A short video of a parade and attendees during the Gay Nineties Festival in downtown Forest Grove, Oregon sometime between 1962-1965. The Gay Nineties Festival was a community event that took place in Forest Grove from the late 1940s to the early 1990s. Celebrating the era of the 1890s, it was originally held in conjunction with the town's Barbershop Quartet Contest. During its heyday, the festival featured a parade, stage shows, and carnival, and attracted thousands of attendees.
The footage was shot from Pacific Avenue near the corner of College Way. People appearing in this video before the parade begins include Don Conrad (wearing a straw flat hat) and other Conrad Family members. Parade participants include: marching bands; a covered wagon; classic cars; floats from St. Anthony's School and Central School; unicyclists; and people in various historic costumes. Locations appearing in the background include the Standard Oil Gas Station, a service station on the corner of College and Pacific, the Grove Theatre, Gimre's Shoes and Floyd's Music. The Tip Top Cafe's blinking neon sign is partially visible near the 1:24 mark: the "O" and "I" in Tip/Top blink on and off.
This video is one of three that was created by local area resident Irene Conrad between 1962-1965 on 8mm film. The family transferred the films to DVD format and then extracted clips in MP4 format. Copies of the MP4 format were given to Pacific University. The videos do not have sound, and no higher resolution version is available.
The Washington County Bank building on Main Street in the small town of Banks, Oregon, decorated in support of the military during World War I. The front of the building is decorated with two service flags and a wheel showing progress towards a war bond fundraising goal. This photograph, which was issued as a postcard, was probably taken in late 1917 or early 1918.
The large service flag (left) is similar to other ones produced in this region during World War I. Each of the small stars on such flags typically represented one man from the community who had entered military service. Blue stars signified men who had joined the war and were still alive, while gold stars signified those who had died in service. The smaller flag (center) with three stars may have belonged to the family who operated the bank, signifying that they had three sons in service. These flags symbolized the town's commitment to the war and the seriousness of the need for raising funds.
The wheel on the right demonstrated progress towards a community-wide goal for purchasing Liberty Bonds. These war bonds were issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury as a way to finance the war effort. People who bought bonds would gain a return of around 3-4%, but they were promoted more as a means of demonstrating patriotic sentiment, rather than as an investment. This wheel shows that the town of Banks was about 1/4 of the way towards their goal for purchases.
The Washington County Bank was the first bank in the town of Banks, having opened in 1909. It was a postal savings bank, which was a part of a limited service banking system backed by the federal government. Outlets often served rural communities. The building had a false front with a neoclassical facade, featuring three Doric columns, holding up a rectangular pediment with false columns etched along beneath its top. A wooden sidewalk surrounded the building. An unpaved road and several Model T -like cars are visible on the left.
Sepia-toned image of a small wooden building with a classical facade and false front. A single large window fills the front of the building, with a door to the left. Written on the window is 'Washington County Bank, U. S. Depository, Postal Savings.' Postal savings were certificates that could be purchased at local post offices and offered an alternative savings method to rural citizens who did not always have access to a bank. Postal certificates and bonds could be cashed in at banks such as this one, which were official depositories of the system. Another building sits next to the bank, and a boardwalk runs in front of it and down the far side. The Washington County Bank was founded in 1909.
Black and white image of a man seated at a roll-top desk in an office. He wears a three piece suit, a tie, and a shirt with a stand-up collar, and his hair is combed to one side. A bowler hat sits on top of some stacked books on a desk behind him. The desk is covered with papers and heavy files sit on top of it. A candlestick phone is attached to a metal arm at the far side of desk, which appears to make it convenient for hands-free use. Oriental carpets of various sizes cover the floor, and hanging on hooks on the right of the desk are a straw hat, an overcoat, and a deerstalker hat with earflaps. A large diploma hangs on the wall above the desk, and another certificate sits on top of the back of the desk. According to the calendar on the wall behind him, it is June, 1913. On the window to the image left can be seen the letters 'Bagle' and 'Law,' indicating this is the Bagley and Hare law office in downtown Hillsboro, where it appears to have been on the second floor of a building. This image is part of a group contained in a tri-fold folder; see WCMpic_015279 and WCMpic_015281 for the other two images from that folder, and WCMpic_15282 for another image of the Bagley and Hare law office library.
