Oregon150

For the Greater Good

Gregory Chaille
Statewide

by Gregory Chaille
Portland, OR
“May we forever prove by our action that people can join together for mutual benefit and greater good.” These words were spoken by Governor Tom McCall in 1975 as he was stepping down from state office – and just a year after William Swindells founded The Oregon Community Foundation.
The Oregon Community Foundation [...]

Centennial Dawning

Emily Blakely
Sutherlin, OR

Margare Pepiot Moore–as told to Emily Blakely
Sutherlin, OR
Margaret Pepiot Moore I have known for over two decades, we are neighbors. All things remaining the same, June 17, 2009 she will reach that rare mark–the centennial of her life.
Most of those years have been in Douglas County, Oregon and Nonpareil community more specifically. [...]

Dabbling

Cheryl Garrett
Peter Iredale Beach, Warrenton, Or

by Cheryl Garrett
Warrenton, OR
come dabble your toes in the water with me,
at the beach,at the beach, by the open sea.
if your heart is weary and your soul is torn,
then upon the tides let your pain be borne.
come wash away the sorrow you feel,
because only then can you know it’s real.
if you have any doubts, the [...]

Oregon’s 100th Birthday

Kathleen Buck Kuikahi
Salem Oregon

by Kathleen Buck Kuikahi
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
In 1959, I was in the 4th grade at Middle Grove School. Back then it was a 6 classroom school with a teaching principal.
We did a re-inactment of the Lewis & Clark expedition and planted a centenial rose in the front lawn of the school.
It does not seem like 50 years [...]

Ten Acres or a Township: The Favell-Utley Corporation

Randy Utley
Lakeview, Oregon

by Robert R. Utley
Lakeview, Oregon
The oldest operating real estate firm in Oregon? Ninety-four years of continuous real estate service. My grandfather Harry A. Utley and his father-in-law Frank Curtis started our real estate firm in the spring on 1914 in Lakeview, Oregon. Curtis & Utley Realty was the firm’s name.
In 1916 Mr. Nolte purchased [...]

Journey to Oregon

Deborah Opitz
Salem, OR

by Deborah Opitz
Silverton, OR
My father, Adlore Paquin, had asthma which was exacerbated by the cold winters in Minnesota, where he and my mother, Vera, lived. His doctor advised him to change climates. So, in February 1935, they sold their furniture and packed all their belongings into their Model A. My brother’s high-chair was [...]

Finding Cupcakes in Portland

Jaclyn Theoharis
Portland

by Jaclyn Theoharis
Portland, Oregon
Jaclyn Theoharis.MP3 (333 KB)

Back Home

Mark E Walton
Florence and the state

by Mark E. Walton
There is no better feeling than being back home in Oregon. I first left Oregon in 1972 and in that time, I have been to 16 countries and 49 of the 50 states. Out of all the places I have been, Oregon is the best place to be. The weather [...]

Great Four Boys–Proud of Oregon!

Dr. Dapo Sobomehin
Portland Southeast

by Dr. Dapo Sobomehin
Portland, OR

I was always interested in sharing this story for good reason. Good reason. Oregon with its beauty–let us talk about it–especially as we celebrate the 150th birthday.
My four great boys grew up here–two were native born–in Portland, but I did everything in my power to make sure they enjoyed, and contributed [...]

Became an Oregonian by Accident

Andy Van Oostrum
portland

By Andy Van Oostrum
Portland, Oregon
It must have been around 1986, when I was in Junior High back in SW Oklahoma. I picked up a Consumer Report, and read about the quality of life in Oregon. The weather, bike paths, access to the mountains and ocean, were too much to imagine for a 7th [...]

Ongoing Exploration

Merina Christoffersen
Waterfalls of Oregon

by Merina Christoffersen
Marcola, OR
My favorite memory of this state? Youngs River Falls…off a rope swing as a child. I fell in love - So many waterfalls! Once I learned to drive I visited the Columbia River Gorge - Hiking Oneonta and the Punchbowl and Tunnel Falls. Later motorcycling into Golden and [...]