EliotA Publication of Eliot NeighborhoodN Associationews

Volume 16 • Number 2 Spring 2007

Thompson Street Rascal By Jennifer Jako, Eliot resident William “Billy” McNicholas, in the packed dirt in a circle and lag born in the Eliot Neighborhood, for the pots. shared with me what it was like to Next door to my house was a big grow up here in the 1930s. Among abandoned apartment house. We other things, he told me some of would climb up to the balcony with the mischief he got into when he paper bags full of water and drop was between the ages of 9 and 11 them in front of people walking by. One time we soaked my older playing with the other kids on the brother on his way to the trolley stop block. Here is his story: to meet a girl for a date. If people came after us, we’d crawl into the was born on April 12th, 1926 at apartment’s wood chute, climb up, my home at 46 NE Thompson. and hide in the attic. We called the area the Albina IDistrict. We had Upper and Lower We’d stick a toothpick in the door- Albina. There were many immigrants bell of Dr. Allen who lived on the on Thompson Street—German, Irish, corner of Thompson and Williams, Italian, Greek and Dutch…a Dr. Al- then run away. I think it would make den. From what I remember, except his bell keep ringing! for the children playing together, the We would take a penny, drill a tiny adults didn’t socialize much, they hole in it, thread through a fine bit were busy working hard and taking Jefferson of copper wire and leave the penny care of their kids. High School on the sidewalk. Whenever someone A young rascal football bent down to pick it up, we’d yank My folks are from Ireland. My player mother’s name was Mary Agnes and it away. One woman figured it out my father’s name was Patrick Joseph. and stepped on the penny before we I had four brothers—Tom, Pat, Mike William “Billy” McNicholas could pull it back! and Martin, who died as a baby— We made our own go-carts and and one sister, Mary. We attended rode them up and down the streets Immaculate Heart Church at the 1937, Home from the Beach and sidewalks. We’d use a 2 x 4, an corner of Williams and Stanton. apple box, two cross pieces of wood, There were a bunch of children and a roller-skate split in half. One in the neighborhood and we’d play axle of the skate wheels became the softball, baseball, catch and touch front wheels and one axle became the football. We would roller-skate on back wheels. the street and sidewalks. I remember Our family didn’t own a cam- that NE Second Street was really era, so I don’t have many pictures smooth, so we would play hockey from back then. We didn’t own games on [metal] roller-skates. a car until 1936. The trolley ran Most of the streets were paved on Union [Martin Luther King Jr. with asphalt, but Russell Street was Blvd] and Williams Avenue. The cobblestone. trolley on Union Avenue went over to Sometimes when we played touch Vancouver. They went by at regular football the ball would hit Mr. intervals. When the street car would Fromong’s electric wire and affect his stop on the corner of Williams, we radio reception. Then he would chase would sometimes swing the arm us down the street! away that connected the trolley to the lines overhead. We’d run off and the We often played marbles in the parking strip. We’d put little holes continues on page 7

BOISE-ELIOT SCHOOL PTO Eliot Neighborhood ASSOCIATION Boise-Eliot parents and neighbors, please join us for the Membership Meetings Boise-Eliot Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) meetings. Find out about what’s new at the school and how you can Monday, April 9 Monday, May 14 be involved. 7:00 – 9:00 pm Please Join Us! Meeting dates: April 10 May 8 June 5 Emanuel Hospital Time: 5:30 pm Medical Office Building West Conference Room

