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| '''St. Johns''' is a neighborhood in [[North]] Portland on the tip of the peninsula formed by the confluence of the [[Willamette River]] and the [[Columbia River]]. Before incorporating into the city of [[Portland]] in 1915, it had been its own town. | | '''St. Johns''' is a neighborhood in [[North]] Portland. Before incorporating into the city of [[Portland]] in 1915, it had been its own town. |
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| ==History of St. Johns==
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| Historian [[Eva Emery Dye]], while looking at the original [[Lewis and Clark Expedition]] journals, made the discovery that [[William Clark]] made camp at the modern site of St. Johns near a [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] settlement for one night.<ref>{{cite news|title=Clark Came To Portland Lewis And Clark Journals Prove Explorer's Visit|accessdate=24 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=25 July 1902|location=Portland, Oregon|page=10}}</ref> St. Johns is named in honor of settler [[James John]]. He made his journey to the [[Pacific Northwest]] from Westport, Missouri in 1841. His first residence was in [[Linnton, Portland, Oregon|Linnton, Oregon]] before moving across the river no earlier than 1844. Five years after John’s settlement, nearly 12 families laid claim to land in the vicinity. In 1886, John had a portion of his land surveyed and plotted into eight blocks for a townsite. Additional blocks were added in 1870 and 1876. John would often donate small parcels of his land to his friends without means.<ref name=mar.29.03>{{cite news|title=Historic St. Johns, Older Than Portland Character Of The Founder|accessdate=23 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=29 March 1903|location=Portland, Oregon|page=40}}</ref> After his death, James John left his remaining personal property to the township of St. Johns to use to build a [[public school]]. It was John’s wish that children of all religious denominations could study together and receive an education that stressed the importance of civic engagement. John requested that all of his assets be sold off to raise funds for first his burial and funeral and the remainder to building the new school house.<ref>{{cite news|title=James John's Request. The Founder of St. Johns Gives his Property for Free Schools|accessdate=23 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=9 July 1886|location=Portland, Oregon|page=3}}</ref>
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| [[B. O. Severance]] of Maine erected a saw mill in St. Johns during the late 1860s making it the first established industry in the townsite. After bankruptcy, the building was sold and converted into a barrel manufacturing plant for the sugar trade. After bags became common for sugar transport, the barrel company was forced out of business. The building was again sold, this time to the [[Central Lumber Company]].<ref name=mar.29.03/> According to ''[[The Oregonian]]'', the first electric sawmill in the United States was constructed in St. Johns by [[M. B. Rankin]] of the [[Electric Sawmill Company]] in 1903.<ref>{{cite news|title=Electricity Runs Saws New Style Of Mill Nearly Complete At St. Johns|accessdate=25 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=11 May 1903|location=Portland, Oregon|page=8}}</ref> But after the building's erection the owners changed hands and production went dormant. The saw itself was a success, but the financiers of the mill failed to keep up a steady output of lumber.<ref>{{cite news|title=Electric Mill Lies Idle; New Industry at St. Johns Looks Like Failure|accessdate=25 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=3 September 1903|location=Portland, Oregon|page=12}}</ref>
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| In 1902, the [[Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company]] built a new line along the harbor of St Johns. After the railway was completed, several businesses flocked to St. Johns, the first being the [[Portland Manufacturing Plant]]. St. Johns was officially recognized as a municipality by the [[Oregon State Legislature]] on January 5, 1902. Early citizens tasked with incorporation of their small town formed a new school district and petitioned the county court for a vote of approval.<ref>{{cite news|title=To Incorporate A Town St. Johns Residents Start A New Movement|accessdate=24 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonain|date=27 March 1902|location=Portland, Oregon|page=10}}</ref> In 1904, the [[St. Johns Civic Improvement League]] was established to help the infant city catch up with the more established sites along the Willamette River.