PORTLAND, Ore. – Two National Register nominations recommended by Oregon’s State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation (SACHP) at their February 2020 meeting have been accepted by the National Park Service and listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
These important documents outline the history of African Americans in Portland Oregon. The African American Resources in Portland from 1851- 1973 Multiple Property Document provides a comprehensive history and tool for future listings of other African American properties. The Williams Avenue YWCA building has been a dedicated place over time for African American organizations to gather for socialization, recreation, and activism.
This effort is in line with Oregon’s Statewide Preservation Plan that seeks to diversify the resources listed in the National Register and continue to tell the stories and uplift the voices of those previously marginalized. The African American MPD serves as a tool that also supports Goal 1 of the Oregon Heritage Plan. By including more voices in the stories told of Oregon’s past, Oregonians can think critically about history and work to accurately depict a more complete historical narrative of Oregon. Understanding all aspects of Oregon’s history allows one to reckon with the past and have better conversations about the present.
“Numerous National Register properties are listed in Portland, however, there are many more places that tell the diverse history of Oregon that have yet to be listed,” says Christine Curran, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer. “The African American MPD will be a useful tool to increase the diversity of nominations and tell a richer and fuller story of Oregon’s past.”
As part of a Certified Local Government grant, the City of Portland worked with Kim Moreland, Raymond Burrell, and Cathy Galbraith to complete two documents related to Portland’s African American history. The idea was to create a context document that would make it easier to list those places significant for Portland’s African American community.
“The Architectural Heritage Center, Oregon Black Pioneers, Portland African American Leadership Forum, and countless individuals have long called for recognition and designation of important African American historic sites.” Explains Brandon Spencer-Hartle, City Planner in the City of Portland Bureau of Planning & Sustainability. “The listing of this MPD in the National Register is long overdue and will serve as a model for prioritizing and protecting Portland’s important BIPOC spaces, many of which have been inexcusably and deliberately overlooked by past planning efforts.”
Williams Avenue YWCA – Currently the Billy Webb Elks Lodge #1050 at 6 N. Tillamook St., the building has long been a dedicated place for the African American community. The early history of the property has a special association with African American women’s history, as the site was developed by the African American branch of the YWCA. The Portland branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) located its offices in the basement of the building from 1956 through 1964, and the Oregon Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs, Urban League of Portland, and Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) also held gatherings in its meeting rooms, auditorium, and lounge space. After more than nine decades of continuous association with Portland’s African American community, the building remains owned and occupied by a historically African American organization (the Billy Webb Elks of the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks of the World, or IBPOEW).
African American Resources in Portland, from 1851 to 1973 Multiple Property Document - This document provides an overview of the history of African Americans in Portland through seven different historical contexts and establishes a framework for identifying and listing Portland’s African American resources in the National Register of Historic Places. This thematic document provides resources and guidance for individuals interested in listing properties in the National Register. If anyone is interested in listing a significant African American resource in Portland or would like to learn more about how to use this document, please contact Robert Olguin at obert.olguin@oregon.gov">Robert.olguin@oregon.gov
Thematic Contexts discussed in the document include:
- African Americans in Early Oregon
- Business and Employment
- Entertainment and Recreation
- Religion and Worship
- Settlement Patterns
- Journalism
- Benevolent and Fraternal Societies
- Civil Rights
The National Register is maintained by the National Park Service under the authority of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. More information about the National Register and recent Oregon lists is online at oregonheritage.org (listed under “Designate”).
Properties listed in the National Register are:
- Recognized as significant to the nation, state, or community;
- Considered in the planning of federal or federally assisted projects;
- Eligible for federal and state tax benefits;
- Qualify for historic preservation grants when funds are available;
- Eligible for leniency in meeting certain building code requirements;
- Subject to local laws pertaining to the conservation and protection of historic resources.
National Register listing does not place any restrictions on a property at the state or federal level, unless property owners choose to participate in tax benefit or grant programs.