Announcing Location: 620 N Fremont, in the school library 501 N Graham St Childcare is provided. ELIOT Neighborhood association U Editor’s Note By Tony Green The Eliot Neighborhood Association (ENDA) is a nonprofit corporation whose members are the residents and business owners of the Eliot Neigh- borhood. Its purpose is to inform Eliot residents about issues affecting ou’d think when the Office of Neighborhood Involvement’s budget the neighborhood through meetings, newsletters and other activities. includes $25,000 in grants that the money would go to…well, neigh- Members of the neighborhood association must be over 14 years old and Y live, own property, have a business, or represent a nonprofit within the borhoods. neighborhood. The Eliot Neighborhood Association was founded in 1969. But that’s not the way it worked out recently when a subcommittee of the It is recognized by the City of Portland, is a member of the Northeast Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods doled out more than $25,000. Coalition of Neighborhoods, Inc., and has representatives on several other groups and committees. Not only did most of the money go to non-profit groups, but 40 percent of the neighborhoods within NECN (Eliot included) did not even apply. In an email exchange, the head of ONI assured me that notice was sent ENDA Board Members to neighborhoods. Eliot board members I contacted, however, didn’t re- member seeing the notice, which I suspect got buried in the avalanche of Chair Gary Hampton, 503.282.5429, [email protected] notices the city sends out. Co Vice Chairs Chris Bleiler and Jennifer Jako 503.284.6650, [email protected] So who gets the money? A group of quasi-professional, non-profits that are experts in applying for grants. Treasurer Carol Kennedy, 503.331.1312, [email protected] Recorder Naomi Saks Not exactly a shocking result. Non-profits, with their single-minded purposes and paid staff, are more likely succeed in such a system. Newsletter Editor Tony Green, 503-221-8202, [email protected] Amalia Alarcon, who heads ONI, said the city council said the money Eric Aronson, 503.282.4126, [email protected] should be available to groups other than neighborhood-based entities. Howie Bierbaum, The Wonder Ballroom This is hardly surprising. Portland officials like to brag about the city’s 503.284.8686, [email protected] active neighborhood associations, but I think elected officials mostly find Pauline Bradford, 503.287.7138 citizen participation a nuisance. Unlike non-profits, which have easily di- Co Board Members Matt Gilley and Vickie Walker gestible goals, we represent a vast mix of views that sometimes get in the 503.233.0929, [email protected] or [email protected] way of some commissioner’s best-laid mega-project. Kirsten Jenkins So, would you give these groups more money? 503.515.6633, [email protected] For those who want to see the numbers, here’s what I found: Clint Lundmark, [email protected] • 7 out of 12 neighborhoods within NECN applied for a grant (58%) Jim Shikany, [email protected] • Of those, King, Vernon and Concordia received nothing. Laurie Simpson, 503.280.1005, [email protected] • Boise, Humboldt, Sabin and Woodlawn received virtually the entire Matt Svybersky, Volunteers of America, Men’s Residential Center amount applied for. 503.335.8611, [email protected] • Total amount asked for: $17,934 Co Board Members Chris Yeargers and Marie D’Hulst • Total received: $9,254 503.284.4392, [email protected] or [email protected] • 32 non-profits of various types applied. 8 received funding. • Total amount asked for: $206,740 • Total received: $16,117 ENDA Land Use Committee In sum: Chair — Mike Warwick • 42 percent of the neighborhoods within NECN did not apply for a grant. 503.417.7555/503.284.7010, [email protected] • 30 percent of the neighborhoods in NECN received funding, and Chris Bleiler, 503.998.8806, [email protected] they received 36 percent of the total. Pauline Bradford, 503.287.7138 I urged Ms. Alarcon do better outreach before the next round of grants. Matt Gilley, 503.233.0929, [email protected] I suspect we will have to watch out for ourselves. • Gary Hampton, 503.282-5429, [email protected] Kirsten Jenkins, 503.515.6633, [email protected] Jason Mershon, 503.330.0922/503.331.2929, BAILEY & WARWICK [email protected] Laurie Simpson, 503.282.1005, [email protected] Saving and Improving Housing in Eliot Neighborhood for 25 Years. Houses and Apartments for rent. ELIOT MONTHLY MEETINGS (503) 806-3502 If you live or work in Eliot, you are welcome and encouraged to attend the monthly meetings of the Eliot Neighborhood Association, which are held the second Monday of each month at Emanuel Hospital. It’s a great opportunity to meet your neighbors, stay informed about what’s going on in Eliot, help build a stronger community, and have input into decisions that may affect you. Also consider joining a committee or ELIOT NEWS AD rates becoming a board member (we have vacancies). Eliot News has a per issue circulation of 3,000 and is hand-delivered or Emanuel Hospital, 501 N. Graham, Medical Office Building West mailed to nearly 100% of the homes and businesses in the Eliot neighbor- Conference Room hood. It is also distributed to residents and businesses in surrounding neigh- borhoods, including Irvington, Sabin and Boise. Eliot News is an 8-page tabloid (11 x 17) newspaper and is published four times a year. Ad deadlines are March 1, June 1, Sept. 1, Dec. 1. Eliot News is published four times a year by the Eliot Neighborhood Association. It is delivered or mailed free of charge to every address in the Category Size (h x w) 1x 2x 3x 4x neighborhood. It does not have a ISBN. 1/16 page 2.25" x 5" $ 25 $ 42 $ 63 $ 84 Editor: Tony Green, 503-221-8202 • [email protected] 1/8 page 4.5" x 5" $ 37 $ 68 $ 97 $ 122 1/4 page 8.25" x 5" $ 58 $ 108 $ 154 $ 194 Layout: Lisa J. Switalla • 503-460-2558 • [email protected] 1/2 page 8.25" x 10.25" $ 105 $ 195 $ 277 $ 349 Advertising: [email protected] Full page 16.25" x 10.25" $ 188 $ 353 $ 502 $ 632 Delivery Coordinator: Kirsten Jenkins • 503-515-6633 Please make checks out to Eliot Neighborhood Association and mail to: Rights to articles are retained by the author. Opinions of the authors do not Susan Bailey, 535 NE Thompson St., Portland, OR 97212. necessarily reflect the official positions of the Eliot Neighborhood Association Questions? Call Tony Green at 503-221-8202 or email [email protected]

