Dave Knows Portland

Archives for November 2011

November 20, 1882: Columbia River Railway Line Opens

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Henry VillardOn November 20, 1882, the first train steamed its way through the Columbia River Gorge on the Oregon side of the Columbia River (Morning Oregonian, 21 November 1882).

Traffic by rail was commenced yesterday between the metropolis of Oregon and the tributary empire lying east of the Cascade mountains. There was no hurrah, no confusion, no excitement. One passenger train and two freights left Albina in a plain, matter-of-fact way, as if the practice of running cars into that now prominent railroad town had been established for years.

There may have been no hurrah, but the engine of the train was gaily decorated and the headlight was covered with a portrait of Henry Villard, the owner of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company (O.R.& N.).

Pittock Mansion Holiday Season 2011

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Pittock Mansion Ready for the HolidaysOnce again Portland’s historic Pittock Mansion is going all out for the holiday season. This year, from November 21 through January 2, the theme is Christmas Around The World.

Every year, starting more than 40 years ago, dozens of volunteer decorators, designers, and local organizations donate their time and talents to transform Pittock Mansion into a Christmas wonderland for approximately 17,000 delighted visitors during the holiday season. This year’s bedecking of the Mansion’s hallways, grand marble staircase, and 23 treasure-filled rooms will feature multi-cultural Christmas customs and traditions as we celebrate Christmas Around the World.

Visitors are invited to enjoy the special exhibit and decorations, including over two dozen Christmas trees. Musicians will be performing regularly in the Music Room, and of course there are plenty of shopping options in the Museum Store.

Admission is free for members, $9 for adults, $8 for seniors (65+), $6 for youth (ages 6 – 18), and free for children ages 5 and younger.

The holiday display stays up until January 2nd. The mansion is open every day from November 22 until January 2nd 2011, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Hours daily are 11am until 4pm.

Lots of people are enthusiastic about the holidays, so the Mansion can get pretty crazy. To help alleviate the crowding the park offers a free shuttle from December 17 through January 1. Park your car by PSU (or take the train or bus downtown) and head over to PSU Parking Garage #3 (entrance on SW 12th or 13 just south of Market Street).

History Pub: Politics and Crime in Portland: Drug Enforcement in the 1980s (21-November-2011)

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Politics and Crime in Portland: Drug Enforcement in the 1980sJoin the Oregon Encyclopedia this Monday, November 21, 2011 for the latest installment of History Night at the Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan): Politics and Crime in Portland: Drug Enforcement in the 1980s.

In the 1980s, the Portland Police Department uncovered a massive drug conspiracy headed by a cocaine dealer named Jose “Pepe” Chavez. Police Sergeant Ray Tercek was part of what would become one of the largest drug trafficking conspiracy investigations in the nation, and he shares his experiences breaking the conspiracy and negotiating the politics of City Hall.

Ray Tercek, a twenty-six years veteran of the Portland Police Bureau, has published two memoirs documenting his experiences.

This history pub is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6pm, presentation begins at 7pm.

November 19, 1983: Blue Magpie Runs Aground at Yaquina Bay North Jetty

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The Oregonian front page, 21 November 1983At 7:38pm on Saturday, November 19, 1983 the 350 foot freighter Blue Magpie, on its way to pick up a load of lumber, hit the rocks at the north tip of the Yaquina Bay north jetty (The Sunday Oregonian, 20 November 1983).

The Coast Guard had advised the freighter earlier in the evening to lay off the bay because of the rough seas, which were breaking across the bar in 14-foot, flat-sided waves. [Coast Guard Cmdr Clinton W.] Carter said a pilot could not be dispatched to guide the freighter into the bay. However, he said, the unidentified skipper “ignored our advice to stay out there.”

After the empty freighter hit the rocks all 19 crew members were lifted to safety by Coast Guard helicopters. That was the good news.

The abandoned freighter proceeded to break up into three pieces and had leaked at least 3000 gallons of oil by Sunday night (The Oregonian, 21 November 1983). Within three days 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel had escaped, and within five days another 60,000 gallons of bunker C oil had leaked out of the wreck. Ultimately hundreds of seabird deaths were attributed to the spill, which was one of the worst in Oregon history (The Oregonian, 4 February 1988).