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SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM Queen 22 weddings scheduled The sternwheeler operates year- round and averages 10,000 visitors a year during non-pandemic times, when they offer public lunch, dinner and brunch cruises as well as reservation- only private events. The business had been growing be- fore COVID-19. To resume operations in the midst of restrictions, the Ches- broughs purchased heaters and installed plexiglass shields for outdoor deck seat- Survey Continued from Page 1A Growing support for white national- ism is a continuation of Oregon’s history with racist movements and attitudes, Western States Center executive direc- tor Eric Ward said. The region is dispro- portionately white compared to the rest of the United States as a result of “exclu- sion by design,” he said. Ward described how Oregon became a fertile recruiting ground for groups like the Ku Klux Klan in the 20th century, adopting ideals that would eventually make the state and the region a target for settlement under the Northwest Ter- ritorial Imperative — an idea adopted by white nationalists in the 70s and 80s that encouraged members of Neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups to relo- cate to the Northwest. Now, Ward said, growing sympathy for white nationalist ideals has granted an opportunity for the movement to gain political power. “Local headlines have shown brazen activity by anti-Democratic hate groups working to build their political power,” Ward said. “The willingness of a state elected official, (former Rep. Mike) Nearman, to open the doors to those who were seeking violence, the tags on the Oregon holocaust memorial, and the distribution of antisemitic fliers are some examples of that.” Ward was referencing fliers targeting Rep. Rachel Prusak, D-West Linn, that were spread around Clackamas County in late April. The fliers used anti-Semitic stereotypes, Holocaust imagery and other hate symbols to attack Prusak and her efforts to pass gun safety legislation. “We know Oregon’s history is steeped in white supremacy and other forms of bigotry and these acts show this history is still relevant and alive in the present,” Prusak said in a news re- lease about the attacks. In Salem, far-right groups have tar- geted local businesses. In December, messages from the | 3A ‘Part of our appeal’ Operating the boat is expensive. In addition to fuel, Richard said it costs $14,000 a year for insurance coverage, including $2 million in liability. A dry-dock inspection is required ev- ery five years by the Coast Guard that sometimes takes them out of commis- sion for weeks. The sternwheeler is certified by the Coast Guard for a capacity of 106 passen- gers, but COVID-19 restrictions currently limit it to 25% capacity. That hasn’t stopped people from booking reservations for this summer. “I don’t have a weekend off until Sep- tember,” Barbara said. “I’ve got class re- unions, family reunions or weddings ev- ery single weekend.” More than 350 weddings have been held on the sternwheeler, and another 22 are on the books for the next three months. Richard has married couples who took excursions on the boat as children. “They come back because it made such an impression on them,” he said. Wedding decorations, including table linens and chair covers in a half-dozen colors, candles and vases, plus decora- tions for just about every holiday, are part of the package. A pair of potential buyers agree the sales price is reasonable, and both are in- terested in making near or full-price of- fers. But neither has secured financing. Bruce Taylor of Salem has met with a mortgage broker to discuss options. Tay- lor is the publisher of Salem Business Journal and the owner of Court Street Dairy Lunch. He doesn’t want the city to lose the Willamette Queen. “Why would we want it to leave? It’s part of our appeal,” he said. Taylor is in the process of forming the Court Street Foundation, which would be dedicated to the preservation of the 92-year-old downtown diner and the de- velopment of a student culinary pro- gram. The prospect of adding a riverfront restaurant to the program appeals to him. He said the foundation would buy the boat and offer dockside dining experi- ences while also doing excursions. Ken LeVeille, owner of Capitol Mort- gage Company, said maritime financing can be difficult. He met with Taylor and the Chesbroughs and shared how his company does a lot of privately-funded loans, which could be an option