Portland's Slabtown has a colorful history. The area, which encompasses most of what is now called the Northwest Neighborhood, has seen Native Americans, Chinese vegetable farmers, lumber and steel mills, major league baseball players, a World's Fair, economic decline and gentrification, and more. It has been transformed from streams and large lakes within a thick forest, to one of the most urban locations in Oregon. Local historians Norm Gholston and Tracy Prince talk about this history, which they researched along with Mike Ryerson, for their new book "Portland's Slabtown". They even explain how it got its name.
Further References:
www.deadmemoriesportland.com, www.cafeunknown.com, the Oregonian newspaper's archives, available via www. multcolib.org, the Oregon Historical Society at www.ohs.org, and "Sweet Cakes, Long Journey: The Chinatowns of Portland, Oregon" by Marie Wong.
- KBOO