On February 22nd, Zwickelmania returns to Oregon with two of Montavilla’s breweries joining more than 50 other craft beer makers from all areas across the state. Host businesses offer attendees Zwickel tasting pours from the fermentation tanks and leading brewery tours. Montavilla Brew Works at 7805 SE Stark Street and Threshold Brewing & Blending at 403 SE 79th Avenue will again participate in this annual celebration of local beer makers. Event organizers will offer sober transportation between sites through a network of shuttle buses that should widen participants’ exposure to Portland’s selection of independent brewers.
Zwickelmania is an annual celebration of Oregon craft beer during Oregon Craft Beer Month, organized by the Oregon Brewers Guild. Member breweries open their production facility to the public for a behind-the-scenes view of their operation and to offer unique sampling opportunities. The event’s name stems from the industry term Zwickel, describing the valve or sample port mounted outside a cask or tank. Brewers use those ports to test the product during fermentation, and this annual event allows people 21 years or older to taste beer from a producer’s perspective.
The 2025 beer-centric program features a safe way for event attendees to enjoy more brewery locations through free shuttle buses that transport people to participating establishments. This service allows drinkers to experience the event in several neighborhoods without getting behind the wheel or losing time taking indirect public transit. “On a day where people are tasting a lot of beers, this is a great way for people to see more breweries and do it safely,” explained Michael Kora of Montavilla Brew Works. During the event hours of 11 a.m. through 4 p.m., buses will depart each location at close to 30-minute intervals. The two shuttle routes overlap at Migration Brewing on NE Glisan Street for riders to transfer. However, there are too many participating locations to reach them all via the bus service during the event timeline, so people must plan to visit their favorite locations first or decide to explore some new beer makers.
Zwickelmania’s organizers gear the event towards craft beer enthusiasts who can experience samples directly from the Zwickel port, find unique beer releases, take tours, and meet brewers as they provide educational talks. Some host locations will offer food and beer pairings or specials. This non-ticketed event will only cost the price of beer and food at each location. Designated drivers can also find non-alcoholic drinks at the event. People interested in attending should visit the Zwickelmania website for more information and a complete list of participating brewers.
Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Otter Wax, a neighborhood producer of small-batch specialty goods handcrafted in Portland. Using only natural ingredients, they make modern care products that are steeped in tradition. We thank them for their support.
On February 19th, the Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS) will host a “Sneak Peek” of the Oak Street Village sleeping pod shelter at 333 SE 82nd Avenue. Organizers invite the public to tour the facility before residents move in. Invited speakers will provide brief remarks and participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Organizers ask people wanting to attend to RSVP for the event, which runs from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
In 2022, Multnomah County purchased the former RV sales lot and another site several blocks south to create shelter services along 82nd Avenue. However, it was not until officials selected 333 SE 82nd Avenue’s operator, Straightway Services, that the County announced the shelter’s format. Resident selection for Oak Street Village will prioritize individuals living in passenger vehicles and needing to park those while transitioning into the shelter’s housing. The site provides Pallet shelters branded sleeping pods, 33 onsite parking spaces, trash services, showers, restrooms, laundry facilities, and a communal kitchenette. Several years have passed since the County purchased the properties. Since then, County staff have worked to provide community outreach and secure support for the site through a Good Neighbor Agreement.
The second county-owned county site in Montavilla at 1818 SE 82nd Avenue will take on a similar development path but will not focus on supporting residents with cars. That second shelter will likely open at the end of 2025 if the project keeps to schedule. Although the sites are different, this sneak peek can provide a view into how shelter operators organize these sites.
Multnomah County Board of County Commissioners Chair Jessica Vega Pederson and Montavilla’s County district representative Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards will speak at the event. Other invited guests addressing the attendees include Pastor Dwight Minnieweather from the site’s service provider, Straightway Services, alongside business and neighborhood association leaders. JOHS director Dan Field will share the project’s history and update people on the facility’s next steps. Event parking for the Wednesday midday gathering on the 19th is available at the Montavilla United Methodist Church at 232 SE 80th Avenue, one block west of Oak Street Village. Event organizers will provide snacks and refreshments.