In advance of the July 4 holiday weekend, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) reminds visitors that fireworks are prohibited in state parks and on Oregon’s ocean beaches at all times, including the Independence Day holiday.
“Fireworks can hurt people, cause wildfires, harm wildlife and create litter and debris,” said OPRD Associate Director Chris Havel. “We are asking visitors to do their part and respect fireworks rules.”
Keeping fireworks out of state parks is critical for preventing human-caused wildfires. Dry conditions are already present in many areas of the state, and a few parks have campfire restrictions in place. Check stateparks.oregon.gov for information about restrictions in state parks.
“One of the best ways to prevent wildfires while enjoying the outdoors is to practice safe habits when building and extinguishing campfires,” Havel said. “This is critical now more than ever, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, when a revenue shortfall means fewer rangers are available to patrol and respond to incidents.”
Information about basic wildfire safety is at keeporegongreen.org.
The Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries will meet by conference call at 1 p.m. on July 16. Its agenda includes a heritage bulletin on marking unmarked graves, a position paper on the Confederate flags in historic cemeteries, and outreach efforts to support the preservation of historic cemeteries. The meeting is open to the public and the agenda includes an opportunity for public comment.
State law established the seven-member Commission to maintain a listing of all historic cemeteries and gravesites in Oregon; promote public education on the significance of historic cemeteries; and help obtain financial and technical assistance for restoring, improving and maintaining their appearances. For more information about commission activities, contact coordinator Kuri Gill at 503-986-0685 or by e-mail at i.gill@oregon.gov">kuri.gill@oregon.gov. The meeting site is accessible to people with disabilities. Special accommodations for the meeting – including translation services – may be made by calling (503) 986?0690 at least 72 hours prior to the start of the meeting.
For call-in details and the agenda or more information about the commission, visit www.oregonheritage.org.
Joint news release // Oregon Parks and Recreation Department + Tillamook County Board of Commissioners // FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE // July 1, 2020
Cape Kiwanda beach parking restrictions remain in effect through September
Pacific City, Ore. – The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), in cooperation with Tillamook County, will limit vehicles parking on the beach from Cape Kiwanda south to the Nestucca River. Vehicles involved in launching or retrieving commercial or recreational boats will be allowed to park on the beach, but all other vehicles will have to park in designated lots or parking spaces along surface streets this summer.
The change is necessary due to increased congestion on the beach posing a health and safety risk to pedestrians, and reduced OPRD state park ranger staffing available to manage the traffic. On a sunny summer day, hundreds of vehicles enter the beach through a county-owned gate and boat ramp. Both OPRD and the county agree the change is necessary.
As provided under Oregon Administrative Rules 736-024-015(2)(g)(A) and (B), and 736-021-0040(7)(a) and (c), motor vehicles will be allowed only for operating or parking while towing boat trailers or launching boats, and information on accessing the beach through the county gate can be obtained from Tillamook County Parks at 503-322-3477 or OPRD at 541-563-8506 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.). Requests for access should be made well in advance of any trip.
Extra local parking and shuttle services are being arranged by the county, but visitors need to be prepared for the fact there will be times this summer when all parking is full. In those cases, visitors will need to divert to other destinations or return after enjoying other Tillamook County attractions.
Reducing congestion is both a short- and long-term goal for OPRD and Tillamook County.
“We want people living in Pacific City, and the businesses in south county, to succeed,” says Tillamook County Commissioner David Yamamoto. “Protecting the quality of life here means adapting to the fact more people want to enjoy what the people in PC have already discovered: this is a beautiful place.”
“Traffic patterns have grown to the point that visitor experience is now diminished and has created a very unsafe condition,” says OPRD Coast Region Manager Dennis Comfort. “I believe it is time to partner with Tillamook County to address limiting vehicles on the beach. That many cars mixed with hundreds of people is a recipe for tragedy.”
“Pacific City continues to be a destination community and is extremely popular during the spring and summer months,” says Tillamook County Sheriff Jim Horton. “We see a significant number of visitors to the area and we want to continue to work with community partners and OPRD to ensure the safety of those who live in and visit the area.”