2 ELIOT NEWS B Around the Neighborhood Eliot Neighborhood Graffiti Eliot Neighborhood History Paint Out Collaborative Cleanup A “Cornerstones” African American Buildings History Program Volunteer for the following: Saturday, April 14 · Help Clean Up and Paint Over 10:00 am–Noon · Identify Graffiti Locations Free admission, snacks and beverages. · Photograph Event Location: Mark Woolley Gallery at the Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell St., Portland he City of Portland Graffiti Abatement program will sponsor a graffiti Co-sponsored by: Eliot Neighborhood Association cleanup Saturday, May 19th, in Eliot Neighborhood, starting location to be Tannounced to volunteers. The cleanup will be held from 9:00 am–1:00 pm on he rich past of Eliot is sure to surprise you and provide food for thought Saturday and will be comprised of work by both Youth Employment Institute T on how to preserve the neighborhood’s wealth of historic buildings. Cathy (YEI) and Goodbye Graffiti crews, and a minimum of 10 volunteers from Eliot Galbraith, Executive Director of the Architectural Heritage Center, will ad- neighborhood-business area. dress how Eliot began in 1872 as the original townsite of the city of Albina, and gradually grew from the riverfront up the hill, expanding to the east and The contractor-crews will focus on paint-out or power-wash removals from north. After annexation to the city of Portland in 1891, the neighborhood private properties (provided we have signed owner-permission prior to the event). remained home to German-Americans and other immigrants, including those Volunteers will remove graffiti from properties “in the right-of-way”, including from the Scandinavian countries. By 1916, Eliot had the third largest com- utility poles, dumpsters, newspaper boxes, and other sites that are not routinely mercial area in the city, clustered on Russell Street at Albina, Vancouver, and cleaned by agencies or owners. Williams avenues. With the passage of time, the older housing stock attracted Materials will be provided by the Graffiti Abatement Program. a steadily growing population, including the explosion in growth that came Volunteers must sign a volunteer agreement and application, available at the with World War II. African-Americans found homes in the neighborhood, Graffiti Program webpage, www.portlandonline.com/oni/index.cfm?c=32420 especially with the Portland Realty Board’s race-based restrictions, beginning in 1919, on where people of color could buy properties. The destruction Please contact Jennifer Jako, Vice Chair, Eliot Neighborhood Association, if of hundreds of buildings for Memorial Coliseum, I-5, Fremont Bridge, and you can photograph the day of the event, help identifying graffiti and/or have Emanuel Hospital erased much of the neighborhood’s built history, but there a graffiti location to report for the May 19th Clean Up. Please email her at fix@ is more that still stands. fixpdx.com with “Graffiti” in the subject heading or call 503.544.4757. Pre-register online at www.visitahc.org or call the Architectural Heritage Research has shown that prompt removal of graffiti prevents repeat vandalism. Center at 503.231.7264.

