Part two of an audio recording of an oral history of Elva Rossi and her life in Beaverton, Oregon, recorded on October 26, 1982. Rossi continues with talking about growing crops on her dad’s farm and how he got them to Portland. She describes traveling by horse for about 2.5 hours to Portland to shop and the stores they stopped at. In 1900, her father left their farm and opened up a saloon that was very law abiding and kept until the Prohibition. Rossi attended Beaverton Grade School, Lincoln High School in Portland, and then Normal School to become a teacher. After teaching all of the grades in a one-room schoolhouse, Rossi left teaching to be a bookkeeper at Standard Oil company and then the Bank of California as a file clerk and in the analysis department. Rossi got married in 1935 but was divorced after only seven years. After her divorce, she was able to get a full time job again until she moved back to Portland to be with her sick mother. While living at home, she worked at Portland Trust in the analysis department. Rossi mentions the Columbus Day Storm, the Klu Klux Klan, and special holidays. From talking about family life with her grandparents to her friends in her youth and going to dances, Rossi describes life in Beaverton. A couple teachers Rossi talks about area Carl Fisher and Merle Davies who were both well liked in Oregon. The interview ends in the middle of a conversation. The voices are clearly audible throughout the recording. There is a full transcript attached with penciled-in corrections.
Part one of an audio recording of an oral history of Elva Rossi and her life in Beaverton, Oregon, recorded on October 26, 1982. Rossi tells the story of how her family ended up in Oregon, starting with her grandparents on each side of her family. Her father’s side was originally from Italy and moved to Oregon in about 1870. They had a small farm on which her father had to work, forcing him to quit school after only attending it for four years. Rossi’s mother’s family is scattered throughout states across the country, but she and her parents ended up in the area of Portland, Oregon, in about 1888. Rossi’s parents likely met at school or at a community social event since they both lived in the same area. They married in 1894 and built their big house in 1912. Rossi describes each of her parents, August and Hattie Rossi, and their personalities as well as their little farm in Beaverton that Rossi grew up on. Rossi’s father died in March, 1927, leaving his business to be run by Hattie through the Great Depression. Hattie found other ways to make money also by renting out bedrooms. Rossi’s current house that she is living in was built in 1962 and she’s lived in it since. She finishes with commenting a bit about her two brothers. The voices are clearly audible throughout the recording. There is a full transcript attached with penciled-in corrections.
