The Portland Rose Festival tradition of selecting royalty (usually a queen, but for a few years a king, Rex Oregonus) dates from the very beginning of the festival in 1907. In the early years kings and queens were selected from the city’s social, political, and business elite. But that changed in 1930, when for the first time, each Portland high school selected a princess to vie for the crown.
On June 12, 1930, at Laurelhurst Park, princess Caroline Hawn from Lincoln High School was crowned Queen of Rosaria (The Oregonian, 12-June-1930).
Yesterday – One of many Portland high school seniors.
Today – Her Majesty, Queen Caroline I, ruler of Rosaria.
This will be the delightful and extraordinary experience of comely Caroline Hahn, 17-year-old miss, whose assumption of regal authority this morning will signalize the opening of Portland’s famous annual floral ceremonial, the Rose Festival.
Leave a Reply