Black and white image of four women in a title office. One woman wears a thick sweater and has two roses attached to her chest. Two others wear stylish, ankle-length dresses, and another has a white shirtwaist. The fourth woman sits before an old typewriter. They appear to be in a second story office, and the legend 'Washington Cou[nty] Abstract. Ti[tle] & Trust C[o.] can be made out in reverse on the window. This image is part of a group contained in a tri-fold folder; see WCMpic_015280 and WCMpic_015279 for the other two images from that folder, and WCMpic_15282 for another image of the Bagley and Hare law office library.
Black and white image of a man leaning back in his chair between two desks in an office. He wears a three piece suit and a bow tie, and his hair is combed to one side. A candlestick phone sits on the desk behind him, and both desks are covered with papers and books of various sizes. Oriental carpets cover the floor, and a leather couch can be seen at the far right of the image. Two famed diplomas hang on the wall, along with a framed collection that is probably Hare's class at the University of Michigan Law School. 'Washington County Abstract, Title, and Trust Co.' is lettered on the window above the couch. Hare was a native Oregonian and served in the state legislature for several terms. This image is part of a group contained in a tri-fold folder; see WCMpic_015280 and WCMpic_015281 for the other two images from that folder, and WCMpic_15282 for another image of the Bagley and Hare law office library.
Black and white image of the interior of a bank, with ghostly figures standing at the tellers' stations. Electric lights hang from the ceiling, and spittoons stand on the floor beneath a counter. Commercial National Bank was built in the 1930s. The building was torn down and replaced in the 1950s with what is currently (2012) the U. S. Bank building in Hillsboro, at the corner of Main and Second Streets.
Black and white image of five different women seated at desks. One woman sits at a typewriter, while the woman behind her appears to be working with paper accounting material. The three women on the left side of the image all sit before accounting machines, which performed typewriting, ten-key, and other computational functions necessary for keeping track of banking transactions. Considered early forerunners of the modern computer, machines like this were replaced with business computers in the 1960s and 1970s. Museum records identify these women as employees of Commercial National Bank, which occupied the building where the U. S. Bank is now in downtown Hillsboro, on the corner of 2nd and Main Streets.
Yellowed black and white image of five women standing in a row. All wear dresses of varying styles. Their hair is shorter and curled on the bottom. Three of the women wear glasses. Museum records identify these women as employees of Commercial National Bank, which occupied the building where the U. S. Bank is now in downtown Hillsboro, on the corner of 2nd and Main Streets.
Black and white image depicting the interior of a store selling jewelry, silver coffee service, clocks, perfumes, and many other goods. A grill section is just visible in the back of the store. Abendroth Jewelers was located on Main Street in Hillsboro and was owned and operated by Fritz Abendroth.
Black and white image depicting the interior of a store stocked with a great many household items, from pots and pans to croquet sets. Banners overhead announce a 'Grand Opening Sale.' A man holds the hand of a small child in the foreground, while other shoppers can be seen in the background with items in hand to purchase. The numerous floral arrangements were a typical decoration for grand opening celebrations at this time.
Sepia-toned image of a large display of farm and canned goods. Milk, grains, produce, canned fruit fill a display area, with the grains fastened to the back wall and along the sides, and the other goods stacked around the area. A sign at the top center of the back wall reads, 'Washington County, the Land of Plenty.' Though this is billed as a 'Washington County Fair Exhibit,' it is just as likely to be an exhibit for a larger expo, possibly the World's Fair of 1905, which was held in Portland and celebrated the 100th anniversary of the voyage of Lewis and Clark down the Columbia.
Sepia-toned image of the front of a building. About a dozen men and one boy in overalls stand on the boardwalk or planked road in front of the two-story building. Several store fronts with recessed doors and squared framed windows take up the first floor beneath a recessed awning, while the second floor features square bay windows. An upper pediment on the roof reads 'Woods [and] Caples, 1893.' Four bikes are visible, two parked up against the front of the building, one against the side, and another leaning against the edge of the boardwalk. Signs indicate a doctor's office and a dentists' office are on the second floor, while a blank slate on the far side of the building reads 'Washington County Mills' on the top.