On December 14th, Montavilla businesses along NE Glisan Street are again hosting a special holiday event full of activities, discounts, and unique offerings. The Saturday Winter Wassail event spans the day during each location’s operating hours, with a street-wide celebration from 5 to 8 p.m. People should check the shops’ social media or the event page for specific extended hours and updates.
Some event highlights include Wreath Making Classes at Citrine Bloom, Wine Tasting at Replicant, and dried citrus ornament making at Sparrow Salon from 5 to 8 p.m. Event organizers describe it as a business celebration of the season when customers can feel comfortable walking NE Glisan with the added light from the storefronts open into the evening.
Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account for monthly support or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.
Starting this December, the Montavilla business community will launch into a month-long celebration of the Winter holidays. Businesses and organizations will offer a mix of giving opportunities while encouraging people to support their community through shopping locally. Even without spending money, people can participate through two free events offered on SE Stark Street to get into the seasonal mood with friends and neighbors.
Next Saturday, the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA) will host its Tree Lighting in the public plaza at SE 79th Avenue and Stark Street. The tree lighting ceremony will take place on December 7th from 4 to 6 p.m. Organizers will light up the Montavilla holiday tree at 5 p.m. and serve hot cocoa while supplies last. Participants can enjoy community cheer and seasonal music as they start the countdown to the new year.
A week later, on December 14th, people can gather for a free Santa picture event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Board Bard Games. The gaming shop at 7960 SE Stark Street will offer an opportunity to take a seasonal family picture with Santa. People waiting for their turn to pose with the jolly icon can partake in hot cocoa and other treats. The organizers remind people to bring their own cameras to capture the moment.
Shopping locally is essential to maintaining a strong community, and METBA wants to reward those who help keep Montavilla thriving. From December 1st through the 21st, people who eat, drink, shop, and recreate at participating businesses will earn raffle entries through completed passports. Every qualifying purchase of $5 or more from the list of locations earns a sticker to go inside a passport. Participating businesses will have passports to get people started, and collecting six stickers completes a passport. Each entry increases your odds of winning the raffle, and there is no limit to the number of passports a person can complete. To enter, drop off completed passports at Redwood at 7915 SE Stark Street or Arbor Hall at 7907 SE Stark Street by the close of business on December 21st.
Graphic courtesy METBA
As a bonus, purchases made during the Merry Montavilla Soiree on December 21st earn participants two stickers for their passports. The Soiree is a one-day event full of special offers and discounts to help last-minute shoppers and Portlanders looking for a special night out.
Many Montavilla shops are embracing the giving season with a donation drive. Participating businesses will collect Adult-sized jackets or coats, warm hats, gloves, scarves, hand warmers, and sleeping bags for Rahab’s Sisters. The organization’s beneficiaries will appreciate those new and gently used items during the cold weather. Rahab’s Sisters have a particular need for plus-size or extended-size donations. Participating locations are listed on the METBA website.
Montavilla Brew Works at 7805 SE Stark Street will host a special Giving Tuesday event on December 3rd, supporting Cultivate Initiatives. Giving Tuesday follows the busy seasonal shopping days and encourages people to support local organizations supporting positive change in their communities. Michael Kora from Montavilla Brew Works explained that his company has a long relationship with Cultivate Initiatives’ leadership, which has grown into the brewery’s expanded support of the group’s efforts. “Over the years, we’ve spearheaded a winter clothing donation drive in the neighborhood that directly supports the more marginalized people in our neighborhood and beyond. With its success during the winter season, we eventually just made it an all-year-long donation drive.”