<ref>{{cite news|title=Remarkable Growth|accessdate=23 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=11 November 1904|location=St. Johns, Oregon|page=1}}</ref> For almost two years after the town was established the streets remained unnamed and houses went unnumbered, making postal service impossible.<ref>{{cite news|title=Untitled|accessdate=23 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=11 November 1904|location=St. Johns, Oregon|page=2}}</ref> The electric streetcar line in St. Johns connecting the town to [[Albina]] and Portland was petitioned in 1902 by the [[University Park Board of Trade]]. Passengers were forced to board a steam streetcar at [[Killingsworth street|Killingsworth]] and [[Williams street|Williams]] if they wanted to travel to the peninsula.<ref>{{cite news|title=To Raise $10,000 Subsidy Peninsula Electric Railway Project Takes Shape|accessdate=24 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=10 January 1902|location=Portland, Oregon|page=10}}</ref> Work began to electrify the line in June 1902.<ref>{{cite news|title=Better Service For St. Johns. Process of Electrifying Motor Line|accessdate=24 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=22 July 1902|location=Portland, Oregon|page=8}}</ref> The [[St. Johns Shipbuilding Plant]] was established in 1904 with $10,000 in capital.<ref>{{cite news|title=Company Has Incorporated; St. Johns Shipbuilding Concern to Begin Work on Plant at Once|accessdate=25 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=29 February 1904|location=Portland, Oregon|page=12}}</ref> The [[St. Johns Library]] opened in 1907 after years of community interest in a reading room. [[T. J. Monahan]] was the president of the library committee during its construction. Upon its completion, the Portland Library donated 200 books to the new establishment.<ref>{{cite news|title=St. Johns Library Opens|accessdate=26 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=18 April 1907|location=Portland, Oregon|page=11}}</ref>
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| [[Image:StJohnsPortland.JPG|thumb|left|The St. Johns town center]]
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| St. Johns is bordered by the Columbia River (separating it from [[Hayden Island, Portland, Oregon|Hayden Island]]) to the northeast, the Willamette River (separating it from [[Sauvie Island]] and [[Linnton]]) to the northwest, the North Portland railroad [[Cut (earthmoving)|cut]] (separating it from the [[University Park]], [[Portsmouth, Portland, Oregon|Portsmouth]], and [[Kenton]] neighborhoods) to the southeast, as well as the [[Cathedral Park, Portland, Oregon|Cathedral Park]] neighborhood to the southwest. The neighborhood is home to only suspension bridge in the Willamette Valley, the [[St._Johns_Bridge|St. John's Bridge]]. The main [[business district]] of St. Johns (referred to as "Downtown St. Johns") is around the intersection of [[Lombard street|Lombard]] and [[Philadelphia street|Philadelphia]] streets.
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| ===Politics and laws===
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| On March 18, 1903 the town held its first elections. The town elected [[Charles A. Cook]], a telegraph operator, to be their first mayor. A real estate office was used for the polling place where 134 citizens voted.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mayor Of St. Johns Charles Cook, Telegraph Operator, Is Chosen; First Municipal Election|accessdate=25 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=17 March 1903|location=Portland, Oregon|page=14}}</ref> The town’s population at the time of its incorporation was roughly 250 to 600 people. In two years the population swelled to 2,000. In 1903, the [[St. Johns City Council]] approved an ordinance taxing dancehalls $10 a day, making it virtually impossible for someone to run such a business within town limits. It was seen by the councilors and Mayor Cook as a way to keep the town “moral”. Along the same lines, the city council refused to approve saloon licences, even after potential proprietors vowed to keep gamblers and hard liquor away.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bound To Be Moral St. Johns Wants No Saloons Or Dancehalls|accessdate=25 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=4 November 1903|location=Portland, Oregon|page=12}}</ref> Citizens petitioned the St. Johns City Council in 1904 to regulate the roaming of cattle within the town’s limits in order to protect small gardens from being destroyed.