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North. Portland
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East County
Beaverton
Destination Experience Grows
Author-themed
guest rooms
added to
Kennedy School
To accommodate a high demand
for overnight guests, the historic
McMenamins Kennedy School cel
ebrates the grand opening of 22 new
guestrooms, each inspired by a par
ticular author such as Portland na
tives Beverly Cleary and Brian Doyle,
Irish novelist Frank Delaney and
the best-selling Erin Morgenstem.
A newly constructed two-story
building was added to the original
northeast Portland property at 5736
N.E. 33rd Ave., taking the place of
an old portable classroom.
The new rooms boast king-size
beds, ample natural light, private
bathrooms and M cM enamins’ sig
nature colorful artwork based on
one o f the authors’ works. Rates for
these new rooms will match the cur
rent rates: $125-$145, depending
on the season and the day of the
week.
Other rooms include decorations
inspired by Henry Miller, Tropic of
Capricorn, David James Duncan,
The River Why, Gabriel Garcia
„
.....
* ml . «_• x
. . . . .
photos by C ari H achmann /T he P ortland O bserver
Márquez, One Hundred Years of
A new addition to the historic McMenamins Kennedy School brings 2 2 new guestrooms to northeast Portland's unique and fun
S o litu d e , C o lin W ilso n , The
lodging, dining and meeting experience.
Philosopher's Stone and B rian
Doyle, Mink River and Sue Monk
early years, the numerous Kennedy
Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees.
stu d en ts resid in g beyond that
Kennedy School has been a cen
boundary lived without electricity,
ter of lively activity for the north
water, sewer or telephones.
east Portland neighborhood since
Actually, the first elementary
opening in 1915. Over the years,
school classes were held on the
thousands of kids congregated here
school grounds in portable, one-
to decipher the three Rs, eat mac and
room buildings in 1913, two years
cheese on Mondays and climb hand
before the present-day school build
over-hand up the gym rope to ring
ing was built and opened. Just 29
the bell.
children attended that first year.
When built, Kennedy Elemen
As decades passed, the school
tary School's location was rather
took on additional civic roles, fur
remote; it stood three blocks be
ther endearing it to its neighbors.
yond the end of the nearest street
When school was not in session,
car line. And that line, which came
“Kennedy” served the community
out N o rth ea st A lb e rta S treet,
as a public meeting hall, polling place.
passed through some pretty sparse
Red Cross blood drawing center,
country, judging from an ordinance
collection site for paper and tin can
that outlawed the shooting of rab
drives, weekend playground and
bits from the streetcar.
even flood-relief shelter.
The new guestrooms at an expanded McMenamins Kennedy School boasts king-size beds, ample
Also, the school was just eight
It was a sad day indeed when at
natural light, private bathrooms and McMenamins’ signature colorful artwork based on noted
blocks from the city line, then set at
the end o f the 1974-75 school year,
authors such as Portland natives Beverly Cleary and Brian Doyle, Irish novelist Frank Delaney and
Northeast 42nd Ave. -- and in those
the best-selling Erin Morgenstem.
continued
on page 10