ELIOT NEWS A Publication of Eliot Neighborhood Association Volume 26 · Number 1 Winter 2017 From the Chair: Get Involved Just Call Me Darcelle and Be About It By Sue Stringer By Jere Fitterman newsreels. Ironically, their favor- t the beginning of each Eliot Neighborhood Association is a “J ust call me Darcelle,” says ite place to get pork noodles was new year we each face the place you can find out about local the new Guinness Book of World the Mandarin Café, which is right unknown with renewed issues that are important to your daily Records holder as we get started across the street from where Dar- A focus, both for ourselves, life. with our interview. Darcelle, born celle XV Showcase is today. The and as a community. It is a time to Walter Cole, has brought fame to Café’s sign is still on the building. Our society comes with many protec- rethink our focus and find new ways tions and privileges, but we often for- our Eliot neighborhood and the to become more effective. This is a Cole didn’t always have it easy, get that defending and supporting that city of Portland in the form of a time to get to work. however. He went to Linnton Ele- society is also a responsibility that world record for being the world’s mentary School and was bullied as Local civic work needs everyone’s everyone can help with. Civic re- oldest, still performing Drag a kid since he was different. He input and effort. Begin by asking sponsibility means taking action. In Queen. However, before he was was called sissy boy and four eyes yourself how you can make a differ- the long term it is an everyday re- Darcelle XV, Cole was an entre- which, he says, “was not very ence? The answer seems very simple. sponsibility of each citizen of the preneur. His business ventures You can make a difference by becom- community. You can help shape our survived urban renewal multiple pleasant .” There was not really a word at that time for what we now ing involved locally. Find something community by adding not only your times in rapidly changing city. that interests you- anything that ap- voice but your energy and commit- call gay. “Back then gay meant peals to your passion and enlists your ment to improvement as well. If you haven’t been to the show at happy,” says Cole. Kids from talents. Right on your own street, in Overview of 2016 Eliot Neighbor- Darcelle XV Showcase it should Linnton had a choice of Roosevelt your neighborhood, there are ways to hood Association annual Activities: be on your list of things to do in or Lincoln high school. He chose make a difference in your life and the Portland especially after learning Lincoln because it was only one lives of your neighbors. Quarterly Newsletter published about the evolution of the busi- streetcar stop to get there. Also, he (Jan, April, July, October) I have found a place for my passions, ness and the story behind the didn’t like most of the kids that he and talents. In our Eliot Neighbor- Newsletter mailed to all resi- knew from Linnton who were go- hood Association we support local couple that created it . On Sunday, dents and businesses in Eliot Neigh- November 13 I attended a birth- ing to go to Roosevelt. He worked social activities and events like Con- borhood day bash at the showcase to cele- hard as a page at the Multnomah certs in the Park, publishing and mail- th Athletic Club, along with several ing the Eliot Newsletter, Annual Newsletter advertising rates updated brate Darcelle’s 86 birthday and to match other newsletters in Port- it was quite an entertaining and other jobs. After graduating from Cleanup for disposing of large bulk Lincoln High School he married items, Adopt-a-Block litter pickup land and to cover cost of printing and uplifting evening. As the drag and curb gutter cleaning, Neighbor- postage queens lip synced and danced, I his high school sweetheart from hood Watch Crime Prevention, Land witnessed what an impact Dar- Linnton, Jeanette Rossini. They Welcomed neighbors of Forgotten married after high school because, Use and Transportation issues, advo- Realms Intentional Community celle has had on her community! cacy and information, parking issues, Equally enjoyable was the time I as Cole said, “that’s what they did Annual Clean Up in May and Neighborhood Emergency Train- was able to spend interviewing back then. You stayed in your ing. The place to make the most dif- Walter Cole and Roxy LeRoy. We family home until you got mar- ference you can see is locally. The (see CHAIR , page 9) talked about their lives, the many ried. You either got married or changes in Portland over the last went to college and, since we did- 86 years, and the creation of