975 NASL Portland Timbers season. Michael also hosts the radio show mao’s Football, maintains a blog of the same name, and writes for the Timbers blog at The Offside and other publications.

The presentation starts at 6:30pm in the Edgefield Power Station Theater. All ages are welcome and admission is free, but bring a canned good to donate to SnowCap Community Charities.