<ref>{{cite news|title=To Pass Pound Ordinance; St. Johns Council Will Forbid Stook Running at Large|accessdate=25 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=5 October 1904|location=Portland, Oregon|page=12}}</ref> When Mayor [[Fred W. Valentine]] appointed himself postmaster during a controversial decision in 1906 he subsequently ousted [[A. S. Clark]] who had served that post in an unofficial capacity for years. She was offered an assistant postmaster position, but declined.<ref>{{cite news|title=Quits Her Office Postmistress of St. Johns Has Retired|accessdate=26 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=11 July 1906|location=Portland, Oregon|page=12}}</ref> Weeks after Valentine’s self-appointment he resigned the mayors office in the face of impeachment. [[B. W. Hinman]] was selected in a special election to replace Valentine.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Mayor Is Elected B. W. Hinman Chosen By St. Johns Council|accessdate=26 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=12 September 1906|location=Portland, Oregon|page=2}}</ref>
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| ====St. Johns City Hall====
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| [[File:St. Johns city hall, 1909.jpg|thumbnail|St. Johns City Hall was built in 1907 and is currently used by the [[Portland Police Bureau]]. ]]
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| By 1905, the St. Johns City Council was planning to build a new city hall building. In January 1906, amidst financial woes, the city was facing the prospect of selling of their land for which they intended to erect a new municipal building. The land was purchased by [[Charles Olhouse]] for $3,500. By January, with one month remaining on their payment deadline, the council had only put-up $200. This forced [[M. L. Holbrook]] to pay $2,000 and [[W. M. Killingsworth]] to put another $1,000 behind the project, with the promise that it would be returned in due time.<ref>{{cite news|title=Financial Moses Wanted|accessdate=31 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=18 January 1905|location=Portland, Oregon|page=8}}</ref> One member of the city council was adamant in his disapproval of the proposed city hall was [[S. C. Norton]], who claimed the council was purposely misleading the public and acting against their will. Norton claimed that the proposed $10,000 to build a new city hall was a made-up figure. Ultimately a $7,953 contract was granted to [[Youngferdorf & Son]], who would be responsible for the building of the foundation, outside and inside walls, roof, gas piping, and rough flooring.<ref>{{cite news|accessdate=31 October 2012|newspaper=St. Johns Review|date=12 October 1905|location=St. Johns, Oregon|page=1}}</ref>
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| The city hall contract was to be completed in just two months, November and December 1906. But Youngfedorf & Son failed to meet the deadline, causing the city to step in and take over the operation. The contractors were paid just $2,000, with $800 worth of work to still be done on the building. This alarmed Councilman Norton, who claimed there was a “conspiracy” afoot, and hoped to get to the bottom of it.<ref>{{cite news|title=Crisis near at St. Johns|accessdate=31 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=2 February 1906|location=Portland, Oregon|page=10}}</ref> Norton sharply questioned City Recorder [[Thorndyke]] about the haste placed on the construction of the building. He and City Attorney [[Green]], as well as councilmen [[W. H. King]], felt that Norton was grasping at straws. The building’s architect, [[W. W. Goodrich]], explained in a letter to the council that the contract was not completed due to poor weather and failed shipments. Eventually, Norton won the favor of Mayor Hinman, who called for the contact be be restored to Youngfedorf & Son.<ref>{{cite news|title=Council|accessdate=31 October 2012|newspaper=St. Johns Review|date=8 February 1906|location=St. Johns, Oregon|page=12}}</ref> A week later the architect was dead. His son took over the project and took on Norton and other council members who were growing weary of the project. At his first city council meetings, Goodrich stated that councilmen who claimed “the material in the city hall is of poor quality”. Norton and Hewitt called Goodrich’s claims as false and objected to them being put on the record.