People who aren't boating and park on the beach are subject to warnings and citations.
The restriction will only affect vehicles on the beach south of Cape Kiwanda. For the time being, barricades will remain in place at the end of Pacific Avenue near Bob Straub State Park to prevent vehicle access over the dune, but pedestrians will still be able to access the beach at that spot.
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Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is accepting public comments on proposed changes to rules governing how the state protects important historical places.
The state is proposing updates to the Oregon Administrative Rules that govern how the state administers the federal National Register of Historic Places Program, which lists buildings, districts and other sites important to local, state or national history. The Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) — an office of OPRD — administers the local program, which is run by the National Park Service.
In the last several years, proponents nominated several high-profile, controversial properties that exposed discrepancies between federal and state laws and rules governing the National Register Program and gaps in administrative processes. Proposed changes will better align state rules with the federal requirements.
“We’re moving to fix those issues and refine the state rules to work better for Oregonians,” said Ian Johnson, associate deputy state historic preservation officer.
OPRD developed draft rules with the help of a committee of appointed members from state, county and local governments; preservation and natural resource organizations; and citizens with an interest in the National Register program.
OPRD will accept public comments on the proposed changes through 5 p.m. August 14, 2020. Comments can be made online, in writing or via email:
- Online: oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/Pages/PRP-rulemaking.aspx
- In writing: Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, attn. Katie Gauthier, 725 Summer St NE, Suite C, Salem OR 97301
- Email: D.publiccomment@oregon.gov">OPRD.publiccomment@oregon.gov
- Via video or telephone in a public hearing on July 23 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Information on registering to provide comments during the public hearing will be available at: oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/Pages/PRP-rulemaking.aspx
After reviewing public comments, OPRD staff plan to present a final recommended rule for consideration to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission.
The full text of the proposed change is available online: oregon.gov/oprd/PRP/Pages/PRP-rulemaking.aspx
Learn more about the National Register of Historic Places program in Oregon at oregon.gov/oprd/OH/pages/national-register.aspx
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s (OPRD) All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Highway Access Routes Advisory Committee will meet via conference call 10 a.m. - noon July 7 to discuss the proposed ATV access route designation for a segment of Spinreel Road, located West of Lakeside.
The call is open to the public, but there will not be time for public comments during the meeting. The committee will also give an overview of the proposed designation.
How to access the conference call:
- Listen only: dial 1 (914) 614-3221, access code ID: 429-669-815.
- Register online to listen and view the presentation via web browser.
The proposed segment of Spinreel Road is a ½ mile stretch that runs from the U.S. 101 overpass to Airport Way. If designated, the segment would provide ATV access between Lakeside and the Spinreel dunes.
A public comment period for the proposed designation is open through July 6. Send comments via email to ian.caldwell@oregon.gov and ic.S.LEAMING@odot.state.or.us">Eric.S.LEAMING@odot.state.or.us.
Individuals who need special accommodations to listen to the call, or to request information in alternative formats, should contact Ian Caldwell, OPRD grants and community programs representative, at 541-410-5512.
Learn more about the Oregon ATV Program at www.OregonOHV.org
Weather conditions have prompted a partial fire ban and a closure of two boat ramps on Prineville Reservoir, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) announces.
Boat ramp closure
Effective June 29, 2020, two boat ramps on Prineville Reservoir are closed due to low water levels: Jasper Point and Powder House Cove. The Roberts Bay area, including boat ramp, remains closed due to reduced staffing and resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Crook County boat ramp and the ramp at Prineville Reservoir State Park remain open.
Visitors are urged to check the park webpage at stateparks.oregon.gov for updates. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation website reports water levels for the reservoir.
Fire ban
Dry conditions across central Oregon have prompted campfire and open flame restrictions to all backcountry areas of the park — including along North Shore Road and boat-in camping areas — and prohibit campfires, briquettes, or anything with an open flame such as propane fire pits and tiki torches. Personal propane stoves are allowed.