Kirsten Jenkins’ Real Estate Report

Want to know about: Great new capital gains tax laws? Current market information on your home? I know your neighborhood.

Pending Listings Bed Bath Sq Ft Price 1 N Fremont #401 0 1 1,058 $399,000 41 NE Tillamook 3 3 1,368 $260,000 536 NE Cook 3 1 2,179 $286,000 608 NE San Rafael 3 1 2,006 $299,500 126 NE Graham 3 3 3,100 $389,900 126 NE Thompson 3 1.1 2,340 $398,700 2056 NE Rodney 4 2.1 1,763 $399,900 2529 NE 7th 3 1.1 2,119 $425,000 2625 NE 7th 2 2.1 1,209 $450,000

Sold Listings Bed Bath Sq Ft Price 111 N Monroe 3 2 1,898 $287,000 106 NE Tillamook 2 1 749 $215,000 10 NE Fargo 2 1 742 $225,000 216 NE Tillamook 3 1 1,336 $249,900 542 NE Knott 2 2.1 1,302 $261,500 2738 NE 7th 2 1 1,872 $294,500 23 NE Cook 4 1 2,025 $287,500 130 NE Fremont 3 1.1 1,816 $314,900 204 NE Thompson 3 1.1 1,500 $322,000 608 NE Ivy 4 2 2,795 $396,000 633 NE Graham 3 2 2,308 $395,000 123 NE Graham 3 2 2,574 $415,000 533 NE Fargo 4 2 3,340 $468,000 40 NE Fargo 5 2 4,370 $485,000

RE X equity group, inc. Kirsten Jenkins 503.515.6633

RE/MAX Inc., Realtors Office: (503) 287-8989

WINTER 2007 3 . Homes and Buildings of Eliot By Roy E. Roos 2017 North Williams Street n the west side of North Wil- Kittery was his partner in the cream- liams Avenue, a few blocks ery. By 1920, the name was changed north of the busy Rose Quarter to Alsea Creamery Company, which Oarea, there is a one story brick build- remained until 1930, when it was re- ing that has received little notice in modeled into retail space. Due to the recent years but is loaded with Af- Great Depression, the building was rican-American history. This rather vacant during numerous years in the ordinary building at 2017 North Wil- 1930s. But it believed that in 1938, liams has been run-down and vacant William McClendon founded the for years and is partially obscured Peoples Observer, a local weekly paper by vegetation. Only recent plans for in support of African-Americans, in development of the property and its this building. It is known that in 1940 surroundings have brought its history the paper was being printed in this to light. The good news is that the building and his wife Ida served as the 2017 North Williams Street New Seasons Corporation, a grocery managing editor. At the beginning of chain of quality foods, purchased the World War II, there was a surge in cir- property and plans to place its admin- culation of the paper due to the arrival in today’s African-American commu- Roberts’ father, Robert Bird Sr., came istrative headquarters on the site. of many African-American workers for nity. Also during the war, McClendon to Portland in the early 1900s from Unfortunately, due to the poor condi- the war effort. This paper provided an gave McKinley Burt, an accountant, the West Indies and became active in tion of the brick building, the company alternative view of issues and activities office space here. Mr. Burt was noted improving the rights of the few black plans to demolish it. not covered by the dominant press. as being the first to operate a black citizens living here. He advanced to be- The new arrivals to Portland during accounting business in Oregon. He came president of the Universal Negro Jacob J. Tranchell, a building con- the war faced much hardship from the later became a professor at Portland Improvement Association (UNIA) in tractor who shared ownership with locals and this paper was influential State University and authored the the 1920s, a period that saw the rise Daniel H. Kinley, originally constructed for helping them gain local support. book “Black Inventors in America”. He of the KKK in Oregon. In the 1970s, the building in 1914. Mr. Kinley, who Also at this time, Bill McClendon es- remained a columnist for the Portland the building saw use as an upholstery lived to the south on lower Williams, tablished another paper in his office Observer for many years until his death shop that remained until about the opened Rose City Creamery Company here that became the forerunner of the in 2001. William McClendon went on early 1990s, when it remained vacant in the building with an office. Henry Portland Observer, a dominant paper to establish the Black Studies Depart- up to this day. ment at Reed College and remained New Seasons will demolish the build- an integral part of that department ing, but it also plans to put up a com- until his death in the late 1990s. The memorative plaque about the building’s National Black Publishers Association special place in Portland’s history. gave him a significant award for all of his hard work. Information on African-American history provided by Bosco-Milligan In about 1945, McClendon sold Foundation and the 1998 publication the building to Robert Bird Jr. and his “Cornerstones of Community, Build- wife, Mary. The Birds opened the Blue ings of African-American History”. Ribbon Café or Bird’s Blue Ribbon This will also be an excerpt of a book Barbecue. It proved to be a popular The History of Albina, anticipated for place for many Portlanders, both black publication in 2007 by the author. and white, for many years until Bird Roos seeks any old photographs and sold the establishment in the 1960s, historic stories and also conducts his- although it continued with the same toric research on homes in the Eliot & name for a number of more years. The Boise neighborhoods at very reason- Bird family was significant in Portland’s able rates. He can be contacted at 503- early African-American community. 282-9436 or [email protected]