in this case. If Taylor were to combine a brick-and- mortar purchase with the Willamette Queen, it might be more doable with tra- ditional financing. He’s expressed inter- est in buying the building where the din- er is located, although it isn’t for sale. About 30 miles downriver, Bob Pease and his fiancée Staci Kalet dream of bringing riverboats to Rogers Landing in Newberg, an area along the Willamette poised for development. Pease originally wanted to relocate the Willamette Queen, but after seeing what the Chesbroughs had established at Riverfront Park, he said he would leave it there if he bought it and just du- plicate the business at Rogers Landing. No offer has been made by either par- ty. No contracts have been drawn up. To sweeten the deal, the Chesbroughs are offering hands-on training and sup- port for at least a year. They believe their lessons learned would be invaluable to any new owner. “We don’t really want to give it up, but we realize we can’t do this forever,” Bar- bara said. “It’s good we do this now while we can train someone to take over.” Mayor Bennett said the city remains committed to working with a new owner. The way he sees it, Salem can’t afford to lose an icon that celebrates its riverboat heritage. “The one thing they will have is a real- ly loud advocate in the city,” he said. Capi Lynn is the Statesman Journal’s news columnist. Her column taps into the heart of this community — its people, history and issues. Contact her at clynn@StatesmanJournal.com or 503- 399-6710, or follow on Twitter @Capi Lynn and Facebook @CapiLynnSJ. and the economy.” “So from one perspective, this may give elected officials a fair amount of leeway in public opinion, at least, to take action against the danger that armed paramilitary groups pose,” said Schubiner. Some of that action was seen Thurs- day when the Oregon House of Repre- sentatives ousted Nearman from office for his role in allowing rioters opposing COVID-19 closures to enter the closed Capitol building during a special legisla- tive session on Dec. 21, 2020. The vote was bipartisan and unanimous — aside from Nearman’s no vote. A new video that surfaced last week showed Nearman suggesting to a crowd days before the riot that if demonstra- tors texted him he might let them into the Capitol. Ultimately, at least 50 indi- viduals accessed the Capitol’s vestibule, and six law enforcement officers were pepper-sprayed. The survey research will also be used in Western States Center’s work and was released earlier to the organiza- tion’s partners to guide organizing strat- egies. Dianne Lugo is a reporter at the Statesman Journal covering equity and social justice. You can reach her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com, 503- 936-4811 or on Twitter @DianneLugo. Capt. Richard Chesbrough PHOTOS BY BRIAN HAYES/STATESMAN JOURNAL Reviving a nostalgic past The Willamette Queen is a scaled- down likeness of Mississippi riverboats from the 1800s. The double-decker has filigree trim and fluted smokestacks with 16-foot paddlewheels. It was built in 1990 for a failed New- port tour business and had been operat- ing in Columbia River Gorge when the Chesbroughs purchased it from the city of Cascade Locks. They operated a short time out of Al- bany before moving the sternwheeler to Salem in early 1999. The city approved the use of its dock at Riverfront Park af- ter improvements were made to the ramp and new handrails, lighting and a security gate were added. The Willamette Queen’s arrival re- vived a nostalgic past. The last stern- wheeler to operate regularly south of Portland went out of service in 1908, ac- cording to newspaper archives. The history is part of Richard’s shtick. He pilots the boat in a crisp white cap- tain’s uniform and regales passengers with historic details about this stretch of river and Salem’s past as a riverboat town. In 2003, when headed to Portland for the sternwheeler’s mandatory Coast Guard hull inspection, he invited 50 peo- ple along for the journey. It was the first time since 1916 a sternwheeler had car- ried passengers between the two cities. All ages long for a chance to behind the wheel and Richard lets them, from a 5-year-old boy in a sailor’s outfit cele- brating his birthday to a 106-year man checking an item off his bucket list. Thousands have taken home Junior Captain certificates over the years. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 The Chesbroughs are selling both the boat and the business, which includes a 16-passenger shuttle bus and a stretch limousine. The boat’s kitchen is fully outfitted. “It’s a turnkey system for anyone,” Richard said. Continued from Page 1A Six months later, they exchanged wedding vows on the bow, and it’s been a love affair ever since. The Chesbroughs met while working in real estate at Coldwell Banker in Cor- vallis. The purchase and business ven- ture fulfilled a dream for both. He had a passion for boats and always wanted a sternwheeler. She had a degree in res- taurant management and always want- ed a restaurant. “This was a merger of us,” Barbara said. He retired, she continued to work in real estate to help pay the bills in the be- ginning, and they launched a business plan to bring fine dining, leisurely tours and live entertainment to parts of the Willamette River previously known only to water sports enthusiasts. | The Willamette Queen sternwheeler cruises along the Willamette River in Salem. BRIAN HAYES / STATESMAN JOURNAL The Willamette Queen is a scaled- down likeness of Mississippi river- boats from the 1800s. The double- decker has filigree trim and fluted smokestacks with 16-foot paddle- wheels. It was built in 1990 for a failed New- port tour business and had been oper- ating in Columbia River Gorge when the Chesbroughs purchased it from the city of Cascade Locks. ing. The first few cruises had less than a dozen passengers, which didn’t cover the cost of fuel. They’ve since been able to limit seat- ing in the dining room, and they’ve add- ed public excursions to the schedule, in- cluding a Juneteenth dinner cruise Sat- urday and a Father’s Day brunch Sunday. Dinner and brunch cruises cost $58 for adults, $28 for children age 4-11, and are free for kids younger than 4. Reserva- tions are required. Reserving the boat for a birthday party or other event costs about $30 per person if lunch is included (minimum of 15 people), and $15 per per- son for just an excursion (minimum 20). white nationalist hate group Patriot Front, which formed in the aftermath of the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Char- lottesville, Virginia, were placed in front of and around Epilogue Kitchen & Cocktails on High Street SE. Epilogue is owned by Jonathan Jones, a Black resi- dent and business owner who has been involved in local Black Lives Matter ef- forts. Some hope seen in survey results Despite revealing growing sympathy for white nationalist arguments, Schu- biner thinks the survey should also be a source of hope. About 86% of those surveyed indi- cated they agreed America has to pro- tect its multicultural heritage. And 70% thought people of color in the country faced racism. A majority of Oregonians surveyed also indicated paramilitary and militia groups associated with the far-right were dangerous and disruptive. About 69% indicated laws should be created to limit protestors from being heavily armed. Several protests in Salem over the past year have involved individuals car- rying firearms. In March, armed indi- viduals clashed with demonstrators at a gathering near the Oregon State Capitol. Four people were arrested and multiple people were detained. Along with weakening support for multiculturalism, the survey revealed increased alienation and dissatisfaction with democracy in the United States. That dissatisfaction was especially vis- ible in younger Oregonians. About 44% of Oregonians age 18 to 29 surveyed indicated they were satisfied with democracy in the country. Satis- faction was at 62% with people 65 and older. The Western States Center hopes the survey will show how “there’s wide- spread recognition of the harm of politi- cal violence and tactics significantly re- lied upon by white nationalists and far- right and paramilitary groups to civic participation, businesses, democracy LOCAL ADVISORS Salem Area Caitlin Davis CFP® Chip Hutchings www.edwardjones.com Member SIPC FINANCIAL ADVISOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR West | 503-585-1464 Lancaster | 503-585-4689 Jeff Davis Tim Sparks FINANCIAL ADVISOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR Mission | 503-363-0445 Commercial | 503-370-6159 Garry Falor CFP® Tyson Wooters FINANCIAL ADVISOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR West | 503-588-5426 South | 503-362-5439 Keizer Area Mario Montiel FINANCIAL ADVISOR Keizer | 503-393-8166 Surrounding Area Bridgette Justis Tim Yount FINANCIAL ADVISOR FINANCIAL ADVISOR Sublimity | 503-769-3180 Silverton | 503-873-2454 Kelly Denney FINANCIAL ADVISOR Dallas | 503-623-2146 OR-GCI0555203-01