<ref>{{cite news|title=Council|accessdate=31 October 2012|newspaper=St. Johns Review|date=1 March 1906|location=St. Johns, Oregon|page=1}}</ref> It was scheduled to be completed and ready for use by July 1, 1907. The two story brick building on concrete foundation had offices for the mayor, city recorder, city attorney, chief of police and the fire department as well as a gymnasium and a records room on the first floor. The second floor had the council’s chambers which encompassed most of the floor. Smaller rooms were also on the second floor to be used as committee and jury rooms.<ref>{{cite news|title=City Hall Nearly Completed|accessdate=31 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=23 June 1907|location=Portland, Oregon|page=30}}</ref>
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| ===Race and culture===
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| In February 1910, a Hindu laborer was arrested for allegedly starting a fire at the [[Portland Manufacturing Plant]] costing the company $100,000 in damages. This heightened tensions between Caucasians and the heavily out numbered Indian immigrants. White laborers felt their jobs were being compromised by low-cost labor. But the factory owners claimed white workers would not agree do to the jobs that the Indian workers take for lower wages.<ref>{{cite news|title=Factory is Burned; Veneer Works at St. John is Total Loss|accessdate=26 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=15 February 1910|location=Portland, Oregon|page=14}}</ref> On March 21, 1910 a riot occurred after a white laborer threw a glass of beer at an Indian worker. ''The Oregoninian'' reported that a mob formed almost immediately outside of the saloon. From there, the mob marched to the homes of the Indian immigrants, broke into their homes and threw them out to the mob. In one instance, an Indian man was thrown from a two-story window. The fall broke his ankle. Others were violently beaten in the streets, placed on streetcars and sent off to Portland. Their homes were looted and vandalized. Members of the mob included predominant members of the town, including police officer [[G. W. Dunbar]].<ref>{{cite news|title=1 Arrests Made; Hindus Accusers|accessdate=26 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=23 March 1910|location=Portland, Oregon|page=5}}</ref>
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| St. Johns has historically been a blue collar neighborhood. It is known for its diverse citizens and its slowly changing appearance. According to 2010 statistics the neighborhood is 60% non-white. [http://www.portlandmonthlymag.com/real-estate/articles/neighborhoods-by-the-numbers/] It is a community containing Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders and is considered to be one of the city's more diverse neighborhoods. [http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=65700] With 23% of the residents in the 97203 zip code (St. Johns Zip Code) living at or below the poverty line, it's one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods. [http://www.city-data.com/zips/97203.html]
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| ===Transportation===
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| [[File:St. Johns, Oregon electric trolley, 1904.jpg|thumbnail|The electric streetcar on [[Dawson street]] (now [[North Lombard street]]).]]
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| The [[Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company]] (O. R. & N.) sent out surveys to assess a new project for St. Johns, Oregon in May 1901. At this time, the town was an unincorporated settlement with several farms and few roads. The rail construction was the first of its kind in the area and was planned for the purposes of transporting goods to several industries that had sprouted around St. Johns.<ref>{{cite news|title=Road To St. Johns; O. R. & N. Co. Ready to Begin Work at Once|accessdate=31 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=2 May 1901|location=Portland, Oregon|page=1}}</ref> The location was selected for the 5.5 miles of track, which would be placed on [[John Mock]]’s property by [[Swan Island]] and curve around [[Portland University]]. O. R. & N. subcontracted to the [[Kilpatrick Bros. & Collins]] firm of Nebraska to help them lay their new line.<ref>{{cite news|title=From Albina To St. Johns Contract Let For New O. R. & N. Extension|accessdate=31 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=13 September 1901|location=Portland, Oregon|page=10}}</ref> Its construction was completed in 1902.