Black and white image of the rear fuselage of an airplane. The upright stabilizer is painted with a cartoon animal wearing an aviator or bomber's hat with goggles and a scarf wrapped around its neck. Printed on the tail around the image is 'Hall Fur Farm, Forest Grove, Oregon.' The registration number of the airplane is N5693Q. This image was part of the Herbert McMullen bequest. McMullen was a local photographer who also collected other images of daily life in the area.
Black and white image of a large building with a stair-step false front. Two garage doors open out on either side of a central area with display windows and a recessed entrance. Four men stand at the image left of the building, three in overalls with aprons and one in business pants and a dress shirt. One truck is parked half in and half out of the garage door next to them, and another truck is parked along the curb in front of the main entrance. Signs on the store indicate that it sells building materials and Fuller paints. Screen doors and window screens lean against the display windows. This images was part of the Herbert McMullen bequest. McMullen was a local photographer who also collected other images of daily life in the area.
Black and white image of a square, two-story building with a sign reading 'Noblecraft Industries' on the front. A large semi is parked nearby. The trailer of the truck reads in part, 'Noblecraft. Kitchen cabinets -- Fixtures. Hillsboro, Oregon.' The factory stretches out away from the first building. The upper portion of the image has been obscured by a piece of paper, held on by a paperclip. This images was part of the Herbert McMullen bequest. McMullen was a local photographer who also collected other images of daily life in the area.
Black and white image of several women manning a telephone switchboard. They wear headsets with microphones that rest on their chest, and the phone calls are connected by cords which plug into the switchboard to make the call. A woman in a dress stands at the end of the row, observing. This images was part of the Herbert McMullen bequest. McMullen was a local photographer who also collected other images of daily life in the area.
Black and white image of a man leaning on the externally mounted spare tire of a delivery van. The man wears dark pants, a belt, and a checked shirt. He has short hair and glasses. In the background is a two-story building with a covered porch and what appears to be an open garage door. Printed on the upper side panel of the van is printed 'Ray J. Mann, Distributor. Hillsboro, Oregon.' Two liquor bottles frame the lettering. This image was part of the Herbert McMullen bequest. McMullen was a local photographer who also collected other images of daily life in the area.
Black and white toned image of a man wearing overalls and a hat standing behind a two-horse team pulling a harrow through a field. Hills rise in the background, just beyond a plowed field. The photo was donated by Ella Garrigus, and the man is probably her husband, Orval Hutchens, or one of his family members.
Sepia-toned image of two men standing inside a building with a number of desks and tables. A teller's cage fills the area directly behind the men, separating the entrance from the interior of the bank. Both men wear suit coats and ties. Otto Galaway, bank teller, stands to the image left of Wheelock Marsh, the vice-president. The Washington County Bank opened in 1909; Galaway left in 1921 to open a bank in Vernonia.
Black and white image of a large airplane hangar with a number of airplanes parked on the tarmac in front of it. Ball-Ralston Flying Service was one of the first charter flight services opened at Hillsboro Airport, and was run by Ed Ball and Norman 'Swede' Ralston. They offered air tours of Washington County for $2.50.
Black and white image of a community. Two, two-story buildings sit across a street from a large field, one is gabled with a false front while the other is a large, square, two-story construction next to smaller, single block building. Several residences can be seen in the background, two of those are large, two-story homes with dormer windows protruding from their rooflines. Orenco was a 'company town,' built for workers in the short-lived Oregon Nursery Company.
Black and white aerial view of a farmhouse and an orchard, with hills in the background. A number of other farms and farmhouse can be see in the background. William G. Ide was a farmer south of Hillsboro; the 1930 Federal census lists his property as being on Grabel Road, off of Highway 219.
Black and white aerial image of Forest Grove, looking northeast. The track at Pacific University can be seen in the upper center left of the urban area.