The restrictions do not apply to the two developed campgrounds in the park, Prineville Reservoir and Jasper Point.
OPRD made this decision in cooperation with other Central Oregon land management agencies, including the Prineville Bureau of Land Management. See the full news release at blm.gov.
COVID-19 update
Prineville Reservoir State Park is open for camping and day-use with reduced services. Make reservations up to 30 days in advance at oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com. Cabins are closed until further notice. Boat-in camping is also closed. Boat moorages are not available; boaters can anchor off the beach.
For more information about these service reductions, see our COVID-19 Response page at stateparks.oregon.gov.
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD), which includes the Oregon Main Street Network and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), has awarded $615,000 in federal grant funding for the preservation of historic theaters.
Eight theater projects were selected in a competitive grant process.
- Dallas Downtown Association, for roof, masonry, and other repairs on the Dallas Cinema in Dallas.
- Egyptian Theatre Preservation Association, for roof repair on the theater in Coos Bay.
- Lakeview Community Partnership, for electrical and lighting repair, fire door replacement, and curtain and rigging work at the Alger Theatre in Lakeview.
- Little Theater on the Bay, to replace the roof and missing Moorish roof domes on the Liberty Theater in North Bend.
- Newberg Downtown Coalition, to update seats and acoustical drapes in the auditorium and repair exterior lighting on the Cameo Theatre in Newberg.
- OK Theatre, to restore façade and store fronts, update the concessions area, and add a bar service area to the theater in Enterprise.
- Rex Theater, to restore the marquee neon and reader board, paint the exterior, repair the roof and ceiling, and install HVAC in the Theater in Vale.
- The Dalles Main Street Program, to install new fire doors, HVAC, and awnings on the Granada Theatre in The Dalles.
The grants were funded through a grant to OPRD from the National Park Service. It was one of nine awarded nationally through the Historic Revitalization Subgrant Program. Funding also covers the cost for the preparation of National Register of Historic Places nominations for four of the theaters not currently listed. These include the Dallas Cinema, Liberty Theatre, Rex Theatre, and Alger Theatre.
“These projects will significantly impact the local communities,” said Chrissy Curran, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer. “We are pleased to have been awarded this funding so that we can support local theaters and foster our vibrant rural communities in Oregon.”
Restore Oregon, a statewide nonprofit, was also funded to help promote the program and assist theaters in the application process.
To learn more about the grant, contact Kuri Gill at i.Gill@oregon.gov">Kuri.Gill@oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.
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The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s (OPRD) All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Highway Access Routes Advisory Committee is soliciting public comments on the proposed ATV access route designation for a segment of Spinreel Road, located West of Lakeside.
The proposed segment of Spinreel Road is a ½ mile stretch that runs from the U.S. 101 overpass to Airport Way. If designated, the segment would provide ATV access between Lakeside and the Spinreel dunes.
Members of the public may submit comments about the proposed designation through July 6; send comments via email to ian.caldwell@oregon.gov and ic.S.LEAMING@odot.state.or.us">Eric.S.LEAMING@odot.state.or.us.
A public conference call/webinar is scheduled for 6 - 7 p.m. July 1 and will feature an overview of the proposed access route, and more information about the ATV Highway Access Routes program.
The public is invited to listen to the call or view the presentation:
- Listen only: dial 1 (631) 992-3221, access code ID: 975-980-064.
- Listen and view web presentation: pre-register online
Individuals who need special accommodations to listen to the call, or need request information in alternative formats, should contact Ian Caldwell, OPRD grants and community programs representative, at 541-410-5512.
Learn more about the Oregon ATV Program at www.OregonOHV.org
SALEM, Ore. – The Governor’s Task Force on the Outdoors will deliver their recommendations in the 2020 Framework for Action. The framework presents a comprehensive approach for ensuring long-term social, environmental and economic sustainability of outdoor recreation in Oregon.
