Oregon History | Blog

In which we learn that Louie Louie really does have swears in it!

You can find Professor Boag’s book, Same-Sex Affairs: Constructing and Controlling Homosexuality in the Pacific Northwest right HERE! (We like to support local booksellers, but Powells was out of stock.)  

In which we learn that words have power. Be sure to click over to the history page for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. And be sure to stop on in to the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute if you’re near Pendleton. A HUGE thank you to Chuck Sams of the CTUIR and Ranger Stephanie Martin of NPS. And JD Chandler too. Sorry about any mispronunciations. You might be interested in two museum plaques that describe the Whitman Deal, First, from Tamástslikt Cultural Institute,                       Second from the Whitman Mission National Historic Site.  

Real title: The Beaver Police State. Thanks to the City Club of Portland and the National Law Enforcement Museum for some of the audio in this episode. Here is a photo of the City Marshal Ordinance Number One.

Not sure of you’ve heard the news yet, but Kick Ass Oregon History‘s latest podcast series, “Policing in Oregon” will hit both the internets and the Portland airwaves in September.

“Policing in Oregon” is a 13 part series of  broadcasts that will chronologically examine several key incidents of policing in The Beaver State’s past. And in that examination, we are hoping to get to some core questions. How have we allowed the authorities (our fellow citizens) to police us in the past? What sort of foundational groundwork have those interactions created? And what does that tell us about where we are now, and where we are headed in the future? We have assembled a panel of experts to weigh in on these important discussions.

Portland Mayor Charlie Hales. Former Portland Police Bureau Chief Derrick Foxworth. Retired PPB Public Information Officer CW Jensen. Retired PPB Detective Don DuPay. Pendleton Chief of Police Stuart Roberts. Spokesman for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation Chuck Sams. White Supremacist Tom Metzger. Historians Peter Boag, JD Chandler, JB Fisher and Daniel Levitas. Journalists John Sepalvado, Claire Withycombe and Leah Sottile. Film maker Cornelius Swart. National Park Service Ranger Stephanie Martin. Numerous current law enforcement officers and political activists have joined our conversations as well.

Some of the specific incidents we will be examining involve Dr. John McLoughlin, the Whitmans and the Cayuse, Homosexuality and Governor Oswald West,  Prohibition, the Tillamook Guerrillas and the Posse Comitatus, the Oregon State Police’s vice investigation, the Burger Barn, Skinheads and Tom Metzger, the career of Charles Moose (Portland’s first black chief of police), and Mark Kruger’s memorial to fallen German WW2 soldiers and a sailor. All of this within the context of policing, all of it within the state of Oregon. And finally, we are going to get a little futurist on your asses and ask our panel to speculate on the future of policing.

It will be a fun series, and I am hoping that you will tune in. But even more fun is the exclusive, additional content that our KAOH Backers will also receive. Are you one of them? If not – it is quite easy to do, for as little as $2! Find out about backing KAOH HERE.

We certainly hope you will join our kick off party for the series release, which will be a great time and feature several of the personalities who have contributed to this podcast – but live! It is on September 11th at Turn! Turn! Turn! (8 NE Killingsworth) at 7:00pm. You can find out more about that program HERE.

PHOTO: 1948 Police Bureau 2nd Night Shift, Precinct 1. Used by permission, City of Portland (OR) Archives, A2004-002.3791

In which we learn that healthy eating can be bad for your health. A big thank you to Les Zaitz, The Dalles Mayor Stephen Lawrence, Dave Lutgins of Dave’s Hometown Pizza, Dave of Dave Knows Portland and Brock from The Sprocket Podacst. Here is the link to Les Zaitz’s fantastic revisit of the Rajneeshis (The Oregonian). Here is 99% Invisible’s podcast on Rajneeshpuram. And Oregon Experience (OPB) did a good one too. And if can actually listen to it, here is “Shut Up Sheela.” And Yes, we did actually used to listen to that in Old Portland… Here is a pdf of Zorba the Buddah – Rajneesh Cookbook [ Rajneeshpuram, Oregon: Rajneesh Ne0-Sannyas International Commune Pub. 1984]. Zorbah the Buddah Rajneesh Cookbook 1984

In which we learn that Portland was once full of ignorant young people easily duped by flashy technology and artifice.

In which we learn that being the biggest one at the table doesn't mean you get to carve the turkey.

In which we learn that spirits are very excited about spelling.

In which we learn that next time you're in the tubs at Breitenbush you might just be chillin' with Bigfoot.