Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 2015)
BLACK HISTORY MONTH QR code for Portland Observer Online Special Edition Volume XLIV ‘City of Roses’ Number 9 www.portlandobserver.com Wednesday • February 18, 2015 Established in 1970 Committed to Cultural Diversity Rev. Dr. LeRoy Haynes, pastor of Allen Temple CME Church, pledges to rebuild after a devastating fire causes extensive damages to his historic church at Northeast Eighth Avenue and Skidmore Street in the King Neighborhood. Adding Up the Losses Allen Temple committed to rebuilding after devastating fire O LIVIA O LIVIA T HE P ORTLAND O BSERVER The Allen Temple CME Church in northeast Portland stands empty except for the fire damage restoration machines whisking away left over dust and smoke. Workers sit in trucks monitoring the air for asbestos and other harmful substances from a safe distance, occasionally inspecting the BY inside to further assess the damages done. Rev. Dr. LeRoy Haynes Jr., the long-time pastor of the church at Northeast Eighth Avenue and Skidmore Street in the King Neighborhood, walks through the sanctuary and church grounds trying to understand how the fire damage will affect the building and what the cost might be to repair what’s left. “They’re saying it could be anywhere from $300,000 to $400,000 to rebuild the church,” says Dr. Haynes. He explains that insurance will cover most of that cost, but that the church expects to have to fundraise about $100,000 on their own. The congregation of 400 mostly African-American community members knows that this will be a challenge and is brain- storming on how they can rally the community behind continued on page 5