Gov. Brown first directed the Office of Outdoor Recreation within the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department in early 2019 to convene a diverse task force to strategize and recommend policies, legislation and initiatives to:
- Support economic development in both rural and urban areas
- Balance improved outdoor recreation access with resource protection
- Increase outdoor recreation participation, especially among youth and traditionally underserved communities.
The task force created the 2020 Framework for Action by building on work from public agencies, nonprofits, and national groups to target Oregon’s attention on five key areas:
- Serve everyone: ensure outdoor recreation opportunities are diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
- Unite centrally: strengthen collaboration and organizational effectiveness among state leaders.
- Cooperate locally: empower local and statewide action on the ground among public and private organizations.
- Invest: accelerate public and private investments in the outdoor recreation sector.
- Act boldly: catalyze innovative policies and legislation.
The 33-member task force held six meetings around the state over the last year. Members hailed from business, nonprofit, education, and land management organizations. It was managed by Office of Outdoor Recreation Director Cailin O’Brien-Feeney, and chaired by Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commissioner Jonathan Blasher.
“It’s been an honor to serve along a great group of folks to create and strengthen relationships in this sector while developing an important body of work,” said Blasher. “Many people beyond this group will need to help achieve these goals and bolster the recreation economy while bridging divides with a sense of equity and inclusion.”
The report sets out a five-year strategy that begins immediately. Every function of government is being challenged to fund and staff services, even ones most people accept as important, and few things are as integral to the Oregon identity as a love of the outdoors.
The Office of Outdoor Recreation, charged with guiding this work forward with help from the full spectrum of public and private organizations, is not immune to these forces and the director’s position is subject to lay off by the end of 2020.
“What’s clear is just how important being outdoors is to people right now, and will be in rebuilding our economy. This report lays out a plan, but it’s up to outdoor enthusiasts, my fellow agency peers and our elected leadership to think creatively and act boldly. With fewer resources and strong interest in outdoor recreation, that need has never been more pressing,” said O’Brien-Feeney.
The work set out by the task force will result in a series of agreements and execution plans between public and private organizations between now and December, setting out clear next steps with measurable results for each of the five priority actions.
Ultimately the framework focuses on these top recommendations:
- Serve everyone: Advance accessibility and universal design principles.
- Unite centrally: Appoint a stakeholder group to advise the Office of Outdoor Recreation.
- Cooperate locally: Conduct a statewide outdoor recreation inventory and gap analysis.
- Invest: Address County search and rescue needs.
- Act boldly: Reassess recreational immunity and liability provisions.
For more information on the task force, Office of Outdoor Recreation and the final Framework for Action, please visit: https://www.oregon.gov/orec/Pages/Governors-Task-Force.aspx
Three Oregon university students have been named Oregon Heritage Fellows by Oregon Heritage, a division of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, based on the strength of both their scholastic achievement and their research topics. The fellowships encourage the thoughtful inquiry of Oregon's heritage by emerging scholars.
"The Fellows conduct original research into the diverse history of Oregon, often on topics that have drawn less attention from more-experienced historians," explains Chrissy Curran, Oregon’s deputy state historic preservation officer. "We believe it is important that their research is presented to the public."
The Fellows, their schools, and topics are:
--Katie Bush, Portland State University graduate student in Public History: “The Spaces of Policing/The Policing of Spaces: Pathologizing Mental Illness and Poverty in Progressive Era Portland”
--Adam Fitzhugh, Portland State University graduate student in History: “Battle Rock: Anatomy of a Massacre”
--Georgia Reid, Lewis & Clark College undergraduate students in Anthropology and Sociology: “Material Imagination of the Oregon Flax Industry”
A link to each of the emerging scholars’ papers and additional information about the Oregon Heritage Fellowship can be found at: https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/pages/awards.aspx
COVID-19 is still a reality in Oregon and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) is asking visitors to do their part to help protect themselves and the health of their fellow Oregonians.