Graphic courtesy Montavilla Brew Works
Montavilla Brew Works’ Giving Tuesday event runs from 5 to 8 p.m., and donators will receive $1 off their first beverage. People should bring new or gently used warm clothing. They will also accept new underwear, socks, pet food, and hygiene products. Briel’s Barbecue popup will sell food at the event, but Kora noted the BBQ food often sells out and recommends people stop by early. This event is limited to people 21 or older, and organizers hope people will have a good time while supporting a cause they care about.
Once again, Montavilla businesses are doing what they can to celebrate the winter through giving and creating a space for people to enjoy the company of their community.
Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account for monthly support or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.
On November 23rd, Sam Wolf, the Portland Heritage Tree Program Manager with Portland Parks and Recreation’s Urban Forestry division, will host a free Heritage Tree tour in the Montavilla Neighborhood. The Saturday event will begin in the Berrydale Parking Area on SE 89th Avenue, and participants will travel several blocks to visit four Heritage Trees, with one tree nominated for consideration. Five passengers can ride in a provided van to each site, but event organizers encourage participants to drive, carpool, or bike between locations if possible.
The City Council formally recognizes Heritage Trees for their unique size, age, historical, or horticultural significance. Once designated, these trees receive a small plaque and are listed in the Heritage Tree database. The tour will cover important aspects of the Heritage Trees in Montavilla, including locating future Heritage Trees and nominating them.
Google Map with Heritage Tree Program notations
The event runs from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, November 23rd. Participants must register to attend and should plan to dress for potentially rainy and cold weather. Participants can preview the route or tour the trees independently using the linked map. This event is a unique opportunity to learn about the importance of Heritage Trees in East Portland and help bolster urban forestry through canopy preservation.
Update: A previous version of this article had extraneous information included at the end of the article. Montavilla News regrets this publishing error.
Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account for monthly support or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.
The Midland Public Library at 805 SE 122nd Avenue will reopen on October 26th after nearly two years of renovations. The expanded and modernized building features many unique qualities that support community needs beyond book lending. New amenities include ten meeting spaces, new checkout technology, and dedicated youth-focused areas with indoor-outdoor play spaces. To celebrate the project’s completion, library staff will host a grand opening weekend full of music and engaging activities.
Before its temporary closures in 2022, the Midland branch was one of the most used locations in the Multnomah County Library system. As a centrally located branch in East Portland, it serves one of the most culturally diverse areas in the region. Ahead of redevelopment, project leaders conducted extensive community engagement to ensure the building would reflect the people it serves. “We have folks from Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian, and Spanish communities, and we are making sure that they feel welcomed and represented when they come in,” said Liz Sauer, the Communications Manager with Multnomah County Library. During that preliminary work, outreach coordinators collected over 6,000 comments from engagement event participants, allowing community members to shape the project in many areas, down to the colors used. They asked people to bring in culturally significant images that artists incorporated into designs etched on panels that crews attached to the building’s exterior. Those images also guided the artist team HYBYCOZO in designing an illuminated outdoor sculpture series. They created geometric shapes with perforated metal panels that reference the etched pattern. The sculpture stacks descend in height from SE 122nd Avenue, providing a visual marker of the library’s location and replacing the iconic clock tower removed during the renovation.
Ceiling mural by Lillyanne Pham and Paola De La Cruz, next to HYBYCOZO designed sculpture series
Crews expanded the Midland library by nearly 6,000 square feet, pushing the front of the building south and repositioning the entrance at the center of the bar-shaped single-story building. A long covered walkway guides pedestrians to the front doors from the sidewalk under a ceiling mural created by Lillyanne Pham and Paola De La Cruz. Long-time visitors to this branch will recognize elements of the original space, including the large painting at the east end of the main room. However, lower bookshelves now let visitors see across the expansive stacks, changing the perceived scale of the facility. New lower-hung lighting and an updated color palette make the space both bright and warm. Rooms of various sizes and uses surround the building’s towering core, letting people move to semi-secluded spaces when the central section becomes too active.