4 ELIOT NEWS Eliot Eateries Calling all Foodies! H F Breakfast/Coffee/Cafés How’s the food at The Café Wonder or Tiny’s? Bridges Café Who pulls the best espresso shots in Eliot? 2716 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Where is the happiest “Happy Hour” in the neighborhood? 503-288-4169 We need reviews for our Local Food Finds column. Eliot E-Mat Café Visit your favorite haunt, write up a review and send 2808 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. it to The Eliot News at [email protected] 503-280-8889 Goldrush Coffee Bar 2601 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 503-331-5955 Tiny’s Café 2031 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 503-467-4199 Waypost 3120 N. Williams St.

Bars/Taverns 820 820 N. Russell St., 503-284-5518 Bill Ray’s Dive 2210 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. McMenamin’s White Eagle Café & Saloon 836 N. Russell St., 503-282-6810 Sloan’s Tavern 36 N. Russell St., 503-287-2262 Spice 2808 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Waypost 3120 N. Williams St. Widmer Gasthaus 929 N. Russell St., 503-281-3333

Lunch/Dinner Café Wonder 128 N.E. Russell St. 503-493-0371 Chuck’s Market, J&S Grocery 2415 N. Williams Ave. 503-281-6269 Doris’ Café 3606 N. Williams Ave., 503-460-2595 Echo 2225 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 503-460-3246 Mint 816 N. Russell St., 503-284-5518 Pizza A Go Go 3240 N. Williams St. 503-335-0300 Popeye’s Famous Fried Chicken 3120 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 503-281-8455 Queen of Sheba 2413 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 503-287-6302 Russell Street BBQ 325 N.E. Russell St. 503-528-8224 Tropicana Bar Be Cue 3217 N. Williams Ave. 503-281-8696