The state park system has been slowly reopening since early May, but nearly every park is experiencing reduced levels of service due to a $22 million budget gap. OPRD is relying on visitors to help us through this unprecedented time.
Some state parks will remain closed until at least Labor Day. To date, these parks include:
- Alfred A. Loeb State Park campground and day-use.
- Battle Mountain Forest State Scenic Corridor day-use (no campground).
- Cape Blanco State Park campground and day-use (closed through 2020).
- Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park campground.
- Devil’s Lake State Recreation Area campground.
- Saddle Mountain State Natural Area campground and trails.
- Ukiah-Dale Forest State Scenic Corridor campground and day-use.
- Umpqua Lighthouse State Park campground.
Other parks may be added to this list. Check our state park status map for the latest information.
The best thing way to keep yourself and others safe is to “Prepare + Care.” Prepare before you leave the house, then take care of yourself and the people around you while at the park.
Prepare
- If you’re not feeling well, stay home. The parks will still be here when you recover.
- Whether you’re stopping for the afternoon or camping overnight, bring the essentials with you: face coverings, hand sanitizer, trash bags (pack it in, pack it out), water, snacks, and toilet paper.
- Choose a park close to home. The shorter your trip, the fewer stops you have to make on the way there, and the less time you’ll be in close proximity with others.
- Check the park’s webpage in advance to learn what amenities are available. Some may be closed; read the “reduced services” section below.
- Make a backup plan for your outing. Summer is a busy time at state parks, and people are extra stir-crazy this year. If you show up and the park or parking areas look crowded, turn around and follow your backup plan.
- Parking may be limited, and please don’t park on road shoulders or private roads. It’s dangerous and you risk your vehicle being damaged or towed. If the parking lot is full, turn around.
Care
- Try to maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance from folks that aren’t part of your household. Please wear a face covering, especially when in congested areas like parking lots, trailheads or restrooms.
- Take it easy while at the park: stick to trails and activities you’re familiar with. If you get in over your head and get injured or lost, that will further strain our already thin resources.
- Take your trash with you when you leave. Garbage service has been significantly reduced and packing out what you pack in is a huge help to park rangers.
- With the weather heating up, campfire restrictions may be in effect in some state parks. Check campground and trailhead notice boards for posted fire restrictions, or call ahead to double check. Fireworks are never allowed in state parks or on the ocean shore.
Reduced services
We have far fewer staff than we normally do for the busy summer season. Park rangers will be focused on essential duties to keep you safe, so other typical services may fall by the wayside. Events and programs will be canceled, ice or firewood sales may be suspended, and grounds maintenance and trash pickup will be less frequent. Service availability may change quickly.
Many facilities will be closed or have sharply reduced hours. Shower/restroom facilities, ranger booths, welcome centers, and other places will be affected. Go to the webpage for the park you plan to visit before you leave to learn what’s open and what’s closed. When you arrive at the park, scope out the open facilities.
Don’t forget: normal park rules still apply. Visit the state parks recreation FAQ for a refresher.
Learn more about safe recreation in parks during the pandemic, including more specifics for day-use and camping, on the state parks website: stateparks.oregon.gov.
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ESTACADA, Ore. – Bonnie Lure State Recreation Area will be closed to the public June 25-27 while crews airlift logs into Eagle Creek. The logs will be placed in the creek via helicopter, as part of a fish habitat restoration project led by Clackamas River Basin Council.
The logs will be staged in Bonnie Lure’s parking lot throughout the week leading up to the closure. Parking space will be limited. Visitors may see or hear large trucks carrying the trees, and are reminded to be careful around the logs and vehicles.
Bonnie Lure State Recreation Area is near the confluence of Eagle Creek and the Clackamas River, making it an important habitat area for salmon and steelhead. Human development along both waterways has diminished fish habitats over several decades; both fish are listed as “threatened” under the federal Endangered Species Act.
The newly placed logs, together with other riparian restoration work, should jumpstart fish habitat recovery. Vegetation restoration in the area will continue for several years.