The updated branch is more inclusive of the varied needs of its guests than before and aims to support all age groups. Young children have an educational play area off the main stacks with age-appropriate books and play equipment. A nearby exit leads to an outdoor fenced play space with a soft rubber surface. If people need to transition out of an over-stimulating space, Midland offers the library system’s first sensory room that provides a calm, quiet area. Users can adjust room lighting and other interactive elements to meet their needs. The room features a mirrored bubble tube, tactile panels, and a fiber optic tunnel.
Tactile panels and marble light board in sensory room
Tactile board and mirrored bubble tube in sensory room
Young reader’s area
Educational play area
Outdoor play area
Midland has a quiet room across from the young reader’s area where people can sit in chairs or at tables away from the active main room. Teenage visitors also have a dedicated and fully enclosed space with access to video games and media resources, including computers geared towards digital creators. Library visitors can use a computer at a fixed workstation or check out a laptop from a kiosk for use throughout the building. The Multnomah County Library system is pairing these building renovations with a broader effort to adapt their services to the modern needs of the community. Just as public libraries provided equitable access to written knowledge for 200 years, these expansions intend to provide equitable access to technology and digital tools. Access can take many forms, from printing documents to participating in a video interview or creating an animated video. The spaces and equipment available after this renovation should keep the library relevant as a community resource hub for decades.
Shorter bookcases with integrated LED lighting
Outdoor gathering circle
Indoor gathering circle
Teen room
Quiet room
In response to the community’s desire for gathering space, Midland features ten meeting rooms that people can reserve for free. Designers configured the entrance with a retractible separator that allows meeting room access even when the staff closes the library portion of the building, facilitating later meeting times. A panel system designed for art exhibits lines the meeting room hallway across from display cases ready to show art created at the library. The larger meeting rooms at the front of the building have assistive hearing equipment integrated into the presentation system, and conference equipment aids groups holding hybrid meetings. With designed insights from Indigenous communities, Midland contains several gathering circle areas inside and outside the library, geared towards conversations without a central speaker. A core component of this update, and a large percentage of new square footage added to the building, focuses on supporting community groups and creating opportunities for connections.
Large meeting room
Computer workstations
Projector and conferencing system for meetings
Laptop checkout kiosk
The Multnomah County Library invites people to the grand opening weekend celebration, starting with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 26th. The White Lotus Dragon & Lion Dance Team will start off the entertainment at 9:45 a.m., followed by a day filled with family-friendly activities and music. The first day wraps up at 5 p.m. but continues at noon on the following Sunday, October 27th. Those activities extend through 5:30 p.m. with Hawaiian Hula, Bollywood Dance, Hoop Dance, and other culturally rich activities. After the grand reopening, the Midland branch will serve the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Sundays, they open from noon to 6 p.m. The schedule shifts two hours later on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from noon to 8 p.m.
Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account for monthly support or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.
Montavilla businesses will celebrate the Fall season with two district-wide events this month. On October 26th, the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association (METBA) invites everyone to the district for the annual Fall Crawl, and on October 27th, families can enjoy Trick or Treat Montavilla.
The idea of a Montavilla pub crawl grew in popularity in 2019 when Threshold opened the neighborhood’s second brewery in the historic SE Stark Street downtown. The concept grew into a more formalized event as part of METBA’s Harvest Festival and now includes a variety of activities, including a week-long shopping event for a chance to win a prize. People can pick up a passport and shop at 22 participating businesses from October 20th through October 26th. Customers turn in their passports on the 26th to enter a raffle. Additionally, bars and restaurants may offer participants special menu items and discounts.
Images courtesy METBA
On Sunday, October 27th, participating Montavilla businesses will open their doors for neighborhood trick-or-treating. The kid-friendly activity spans NE Glisan Street and SE Stark Street, allowing families to participate close to home. The METBA website offers a complete list of participating businesses and hours. Event times vary by location.