WINTER 2007 5 The Big Yellow House aka “The Beast” By JoAnn Gilles he Big Yellow House at 23 NE San father, Charles, two servants and two Rafael is sometimes affectionately boarders. referred to as “The Beast” by The house was designed by archi- ourT family and friends. They watch in tect David L. Williams who designed awe at the enormous scope that the many local commercial buildings and continual maintenance, repairs and at least two other homes in the area— renovations seem to encompass. 1914 NE 22nd and 1924 NE 24th. The The home was built in 1909 for a design marries traditional Four Chinese Doctor and his wife, Leo Gee Square architecture with Chinese and Sadie Starbuck Wo. The main floor influences. Carved into the stairway of the house is much as it was, contain- banister Yin and Yang symbols can ing a parlor, a sitting room, a dining be seen as well as the twelve ray room, a large kitchen and an oversized sun, originating from the twelve entry that leads, not only to the living traditional Chinese hours of the day. quarters, but to the Doctor’s office. (In traditional Chinese medicine With five bedrooms on the second the two hour peak periods correlate floor, including a duplex room, and with the Twelve Vital Organs that are two additional attic rooms for servants, connected via the Twelve Meridians.) 1909 photo of house the initial square footage is estimated The exterior boasts a slightly curved with Dr. Wo and child over 5,000 square feet including the roof, in the style of Chinese temples basement. (to ward off evil spirits) and parts of Dr. Wo practiced natural and herbal Chinese characters make up the front medicine and was probably the first porch structure. naturopathic physician in Portland. Since its original construction, the The fact that he owned property in porch has been enclosed and a 20' x the city, at a time when Chinese were 20' meeting room has been added to The classroom—shared space. prohibited from doing so by state law, the back of the house, which brings (The bathtub will go in the new apartment upstairs) is a testament to the success of his the dwelling’s total square footage to practice. “beast” proportions. In addition to the Wo family of five, According to public records, the the mid-thirties. The next fifty years apartment being built in the attic space the original residents included Sadie’s Wo family owned the home until saw three owners, some vacancies is almost complete. Our daughter, Kate and some pretty sorry times until it Gilles and her boyfriend Jacob Allsup was purchased in the late 80’s by Safe are about to inhabit that space. The rest Ministries. It became a group home of the house is left for my husband Otis for at least ten residents with offices and me to share with artist friends. in the enclosed front porch and a As a painter, I have plenty of room sanctuary in the meeting room in the for studio space and the meeting/sanc- back. It remained that way for the next tuary room at the back of the house 17 years. serves as a place to teach painting. One Once again the house has become a night a week friends and acquaintances family “compound”, echoing its origins gather, share a bite to eat and explore as a place for extended family and a the process of creativity in paint. The practiced vocation. A one bedroom community, the expression, the discus- apartment in the basement that was sion, and the family point the direction, built by the previous owner houses not only to the future of The Big Yellow our nephew Conor Gilles and his House, but to its past and its healing, girlfriend, Autumn Dawley. Another spiritual nature.

Flagship Store Now Open! 3964 N Mississippi Ave

Phone (503) 281-1238 CCB0040364

434 N. Tillamook Street Portland, Oregon 97227

6 ELIOT NEWS Neighborhood Dispute—Portland Pensione Update lan Sanchez, owner the motel 2. In addition to the background 5. Owner and management will on San Rafael and Rodney, check, occupants will be required enforce existing guest registration signed a nuisance abatement to obtain a copy of their PPDS requirements and 8 pm guest agreement on 2/16/07. printout for use in the background restrictions, when applicable. ALower Eliot neighbors have made a check, obtained from the Portland 6. Owner and management agree concerted effort, working with police, Police Records Division, and to attend the Landlord Training the Northeast Coalition of Neighbor- provide it to the owner as a program presented by John hoods and the Multnomah County condition of, and prior to the Campbell and sponsored by the DA’s office to improve conditions of establishment of, tenant status. City of Portland. the motel. 3. PPB will provide a current photo 7. Owner and management agree Here are the elements of the list of persons excluded from the to evict problem tenants when agreement: Drug Free Zone on a monthly basis. identified. 1. Owner or designee will conduct 4. Owner or management will 8. Owner and management agree to background checks on all occupants provide occupant, tenant, and continue to cooperate and work that intend to establish tenancy, or guest registration information with district and NRT officers are approaching tenancy based on to officers of the Portland Police in identifying and eliminating time (prior to three weeks). Bureau when requested. problems on the property.

