Dave Knows Portland

Kick Ass Oregon History Vol 3 #1: The Tripped-Out Story of Vortex 1

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Kick Ass Oregon History: Story of Vortex 1Kick Ass Oregon History is the latest series of podcasts from the enthusiastic historians behind ORHistory.com.

Volume 3 #1 dropped Friday – Vortex 1:

The incredible tale of how Republican Oregon Governor Tom McCall averted violence and doom by holding a state-sponsored Hippie Rock Festival at McIver Park in rural Clackamas County during the summer of 1970.

In partnership with the Oregon Historical Society, and their exhibit “Oregon Rocks: A History of Popular Music in Oregon,” on exhibit August 25, 2011 – January 15, 2012.

Featuring an interview with Vortex 1 historian Matt Love.

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.

July 31, 1934: West Coast Waterfront Strike Ends

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Cartoon published in Th Oregonian on 1-August-1934

After 82 days the most devastating work stoppage in Oregon’s history ended on July 31, 1934.

The longshoremen’s solidarity, community support, and militancy won them coast-wide union recognition, a joint hiring hall, and substantial wage and hour improvements. The Portland local joined the post-strike movement to reject their corrupt AFL union and to join Harry Bridges’s International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU). Oregon ILWU locals now include Portland 8 and 40, North Bend 12, Astoria 50, Powell’s 5, as well as the Columbia River Pensioners Association, which stand on the foundation of the 1934 strike as rare survivors of militant unionism. [“West coast waterfront strike of 1934” entry in the Oregon Encyclopedia]

Portland Anarchist Bookfair (July 23-24, 2011)

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PDX Anarchist Bookfair 2011The 2011 Portland Anarchist Bookfair takes place this Saturday and Sunday, July 23 and 24, in the Smith Memorial Student Union at Portland State University.

In addition to dozens of vendors including Laughing Horse Books, Bitch Magazine, Black Rose Infoshop, Red and Black Cafe, PDX Books to Prisoners, a series of lectures and seminars are scheduled.

This event, hosted by Students for Unity, is free for radicals and free thinkers of all kinds. Visit the Bookfair website for more details, including a complete list of vendors and the lecture and seminar schedule.

July 8, 1858: John Whiteaker Inaugurated as First Governor of Oregon

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John Whiteaker, 1st Oregon GovernorAnticipating statehood, Oregon voters elected John D. Whiteaker governor in June, 1857. The inauguration took place on July 8, 1858.

But it wasn’t until eight months later, after Oregon was granted statehood on February 14, 1859, that he assumed office.

Just in time for the Civil War.

His pro-slavery position alienated him from a substantial number of the citizens of Oregon at the outbreak of the Civil War. Whiteaker was vilified as a traitor, but continued to serve until the end of his term in September 1862. As governor he urged development of home industries, citing soap, socks and pickles as products Oregonians could make for themselves. His frequent nickname was “Honest John,” but was also known as “Old Soap, Socks and Pickles.”

He did not run for reelection when his term expired in 1862, but remained in politics. He served in the Oregon legislature and senate, reached the U.S. Congress, and was appointed tax collector in Oregon in 1885, the position from which he retired in 1889. He died in 1902.

July 5, 1843: Organic Laws of Oregon Adopted by Popular Vote

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Oregon Provisional Government Seal

A series of meetings at Champoeg were held in the early 1840s by Oregon Country pioneers attempting to work out collective solutions to problems such as wolves, crime, and inheritance.

Interest in self-government grew, and on May 2, 1843 the Provisional Government of Oregon was established. A government isn’t worth much without laws, so a provisional government committee met to address the issue. On July 4, 1843 they had their draft of the de facto first Oregon Constitution, and on July 5, 1843 those Organic Laws of Oregon were adopted by popular vote.

Five years later the provisional government was replaced with a territorial government when the US government established the Oregon Territory.