Learn more about Bonnie Lure State Recreation Area on the state parks website, stateparks.oregon.gov.
More information about the Clackamas River Council is on their website, clackamasriver.org.
Oregon Heritage Commission has awarded $74,999 in grants to 11 museums throughout the state. The grants will help fund a variety of projects including collection preservation, visitor education and heritage tourism. Award amounts ranged from $1,063 - $8,284.
Funded projects:
- Aurora Colony Historical Society, in Aurora, to move collections to a new preservation facility.
- Baker Heritage Museum, in Baker City, to develop and implement a heritage passport tourism promotion project.
- Bush House Museum, in Salem, to develop a timeline of Salem history documenting traditionally marginalized groups.
- Independence Heritage Museum, in Independence, to install storage shelving in their new facility.
- Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, in Portland, to update their cataloging system.
- Polk County Historical Society and Museum, in Rickreall, to improve collections storage.
- Portland Chinatown History Foundation, in Portland, to develop oral history videos.
- Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House, in Eugene, for collections storage improvements.
- Southern Oregon Historical Society, in Medford, to catalog, rehouse, digitize and make available online glass plate negatives from Sawyer’s postcard company.
- Wallowa History Center, in Wallowa, for promotional projects including interpretive planning, website development, and highway signs.
- Willamette University Hallie Ford Museum, in Salem, for the preservation and digitization of the Rick Bartow print collection.
The museum grant program is offered annually by the Oregon Heritage Commission, part of the Oregon Heritage program at Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). The grant program began in 1965 when only 24 organizations were eligible for the program. This grant cycle was funded by other OPRD funds and not lottery or park fee funds.
The Oregon Heritage Commission works to secure, sustain and enhance Oregon’s heritage. The Commission sponsors heritage initiatives that educate the public about the value of heritage and celebrate the state’s diversity.
The Oregon Heritage Commission consists of nine members appointed by the governor and nine agency advisors. Members are chosen from state agencies and statewide organizations, and represent a diverse geographical and heritage background.
To learn more about the Oregon Museum Grant or the Oregon Heritage Commission, visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at i.gill@oregon.gov">Kuri.gill@oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.
Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries (OCHC) has awarded $50,000 in grants to 12 historic cemetery projects throughout the state. The funds will help support preservation efforts, repair work and visitor education. Individual award amounts ranged from $1,330-$6,200.
Funded projects:
- Plot fence reconstruction at the Waldo Cemetery in Josephine County.
- Monument repair and cleaning training with Clatsop Community College at Hillside Cemetery in Astoria.
- Monument repair and cleaning at the Zion Memorial Cemetery in Canby.
- Install a monument at Fir Grove Cemetery and an interpretive panel at McFarland Cemetery in Cottage Grove.
- Level and repair monuments at Greenwood Cemetery in Astoria.
- Clean and level US veteran and family member monuments at Hubbard Cemetery in Marion County.
- Trim trees and remove dead trees at the IOOF Gold Hill Cemetery.
- Trim trees and repairs markers at the IOOF West Point Cemetery in Lane County.
- Level large grave stones at the McMinnville Masonic Cemetery.
- Repair, level, and reset headstones at the Woodbine and Knights of Pythias cemeteries in Columbia County.
- Repair headstones in the Scappoose Fairview Cemetery.
- Install four monuments for the Boone family in the Butteville Cemetery in Marion County.
Historic cemeteries are documented by OCHC and must include the burial of at least one person who died before Feb. 14, 1909.
The historic cemetery grant program is offered annually by the OCHC, part of the Oregon Heritage Program at Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). The grant program is supported by other funds, and not by lottery or park fee funds.
OCHC maintains a list of all pioneer and historic cemeteries in the state. The seven-member appointed commission helps people and organizations document, preserve and promote designated historic cemeteries statewide.
For more information about the grant program or the OCHC, visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at i.gill@oregon.gov">Kuri.gill@oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.
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