There is a chance of rain this weekend, but that rarely stops the people of Montavilla from heading out to enjoy the height of the Fall season. Consider looking for a break in the clouds or grab the raincoat and head out for Autumn fun in the neighborhood.
On Saturday, October 5th, invited speakers, project staff, and cycling enthusiast gathered at the Gateway Green Park to celebrate the full reopening of the outdoor recreation area for bikes. The southern portion of the hilly and wooded park situated between two freeways was closed for years as crews constructed a second track for the MAX Red Line expansion. The restoration of this Portland Parks & Recreation facility was one of the final steps in the light rail service enhancement project called A Better Red, and today’s ribbon cutting marked that milestone.
Linda Robinson and Ted Gilbert (center) with others cutting ribbon
In early April, construction crews began working on the southern portion of the off-road cycling and outdoor recreation area. The newly completed TriMet transit bridge and track placement required significant earth-moving work, creating the opportunity to completely rebuild this section of the park while adding a universally accessible entrance that should attract new park users. Now, people can cross a bridge adjacent to MAX tracks that take visitors to the park’s high point right from the Gateway Transit Center. While parkgoers could always use the Interstate-205 Multiuse Path to access the park’s center and north entrances, this new southern approach is more direct and separates bike commuter traffic from park users.
Bridge leading from Gateway Transit Center to the Gateway Green Park’s southern enterance
Wilde foliage and newly planted trees in the southern section will take several years to approach the natural maturity seen in other areas of the park. However, this section of the track still offers mountain bike riders the winding gravel-based paths that make this a popular destination. Pedestrians will also enjoy Gateway Green Park, which has several benches and natural scenery. Despite wooded views, visitors are always aware of Interstate-84 and I-205 traffic surrounding the park. This land was once just unused space leftover from freeway construction, explained Ted Gilbert from Friends of Gateway Green. Efforts to transform this area into something other than scenery for motorists began in 2005. Gilbert and Linda Robinson, among many other community members, worked for years to create this park, securing funding and support. This ceremony commemorates the completion of the park’s third phase of development and delivers on its founders’ goals for this public resource.
Several vendors were onsite with loaner bikes and other transportation information as part of both the celebration and the Take Your Kid Mountain Biking Day, presented by NW Trail Alliance. Gateway Green Park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and features a Portland Loo restroom, bike trail, pump tracks, and skills areas. Access to the park is easier than ever when entering from the Gateway Transit Center on NE 99th Avenue.
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) will give away 3,000 trees to residents this fall. The annual event now offers 1,000 more trees than the previous year, allowing more people to reserve a free tree to plant in their yard. Registrants can select from 22 tree types, and Montavilla residents will receive free delivery this year. Tree availability is limited, and participants have care responsibilities that come along with participation in the program. This work is part of Portland’s efforts to increase the urban tree canopy and make tree ownership more accessible.
Residents must pick up reserved trees at one of four collection events throughout the City. Montavilla residents can have the tree and supplies delivered this year with registration code “AHMP” or choose the September 22nd date hosted near the Mt Tabor Community Garden on SE 64th Avenue and SE Lincoln Street. That option offers collection times between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Outside the free delivery zone, PP&R Urban Forestry staff can provide yard tree delivery and planting for Portlanders with limited mobility or who need additional accommodations to participate. People who can not plant the tree as anticipated must agree to return it to Urban Forestry so people on a waiting list can have a chance to participate in the program. During the pickup or delivery, Parks staff will provide planting instructions and a watering bucket filled with mulch to assist with a successful planting.
Watering buckets filled with mulch that will accompany trees
This free tree giveaway is the eighth year PP&R will provide Portland residents with free trees. The Tree Planting and Preservation Fund, which gathers money from tree removal payments, supports this program. “When trees come down and aren’t replaced, that typically happens in development, developers put money into the tree fund, and then that money has to be used for tree planting or preservation,” explained Molly Wilson, a Community Tree Planting Specialist at PP&R Urban Forestry. However, additional funding from the Portland Clean Energy Fund, now augmenting the budget, allowed the program to expand service to more Portlanders.
