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About St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current | View Entire Issue (March 25, 2016)
North Portland’s Community Newspaper Serving: Arbor Lodge, Bridgeton, Cathedral Park, East Columbia, Hayden Island, Kenton, Overlook, Piedmont, Portsmouth, St. Johns, University Park TWITTER: @stjohnsreview - EMAIL: reviewnewspaper@gmail.com - WEB: www.stjohnsreview.com - PO Box 83068, Port. OR 97283 - 503-283-5086 - A Bi-Weekly community newspaper Introducing RHS’s 2016 Rose Festival Princess: Katie Johnston watching movies, K St Johns Review PO Box 83068 Port. OR 97238 #6 March 25, 2016 atie is an 18-year old Senior at Roosevelt with aspirations of becoming a psychologist. Her activities and honors at Roosevelt include being in the drama club, the Key Club, and as a Student Ambassador through People to People Inter- national. She is also a member of the National Society for high school scholars and has studied advanced math at the University of Portland. Katie has many interests, which she said includes: “Read- ing, journaling, attending church and youth group, playing fl ute, going to brunch with my mother, 515-840 walking in Colum- bia Park, yoga, and attending every home Timbers game.” Katie is a big Tim- bers fan and added that her favorite place to visit is Providence Park before or during a Timbers game with 20,000 excited people. “Just by being there you become best friends with every- one. Strangers hug strangers, everyone cheers and jumps up and down to the same chants, and you always feel like you belong. You have something in common with every single person in that stadium.” Governor Brown, Speaker Kotek visit St. Johns O regon Governor Kate Brown chose James John Elementary School as the location for her recent signing of an historic piece of legislation. On Friday, March 11, the Governor met with students and signed a bill that made Oregon the i rst state in the nation to completely elimi- nate coal power. The Governor se- lected James John because of the school’s use of solar panels to gen- erate electricity and teach students about renewable energy. After the bill signing, Governor Brown and House Speaker Tina Kotek took a walking tour through St. Johns, stopping at some locally owned small businesses, like the Childrens’ Relief Nursery, Zim- mers Dog Grooming and Blue Moon Camera and Machine. Above: Governor Kate Brown and House Speaker Tina Kotek visit with Jim Hair and Zeb Andrews at Blue Moon Camera and Machine. Right: During a walking tour of St. Johns, Governor Kate Brown and House Speaker Tina Kotek stopped to talk to local Street Roots vendor, John. The Cut: Part I From the Review Editor: I’ve been receiving phone calls and emails from new residents and business owners the past few years asking various questions about particular areas and/or sites in North Portland. While I answer them as best I can, a phone con- versation lessens the romanticism of how interesting it actually is. And so I think it’s time to retell some stories about our special community, and who better to do that than Jim Speirs. Enjoy. - Gayla - From the Author, Jim Speirs: A number of years ago, I did a series of articles in The Review on the North Portland “Cut.” The reason for the effort was to intro- duce and identify the odd gash that runs through St. Johns and docu- ment some of the strange history behind the ugly eyesore that has become an identifying landmark. For generations, the Cut has be- come a reference point for many North Portland residents. Often, a person will give directions by saying “it’s about a mile west of the Cut,” or “when you get to the Cut, take a left.” Many people who Your St. Johns History By Jim Speirs live in the area actually believe the neighborhood of St. Johns begins at the Cut. Additionally, the puz- zling tunnel that passes beneath Columbia Park has continually got people’s attention, yet few in- dividuals can make the connection between the Cut and the tunnel. Recent inquiries to the Review have made it obvious that many new citizens and businesses to our community are asking questions about such an iconic spot and few of them have gotten satisfactory answers. North Portland has a unique and colorful past; one that stands alone in the history and development of greater Portland. The Cut is but one of the seminal events that make up our neighbor- hood. The history behind the Cut is one of deep intrigue, with political power brokers, railroad tycoons, criminals, gunfi ghts and bribery, all part of the rich and unusual tale that the “Cut” blends into a story and helps to defi ne St. Johns. As the Review has carried the torch of history and development of St. Johns for over a century, it’s a privilege to allow this newspa- per to once again introduce you to the “Cut, “ that remarkable piece of historic tapestry that helps to defi ne who we are and where we came from. - Jim - Creation of a Railroad Cut also created a division in the community The “Cut!” What a name! It al- most conjures up an evil or dam- aging image and sounds like a gash that needs to be stitched shut. Yet The Cut is recognized for its geographical signii cance to North Portland and St. Johns because it has become a dei nitive landmark. When The Cut was created, a psychological separation was also created between residents who lived to the west of it to those who lived to the east; it formed a physi- cal division to our community. People who were not born when the dig was completed, (and that’s nearly all of us,) use the term “Cut” with regularity, and new people moving to the area pick up the name quickly saying things like: it’s about half mile west of the Cut. But, as we drive over the Cut and peer down at the trains that rum- ble along the tracks, how many of us ever stop to wonder where this opening came from, and what se- ries of events brought about a rail- road being placed in our backyard? The story is steeped in political in- trigue, innuendo, big money, mys- tery, bribes, division, and eventual evisceration of St. Johns. All the players in the century-old action have passed from the scene, and we are left to reconstruct bits and pieces of a bygone era. Still, as history is a precursor to the future, and the Cut remains a permanent i xture of our lives, it’s a good idea “The Cut: Part I” Continued on Page 8