Astoria

Kick Ass Oregon History Diorama Contest 2015

January 12, 2015 by Dave Leave a Comment

The 4th annual Kick Ass Oregon History Diorama Contest is under way.

You made them in Mrs. Dingleberry’s 5th grade American History class. You saw them at that Crappy County Historical Society your Dad drug you to on that one summer road trip. And you envied Suzie Snotgrass’s winning science faire entry of Tranquility Base.

NOW Vengeance can be yours, Dear Ass Kicker!

Here’s how it works : Create a diorama depicting a Kick Ass Oregon Historical event (perhaps check out the podcasts and website for inspiration), take photos of your masterpiece, and email them to oregonhistorian@gmail.com by February 10, 2015.

The winners will be announced at Oregon’s Birthday Party and Diorama Show in Kick Astoria!! on Saturday, February 14, 2015. Win fabulous prizes – and bask in fame and glory and gain a whole gang of fourth graders who HATE YOU and to whom you can constantly sing-song “my diorama was better than yours” each and every-time you see them at Freddies.

Entries will be judged on four categories, each worth 10 points:

Kick Ass-ness
Oregon Historical Significance
Originality
Ass Kicken-ness!

You don’t have to be present at the Merry Time show on February 14 to win, but if you do bring your diorama to the show, you’ll earn 5 bonus points.

Prizes include passes to upcoming Kick Ass Oregon History tours, and booze!

Stay tuned to @Oregon_History on Twitter and check out the recap of last year’s event for photos of previous entries, and more details.

Kick Ass Oregon History Vol 4 #4: The Great Astoria Plague of April 1901

April 1, 2012 by Dave Leave a Comment

Kick Ass Oregon History is the latest series of podcasts from the enthusiastic historians behind ORHistory.com.

And volume 4 #4 just dropped: The Great Astoria Plague of April 1901.

In which we learn that something fishy lurks beneath the surface of Astoria.

The brains behind this Kick Ass project are the crack hustlers of Oregon History Doug Kenck-Crispin and Andy Lindberg. Doug is a graduate student studying Public History and Pacific Northwest History at PSU, and Andy, though a Portland native, is currently working as an actor in New York City. Doug does most of the research and writing for the podcasts with input from Andy, who voices the broadcasts with a thespian’s flair.

With the Kick Ass Oregon History podcast they plan to cover just the good stuff: Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll and Earth Shattering, Devastating Destruction.

Ultimately, our goal is to take Oregon History out of the hallowed halls of the academy, get folks excited and enthused about this shared history, and get them out into the state, digging it and experiencing it. Get them to embrace it, and get their boots muddy in the process. It’s all OUR History; nobody owns it.

Visit ORHistory.com and stay tuned to @Oregon_History on Twitter for further details on specific episodes and the series. Catch up on missed episodes at the Kick Ass Oregon History archives.

October 23, 1813: Astoria Handed Over to the British

October 23, 2011 by Dave Leave a Comment

Founded in 1811 when the Astor Expedition landed at the mouth of the Columbia River to establish an outpost of the Pacific Fur Company, Fort Astoria was not a raving success.

When the War of 1812 broke out, the Pacific Fur Company partners present in Astoria decided to cut their losses and avoid a possible military takeover. On October 23, 1813 they sold the post to the British North West Company.

Their actions proved prescient as a few weeks later a British man-of-war arrived to take possession. Fort Astoria was renamed Fort George, and the British retained control of the Northwest fur trade for the next several decades, long after the war ended in 1818.

August 16, 1875: Columbia River Fisherman’s Beneficial Aid Society is Organized

August 16, 2011 by Dave Leave a Comment

Organized on August 16, 1875, the Columbia River Fisherman’s Beneficial Aid Society‘s main purposes were to establish rules regarding the drifting grounds and boundaries for Columbia River gillnet fishermen and to establish insurance so that the widows of fishermen who died as a result of their occupation would receive a death benefit.

Renamed the Columbia River Fisherman’s Protective Union (CRFPU) in 1879, the union soon began organizing to push for better working conditions and higher fish prices.

After packers reneged on fish prices agreed upon in settling a 1896 CRPFU strike, two hundred fishermen formed the Union Fisherman’s Cooperative Packing Company. The packing company, until it was sold to Peter Pan Seafoods in 1950, supported developing hatchery programs, rehabilitating fish runs, reducing pollution, and promoting research in the preparation of new fisheries products.

The former Union Fish cannery in Astoria, Oregon is now the Cannery Pier Hotel.

July 29, 1966: Pacific Coast Route Completed With Opening of Astoria-Megler Bridge

July 29, 2011 by Dave Leave a Comment

Following the end of the 45 year old ferry service between Astoria, Oregon and Megler, Washington, the Astoria-Megler Bridge opened to automobile traffic on July 29, 1966, a month before the official dedication (The Oregonian, 30-July-1966).

First across was an Astoria resident, Victor Watson, who paid toll of $1.50 “just for the ride.”

The bridge was built to withstand 150 miles per hour winds, and river flood speeds of 9 miles per hour. The main span’s 1,232 foot continuous truss is the longest in the country. The bridge was a toll bridge until December 24, 1993, when the construction bonds were paid off – two years early.