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| An extension to the [[City & Suburban Rail Company]]’s line in [[North Albina]] to St. Johns was announced. The company built double tracks of steam trains that would stop at [[Ockley Green Station]] where electric cars would take over to Albina and eventually Portland.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Trolley Lines City & Suburban Extensions to the North|accessdate=31 October 2012|date=13 December 1900|location=Portland, Oregon|page=12}}</ref> Set to begin in July 1903, the [[St. Johns Railroad Company]] announced that they would construct an electric streetcar line from St. Johns to North Albina.<ref>{{cite news|title=Newline For St. Johns; Portland & St. Johns Railroad Incorporated|accessdate=31 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=4 November 1903|location=Portland, Oregon|page=2}}</ref> A year before, Portland’s City & Suburban Rail Company electrified their passenger lines to St. Johns.<ref>{{cite news|title=Electrifying St. Johns Motor Line|accessdate=31 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=10 July 1902|location=Portland, Oregon|page=11}}</ref> Before that, the town was somewhat isolated from Portland. The steam passenger cars were available, but the route was roundabout and proved inefficient. After the installation of the streetcar, travel time to the rural town was slashed and the population and number of industries steadily increased over the next years. [[Francis I. McKenna]], the head of the company building the electric line, was a prominent citizen of University Park involved in the [[City Beautiful movement]]. McKenna made his fortune in real estate, but branched out into anything he felt bettered his community. A direct line to Portland still was not available as passengers had to transfer at [[Piedmont Junction]] in Albina.<ref>{{cite news|title=Untitled|accessdate=31 October 2012|newspaper=St. Johns Review|date=20 January 1905|location=St. Johns, Oregon|page=1}}</ref> The [[St. Johns Commercial Association]] petitioned the [[Portland Consolidated Railway Company]] to install a transfer-free line to St. Johns and to increase to a twenty minute schedule in February 1905.<ref>{{cite news|title=Enthusiastic Meeting|accessdate=31 October 2012|newspaper=St. Johns Review|date=3 February 1905|location=St. Johns, Oregon|page=2}}</ref> Just weeks later the streetcar manager wrote a letter to the association announcing a new through service line to Portland without transfer.<ref>{{cite news|title=Will Get Through Service. Cars to Run Direct From St. Johns to Portland Monday|accessdate=31 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=28 February 1905|location=Portland, Oregon|page=14}}</ref> In May it was learned that only half of the association’s demands would be met as the Portland Consolidated Railway Company kept their old thirty minute schedule.<ref>{{cite news|title=Limited Through Service. Street-Car Company Provides for St. Johns Residents|accessdate=31 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=5 March 1905|location=Portland, Oregon|page=11}}</ref> The change was much need as the start of the [[Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition]] was expected to bring several fair-goers to the town.<ref>{{cite news|title=Through Cars To St. Johns Street Railway Company Promises to Remove Piedmont Junction|accessdate=31 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=9 February 1905|location=Portland, Oregon|page=8}}</ref>
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| Under the oversight of Mayor [[Kindel C. Couch]], the town of St. Johns spent an unprecedented amount on infrastructure in 1911. Over $50 for every resident was spent on paving streets and sidewalks, and constructing sewers. To do this, the city government leaned on businesses to increase their workforce so more people would be paying taxes, buying homes and spending at local shops. This worked as the [[Portland Woolen Mills]], which was located near the waterfront, increased their gross payroll from $7,500 to $15,000 a month while employing a total of 300 workers on day and night shifts. The second most profitable payroll in the town was the St. Johns Lumber company with $14,000 a month going to workers who in some cases had to take on overtime to keep up with demand.<ref>{{cite news|title=St. John Streets Paved for Miles; Citizens' Expenditure Passes $50 Per Capita in Building of Thoroughfares|accessdate=31 October 2012|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=5 November 1911|location=Portland, Oregon|page=9}}</ref>
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| ==Parks in St. Johns== | | ==Parks in St. Johns== |
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| ==National Register of Historic Places in St. Johns== | | ==National Register of Historic Places in St. Johns== |
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| ==Adjacent Neighborhoods== | | ==Adjacent Neighborhoods== |
| * [[Hayden Island]] to the east | | * [[Hayden Island]] to the east |
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| * [[Linnton]] across the [[Willamette]] on the west | | * [[Linnton]] across the [[Willamette]] on the west |
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| ==References== | | == Resources == |
| {{reflist}}
| | * [[wikipedia:St. Johns, Portland, Oregon|St. Johns]] on Wikipedia |
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| [[Category:St. Johns neighborhood| ]] | | [[Category:St. Johns neighborhood| ]] |