128 episodes
Offbeat Oregon History podcast www.offbeatoregon.com (finn @ offbeatoregon.com)
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- History
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4.8 • 166 Ratings
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The Offbeat Oregon History Podcast is a daily service from the Offbeat Oregon History newspaper column. Each weekday morning, a strange-but-true story from Oregon's history from the archives of the column is uploaded. An exploding whale, a few shockingly scary cults, a 19th-century serial killer, several very naughty ladies, a handful of solid-brass con artists and some of the dumbest bad guys in the history of the universe. Source citations are included with the text version on the Web site at https://offbeatoregon.com.
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Jim Turk: shanghaiier, drunkard, millionaire
The old Portland shanghai scene's 'original gangster' was a mysterious character. Did he really inherit a huge fortune? If not, where did the money come from? Stagecoach robbery? Piracy on the high seas? Anything was possible .... (Portland, Multnomah County; 1880s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1212c-jim-turk-the-shanghaiing-millionaire.html)
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State’s aggressiveness cost Yachats its beach access
Eager to get started on Smelt Sands Park, the state forcibly vacated Lane County's right-of-way on its 804 Road along the beach, and beachfront property owners quickly fenced it off. It took a 10-year legal battle to fix the problem. (Yachats, Lane County; 1970s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1710e.yachats-804-road-offbeat-oregon-origin-story-467.html)
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Early settlement in Milwaukie (WPA oral-history interview with Harvey Starkweather, Part 1 of 2)
WPA writer Sara B. Wrenn's oral history interview with Harvey Starkweather, a garrulous old fellow who grew up surrounded by Oregon Trail pioneers in and around Milwaukie. (For the transcript, see https://www.loc.gov/item/wpalh001988/ )
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Great Women of Oregon History, Pt. II: The ‘firsts'
Not many people know it, but Oregon had U.S. history's first female governor (in 1909), first female sworn police officer (in 1908) and first female stagecoach driver (in the 1860s). (Statewide; 1860s, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1604b.great-women-part2-386.html)
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Abigail Scott Duniway isn’t only great woman of Oregon history
Other pioneering Oregonians worthy of having bridges and mountains named after them include attorney Mary G. Leonard, historian Frances Fuller Victor and physician Bethenia Owens-Adair. (Statewide, 1870s, 1880s, 1890s; part 1 of 2) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1604a.great-women-part1.385.html)
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Bungling burglars skunked in Corvallis courthouse job
Perhaps thinking the Benton County Treasurer would have treasure in his office, they blew the safe with dynamite — and were disappointed. A month later, having left pawnshop claim stubs lying around camp, they were incarcerated. (Corvallis, Benton County; 1900s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1104a-bungling-burglars-skunked-in-corvallis-courthouse-job.html)
Customer Reviews
Native Oregonian learning a bit more about “Gods Country.”
I came upon this podcast accidentally and love what I’ve heard so far… easy listen chock-full of informative Oregon history. Thank you from an appreciative Portlander now in Texas.
Informative, funny and adorable!
I just love this podcast. I binged every episode and look forward to the new ones. Finn is an amazing orator and storyteller who makes history fascinating. I came to this podcast during a very dark time in my life and it brought me a sense of joy and connection with my local history. It also inspires me artistically, for some reason. I get great inspiration from the tales of the past, and it connects me with the humanity that we all have no matter what century we reside in the great state of Oregon. Never stop, love it! In fact, I’d love to see a live show sometime!
Excellent mostly unknown stories of Oregon
Excellent, mostly unknown stories of Oregon