Thompson STREET RASCAL, from page 1

conductor would have to reconnect it! His career as a steamfitter was honed We’d also flatten 16 penny and 8 penny in Portland’s shipyards and during nails on the rails. We were rascals! construction of Vanport College. He My friend Irene, who was two years worked first for M. Harder Plumbing older than me, lived right next door at Co.—now Harder Mechanical Con- 36 NE Thompson. Her family would tractors—then at Johnson Controls Co. sometimes go to the store, forget their as a journeyman mechanical contractor keys and lock themselves out. They for industrial projects. He furthered had a little hole in the door for the his professional education at Purdue milkman to leave milk. I was small University. enough that I could squeeze through He remained active in the church, the milk opening to let them back in helping six Indonesian families come the house. to America, and then secured homes My father kept a nice vegetable gar- and jobs for them. den in our yard with an apple and a William and Norma McNicholas at their wedding in 1947 (left) and in 1996 (right). He sang in his church choir, the cherry tree. We had a good-sized shed Portland Symphonic Choir and even in the back. We raised chickens and accompanied Jim Nabors! His reputa- pigeons—the chickens for eggs. My six inches depending on the size of the In July 1936, we left the house we tion as one of Portland’s leading Irish brothers raised pigeons that were called log. Keeping the house warm back then had been renting on NE Thompson, tenors was confirmed for me when tumblers. They would do flips in the was not a problem. and my father, a longshoreman, finally he broke into song right before I left air. My brothers would sell the pigeons We had a potbelly stove in the dining saved up enough to put a downpay- his home. He sang an Irish love song to people in town then afterward the room and a wood burning stove with ment on a bigger house for the family with such emotion in his beautiful pigeons would fly back to our house! gas in the kitchen. We were blessed at 219 NE Cook. “I remember being voice it brought a tear to my eye. I We also raised pigeons as squabs for with mild weather in Oregon and lots able to look out to the west from that knew he was singing about his now food to sell to the Chinese restaurants. of wood to burn. We were never cold house and clearly see the occasional departed wife. My brother and I would go under the in the winter. At night you had to build gas flames shoot up from the Gas & He and his wife, Norma, were togeth- Steel Bridge and raid the pigeon nests up a good fire so that we’d keep warm Coke Co.!” er for “fifty-seven years, two months, for squabs to sell. The railroad police through the night. and ten days.” They had six children caught us up there one time and I was Full of vim and vigor at age eighty, and adopted two of his brother’s chil- One of our bedrooms had a pull- Mr. McNicholas’ recollections at 10 running so fast I hit my head square on out bed that looked like a cupboard. dren for a total of eight. He keeps in one of the steel trusses. That hurt! The years old are clearer than mine, and touch with many of the kids he grew There was a piano and a davenport in I’m only 34! He still remembers all police caught up to us and let us know the front room. The older boys shared up with in Eliot. we had no business being up there. the street names and listed them as a room and, until I was older, I shared you go North like he still lived in the Look for McNicholas’ childhood Families burned briquets made by a room with my sister. neighborhood. He went to Jefferson friend Irene’s perspective in a future the Portland Gas & Coke Company During the Depression, people High School and played guard on their issue of The Eliot News. (now NW Natural) located on Front would come up from Sullivan’s Gulch football team. He enlisted in the army If you know of someone who has Avenue. They were made out of a by- (which was a hobo town) and offer to while at Jeff and spent two years in the Eliot history to tell, please email The product powder from gas production work in exchange for food. My mother military, which took him to India. Eliot News editor, Tony Green at Eliot- and compressed into briquets. They would make them a sandwich and a [email protected] also burned coal and slab wood. You cup of tea. They would make a mark could drive down streets and see the on the sidewalk in front of all the wood piled up. You would hire a man houses where they could find food with a truck to pick up the wood at for work so they would know where the mills and saw it into stove-length to return. sizes and drop it off at your house. He would pile it against the telephone We never drank coffee, we always pole in front of our house on Thomp- drank tea. My mother would place tea son. We’d fill a wheelbarrow and put leaves in a porcelain teapot and pour in the wood through an opening in the the boiling water. Each time she would basement window. My dad and older add more leaves, so that by the third or brothers would split it so it would fit fourth pot, when you had a cup of my in the stove. When they trimmed logs mother’s tea it would make you stand back then they wasted a lot—four to at attention!

WINTER 2007 7 Clean out your basements! C Get out those boxes! ELIOT NEIGHBORHOOD SPRING CLEAN-UP Saturday May 12 • 9 am–1 pm Drop-off at N. Graham between Vancouver and Williams YES! NO! FEES BRING DON’T BRING c Small Vehicle — $5 Furniture Paint, Recyclables , Pickup — $10 and up Debris & Junk Tree Stumps, Sod, Dirt f Oversize loads — $20 and up Yard Debris Refrigerators, Freezers Separated Metals — Reduced cost Metal Regular Household Garbage # Donated Bikes — Free Bicycles (no charge) Hazardous Materials

Need help hauling your materials? Have any questions? Pick-up assistance is available for our senior or disabled residents! Want to volunteer? Call ahead to arrange for pickup. Fees still apply. One load limit. Contact Chris Contact Chris at 503-284-4392 at 503-284-4392 r

THIS CLEAN-UP IS FUNDED BY METRO, THE CITY OF PORTLAND AND THE NORTHEAST COALITION OF NEIGHBORHOODS