Dar- n’t have 2 nickels to rub together, we got married.” After getting celle XV , the showcase venue married in May 1951, Cole joined and the drag show. the Army and by September he Walter Cole was born in Novem- was in boot camp and off to Italy. ber 1930 in Linnton, Oregon, a The Korean conflict was going on little mill town north of St John’s. and he was stationed in Livorno, Linnton was inhabited by Italians Italy at the army headquarters. who owned many of the business- After returning from Italy he went es in town and also many Czecho- back to work for Fred Meyer and slovakians who worked at the then they had two children – a son three sawmills. Cole’s fa- in 1955 and a daughter in 1958. ther worked at a sawmill and Working in management, he hand- made about a dollar a day. Some ed checks to clerks that were for things don’t change, like Highway more than he was making and 30, which was the only paved thought, “I don’t want to do this street in Linnton and still runs and work for someone else.” So from Portland to Astoria, or Linnton Feed and Grain, which is still in the original building today. However many things in the Port- land area have changed drastical- ly. Cole enjoyed life in the late nine- teen thirties and forties. He re- members taking the streetcar to Portland with his mother to get pork noodles and to visit the al- most dozen movie theaters on Darcelle and Sue Stringer at the Broadway, Stark, and Park. One Darcelle XV 86th birthday bash. theater would play only Westerns (See DARCELLE, page 8) Eliot Neighborhood Association Eliot Neighborhood Portland, OR 97212 while another would play only Eliot Neighborhood Association Letter from the Editor The Eliot Neighborhood Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose members By Sue Stringer are the residents and business owners of the Eliot Neighborhood. Its purpose is to inform Eliot residents about issues affecting the neighborhood through meetings, newsletters and other activities. Members of the neighborhood association must be over 14 years old appy New Year Eliot! With make it a better place as well as how and live, own property, have a business, or represent a nonprofit within the 2017 upon us it is time to we can get together to join in com- neighborhood. The Eliot Neighborhood Association was founded in 1969. It is recognized reflect on what we were able munity and friendship. We appreci- by the City of Portland, is a member of the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, Inc., H and its members represent Eliot on other committees. to accomplish and experience in 2016 ate all the thoughtful time you took to and make some resolutions and plans answer the survey. Others can al- Eliot Board for this new year. I find January a ways chime in by email or phone. month I look forward to as a sort of Please feel free to send your thoughts Co-Chair - Jere Fitterman – [email protected] 503-504-9308 reboot after all the busyness of the and ideas to me and they will be Co-Chair - Patricia Montgomery - [email protected] 503-758-1263 holiday season. Now well into win- shared with the board to help us plan Recorder- Shireen Hasan - [email protected] 503-449-7601 ter, we are able to take some time to ways to engage with you and help start a few new habits, take up a new everyone to feel more connected. Treasurer - Jim Hlava – [email protected] 503-998-3406 exercise routine, focus on a new skill, News Editor - Sue Stringer – [email protected] 971-255-0697 try a new entertainment venue and I hope that 2017 is a meaningful year Ronnie Blocker - 503-287-5840 also meet some new friends in the and that even with all the potential process. changes in the country you find time Wes Ayers – [email protected] 503-784-1678 to focus on yourself and will join us Johnny Engleheart Noel –[email protected] This issue should make those resolu- so we can get to know you. tions easier as it has some novel ideas Joe Entler - [email protected] for new ways to exercise such as box- Opinions, feedback and ideas for fu- Angela Kremer – [email protected] 503-284-9136 ing at McConnell’s Boxing Academy ture articles or events can be sent to or honing your kitchen skills at the Joan Ivan – [email protected] 503-265-5868 [email protected] or call Portland Culinary School. There are 971-255-0697 Committees: also some interesting activities in Webmaster - Clint Lundmark – [email protected] 503-552-8678 February like the second annual Port- land Winter Light Festival, the Port- NECN Rep - Jeri Stein “Bee” - [email protected] 503-522-9136 land Story Theater and an inspiring Land Use and Transportation Committee talk hosted by the Happiness Center.