City staff are working to grow the Portland tree canopy, which has declined in recent years as housing density and other factors reduce urban trees. Programs like this annual giveaway are predominately successful at adding more trees to the urban tree canopy. “We monitor our trees to see how many trees planted are still in the ground. The first year when we go back, we find that 70 percent are alive and in the ground. Then we find, based on weather, about 94 to 95 percent [of the previous 70 percent] survive the second year.” explained Wilson. Beyond that, tree species selected by the program tend to make it to maturity after those early years. “It’s a low-cost way to get high-quality trees providing shade, cooling, and other environmental and health benefits,” said Wilson.
Residents can only plant trees at a location inside Portland city limits, and they must exist on the person’s property or planted with permission of the property owner. This program is different from the street tree program, with these trees needing to live within the ground in a private yard, not between the curb and sidewalk. After the tree is in its new home, participants must provide the tree with 15 gallons of water per week from May through October for at least the first three years. “Certainly, not all the trees make it, but generally, I think people are doing a nice job of getting their trees in the ground in good locations and being really thoughtful about the trees they pick out. When they register or pick up their trees, we provide them with a planting and care booklet that talks about proper planting,” said Wilson.
Example of street tree location not acceptable for this free tree program
Program designers shaped the initiative for all Portland residents with space to plant a tree. “We want to reach renters more and make sure that trees are accessible for renters,” said Wilson. “We find that about five to eight percent of the trees go to rental properties each year, which is great, but we would love that number to be even higher.” Gathering permission to plant can be a barrier for some people. PP&R recommends renters share their passion for tree canopy expansion with property owners and explain their commitment to care for the tree over its first three years. Not all yards are suitable for planting trees, but if it can take root at least ten feet from a building, there should be enough room for it to thrive. When completing a tree reservation, people can request a consultation about selection and placement before pickup or delivery. Urban Forestry staff will answer tree questions post-planting to help owners take care of the young trees. People will also be on an email list with watering season reminders and other helpful instructions.
Molly Wilson recommends people reserve trees early, as there is a set number of trees, and the type an applicant is interested in may run out. If the form is no longer available, Portlanders should look for a wait list opportunity on the program’s web page.
On September 6th, Government officials and honored community members gathered in front of Erv Lind Field (Normandale Field) to celebrate its listing on the National Register of Historic Places. This community stadium at NE 57th Ave and Hassalo Street is the only sports facility in Oregon constructed primarily for a women’s sports league team. It served for decades as a gathering space for LGBTQ+ Portlanders during an oppressive period of the City’s history.
The event occurred in the stadium seating area surrounded by the annotated pictures of athletic achievement displayed in “Portland’s Hall of Fame and Honor.” Players with the Rose City Softball Association, Oregon’s largest LGBTQ+ sports organization, provided a backdrop to the scheduled speakers, with the Amateur Softball Association’s six-foot-tall World Champions trophy flanking the podium. The Erv Lind Florists won the national women’s softball championship in 1964, bringing the prize to the home field used by the team since 1948.
Left to right: Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio, Kristen Minor, U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer, Fern Wilgus, Oregon First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson, Portland City Commissioner Dan Ryan, and Tim Bias
The story of the field extends beyond its contribution to gender-inclusive athletic achievements. This location also served as one of the earliest and longest-lasting gathering spaces for LGBTQ+ Portlanders when the City was intolerant of known LGBTQ+ venues and community members. U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer noted that hidden history and the importance of surfacing its significance to the City and nation. “I grew up in Portland, and there’s a back story here that I wasn’t aware of as a kid in this neighborhood,” said Blumenauer. “I’m so pleased that we are making this recognition clear. We’ll have plaques that people can see and savor this significant permanent part of Portland’s history, celebrating it all in its rich diversity. As I’m winding down, with 114 days left until I’m a civilian, it’s been delightful to see the progress we’ve made in terms of historic preservation. We are a national leader in recognizing historic contributions of the LGBTQ community.”
