An audio recording of an oral history of Felix McCullough, including the history of Scoggins Valley, logging, the Tillamook burn, neighboring farmers, and rapid changes in the valley. There is a transcript of this interview.
An audio recording of an oral history of Felix McCullough, including the history of Scoggins Valley, logging, the Tillamook burn, neighboring farmers, and rapid changes in the valley. There is a transcript of this interview.
An audio recording of an oral history of Stanley Thornblohe (or possibly Thornblad) from Patton Valley about his experiences in the logging industry. Tape says Tree Farmer of the Year 1982.
An audio recording of an oral history of Gus Moelly about C.C. Ruth and Company, a feed store in Cornelius, Oregon. Moelly grew up in South Dakota working on a farm. When offered a position to work for the feed store in Oregon in about 1936, he took it. The feed store was run by Charlie Ruth, who took over the manager position in about 1934. Moelly describes how Ruth ran the feed plant, buying and selling grain, and eventually starting his own brand of animal feed, later named Champion Brand. Ruth started selling the Purina “checkerboard square” Feeds in about 1946. Before taking over the store, Ruth was an instructor at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. Moelly talks about the decrease in small production farms and the increase in large production farms and small, suburban interest in livestock. It was an “exit” from the farm. There was also an explosion in ownership of horses in Washington County. As tractors replaced the need for horses on the farms, there was an increased interest in horses for riding purposes. Moelly talks about how the store was only a feed store and though people sometimes called on them, they were not veterinarians or county agents and did not sell produce like other feed stores might have done. Moelly talks about his retirement from the store that was happening in the coming weeks after the recorded interview and how his son, Jerry, was going to officially take over. A change that Jerry was planning on implementing followed the community’s demands to sell more horse tack in the store. Moelly and the interviewer finish by talking about Charlie Ruth again and describing his physical and personal characteristics as well as the C.C. Award that was introduced to the Washington County Fair. At the time of the recording, it was the oldest continuous, rotating award at the fair and they mention a few of the first people who won the award.
An audio recording of an oral history of Bill Eberly, about coming to Oregon three times: twice in a wagon in 1891 and 1899; and once in a railroad boxcar, in 1905. He settled in the hills northwest of Banks.
An audio recording of an oral history of Garry Shields on his involvment in the Premium Picture Company in Hillsboro and the movie business in general. There is a transcript of this interview.
An audio recording of a talk to a class of young students by Dr. Margaret Gilbert on Forest Grove in the 19th century. Students ask questions during the talk.
Recording of a presentation by a young student on Helvetia, Oregon. Possibly intended to accompany a slide show. First minute of recording is classical music.
Recording of a presentation by young students on historical landmarks near Laurel, Oregon. One minute of fiddle music is followed by students presenting a project on historic landmarks such as Old Farmington School, Lewis Cementery, historic farms, and the Laurel community. Possibly created to accompany a slide show, as images are referenced.
An audio recording of an oral history of Florence Gross on the early nineteenth century in Washington County, Oregon. Mostly talking specifically on the town of Orenco, Gross describes the roles of the nurseries and the church in the community. Through the interview, she talks about particular aspects of the town including a local bachelor who went to the First Baptist Church in Hillsboro, Pittock Mansion and the changing ownership of another large mansion in Orenco, the Barby-Howe House on Sauvies Island, the physical layout of the buildings in Orenco in the 1930s, and the Orenco Herald newspaper. Gross had grown up in Missouri and came to Oregon in 1928. She mentions the social activities that were available including spelling bees, dances, ice skating, a male chorus, the golf course, and the school putting on “county” fairs. She talks about the nurseries in the area and how they got started, mentioning the Western Plant Nursery, Mr. Oliver, and Mr. Solvo. Gross then describes why many of the nurseries did not last because they would not diversify their products, unlike the Thomason nursery on Sauvies Island that did diversify and was successful. She mentions the Orenco apples and then finishes with describing Orenco as a place that people liked to live. There are two mostly full transcripts of the interview, the second one having written, edited comments. Both transcripts leave out some of the inaudible sentences and transition statements, and there is no break in the type between interviewer and interviewee. There is a lot of background noise and other voices in the recording.