U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer
Oregon First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson expanded on the State’s leadership in recognizing places that supported LGBTQ+ communities. “I’m honored to be here to celebrate the addition of these landmarks to the National Historic Registry and want to thank everybody who made this reality. It brings me incredible joy not only to be Oregon’s First Lady but to be a part of our State’s first LGBT First Family. There was a time in my life where I never thought I would have the choice to be married, yet because of the work of so many people that came before me, I am blessed to be married to one of the first out Lesbian governors in the country. Who also plays a little softball. With the addition of the Erv Lind Field and Crystal Hotel, Portland becomes the proud home to 3 of 30 sites of Queer significance on the National Historic Registry. 10% of the nation’s significant gay historic landmarks are right here in Portland,” said Kotek Wilson. “The contributions from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, nonbinary, and queer community cannot be overstated. From fierce advocacy to rich cultural history. Once again, Oregon is leading the way in protecting underrepresented groups, and [Gov.] Tina [Kotek] and I are so proud to be a part of that.”
Oregon First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson
Fern Wilgus spoke at the ceremony, representing the many softball players who relied on the community around Erv Lind Field to help them express themselves in a restrictive society. She shared decades of stories about players’ accomplishments and dedication to the second families created around the game. Wilgus explained that while telling her stories, she would still honor the trust that had developed among the softball players of her time, even decades later. “Some of these names are going to be full names because they have passed, and I hope I don’t have thunder hitting me, and some of the names are going to be just first names because a lot of people have not yet come out for one reason or another. I did as soon as I got home and out of the military because I was free at last,” explained Wilgus. She also acknowledged that the league was not fully accepting of people’s true selves with rules that required players to dress feminine and, to Wilgus’s heartfelt disapointment, prevented people of color from participating. However, looking back at the transformation and support enabled by Erv Lind Field and the softball players drawn to that place, Fern Wilgus feels her dreams were realized.
Fern Wilgus
Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio helped usher in this recognition with a funding package focused on equitable historic preservation. “With those resources, the staff at the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, specifically Cayla McGrail, have spent years working to document LGBTQIA+ historic sites across Portland. Erv Lind Field is more than deserving of that designation,” said Rubio. “Immediately after the inauguration, 44,000 fans came to this field to watch the Amateur Softball Association World Championship women’s softball tournament in 1948. In the years after its inauguration, this field became a place of camaraderie and community for softball players and fans alike.” Portland Parks and Recreation Director Adena Long noted the contribution of historian Kristen Minor in preparing the National Register nomination, along with the contribution of Parks staff Brett Horner and Marty Stockton.
Portland City Commissioner Carmen Rubio
Portland Commissioner Dan Ryan summarized with humor and excitement the importance of landmarks like Erv Lind Field, which have shaped Portland into the more accepting community it has become. “Just this week, under the category of, ‘No kidding,’ there was an article that said this City has the most lesbian couples of any city in the nation. As a safe and welcoming place for lesbian, bisexual, and queer women, Erv Lind Field opened the door to this City that we have today,” said Ryan.
Commissioner Carmen Rubio is running for Portland Mayor and Commissioner Dan Ryan is running for Portland City Council in District 2. Montavilla News does not endorse candidates, ballot measures, or government initiatives.
Promotion: Help keep independent news accessible to the community. Montavilla News has a Patreon account or you can pay for a full year directly online. We invite those who can contribute to this local news source to consider becoming paid subscriber or sponsor. We will always remain free to read regardless of subscription.
Neighborhood news site focused on buildings and changing businesses