Part two of an audio recording of an oral history of Elva Rossi and her life in Beaverton, Oregon, recorded on October 26, 1982. Rossi continues with talking about growing crops on her dad’s farm and how he got them to Portland. She describes traveling by horse for about 2.5 hours to Portland to shop and the stores they stopped at. In 1900, her father left their farm and opened up a saloon that was very law abiding and kept until the Prohibition. Rossi attended Beaverton Grade School, Lincoln High School in Portland, and then Normal School to become a teacher. After teaching all of the grades in a one-room schoolhouse, Rossi left teaching to be a bookkeeper at Standard Oil company and then the Bank of California as a file clerk and in the analysis department. Rossi got married in 1935 but was divorced after only seven years. After her divorce, she was able to get a full time job again until she moved back to Portland to be with her sick mother. While living at home, she worked at Portland Trust in the analysis department. Rossi mentions the Columbus Day Storm, the Klu Klux Klan, and special holidays. From talking about family life with her grandparents to her friends in her youth and going to dances, Rossi describes life in Beaverton. A couple teachers Rossi talks about area Carl Fisher and Merle Davies who were both well liked in Oregon. The interview ends in the middle of a conversation. The voices are clearly audible throughout the recording. There is a full transcript attached with penciled-in corrections.
Part one of an audio recording of an oral history of Elva Rossi and her life in Beaverton, Oregon, recorded on October 26, 1982. Rossi tells the story of how her family ended up in Oregon, starting with her grandparents on each side of her family. Her father’s side was originally from Italy and moved to Oregon in about 1870. They had a small farm on which her father had to work, forcing him to quit school after only attending it for four years. Rossi’s mother’s family is scattered throughout states across the country, but she and her parents ended up in the area of Portland, Oregon, in about 1888. Rossi’s parents likely met at school or at a community social event since they both lived in the same area. They married in 1894 and built their big house in 1912. Rossi describes each of her parents, August and Hattie Rossi, and their personalities as well as their little farm in Beaverton that Rossi grew up on. Rossi’s father died in March, 1927, leaving his business to be run by Hattie through the Great Depression. Hattie found other ways to make money also by renting out bedrooms. Rossi’s current house that she is living in was built in 1962 and she’s lived in it since. She finishes with commenting a bit about her two brothers. The voices are clearly audible throughout the recording. There is a full transcript attached with penciled-in corrections.
An audio recording of an oral history of Paul Knepp and his wife about their life in Beaverton, Oregon, recorded on November 7, 1981. Born in different places, they both grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and eventually married each other there. They moved to Beaverton, Oregon, on February 29, 1936, after only a year of marriage. Paul attended University of Oregon and Mrs. Knepp went to Teacher College in order to teach the primary grades for a few years before she married. In Beaverton, they did some amateur farming until Paul got a job in Hillsboro doing labor. During World War Two, Paul was too old to join the service so he supported his country by working at the shipyards while Mrs. Knepp stayed home and raised their two sons, who both eventually became teachers. Mrs. Knepp started working for Beaverton School District in 1955 doing office and librarian work and stayed there until 1973 when she retired. After the shipyards, Paul worked for an accounting firm, then was an office manager, and finished with smaller, freelance jobs in accounting until he retired in 1971. Paul also served as a chairman on city council and then as mayor of Beaverton in either 1948 or 1949. They talk a lot about the city of Beaverton and how it has changed over the years that they have lived there. Form the people to the department stores that have come and gone, Beaverton has made steady progress and growth until it was a distinct city, separate from Portland. The Beaverton identity changed from a small town to a bigger city with its own sub-communities with their own identities within. They finish with acknowledging that there are bad things about Beaverton, but comparing it to other places, they believe that Beaverton is a great place to live. Paul and Mrs. Knepp go back and forth answering the questions and adding to each others’ answers. There is a full transcript of the interview attached with penciled corrections made throughout.
An audio recording of an oral history of Dena Classen Mayfield. The original interview spanned two cassette tapes, but only the first tape has been found and digitized. There is a transcript of this interview.
An audio recording of an oral history of Alfred Austin Wooden about her life in Beaverton, Oregon recorded on October 6, 1982. Her parents grew up and were married in Wisconsin, but when her mother inherited a farm in Oregon, the family moved. Wooden briefly describes the childhood of each of her parents and the amount of school that they attended. At first, Wooden’s father worked carpentry in Beaverton to provide for the family, but after moving to the farm, they lived and provided for themselves there. Wooden was born on the farm in Oregon and remembers her childhood well including going to school and doing chores. Her father took care of her a lot since her mother was a great seamstress and left for weeks at a time to stay at other families’ homes in order to sew. Wooden mentions a couple families in particular that her mother sewed for: the Walkers and the Weeds. The Walkers lived in Beaverton and had Walker Road named after them. Wooden remembers the great mourning that occurred when Grandpa Walker died. The Weeds had their own farm in Beaverton where they raised irises and peonies and held Open Houses to have them viewed. Wooden describes what the neighborhood looked like when she was young and who lived there, including some Chinese workers. Wooden recounts how traditions like Christmas were celebrated, the importance of religion, and in particular, a doll that she got for Christmas when she was six years old and still had at the time of the recording. The voices are clearly audible in the recording. Attached is a full transcript of the interview.
