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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 11, 2017)
Page 26 M artin L uther K ing J r . 2017 special edition January 11, 2017 Martin Luther King Visited Here c onTinued froM P age 24 the church’s historian, was re- sponsible for having the church listed in the National Register of Historic Places. “It’s a very storied site,” ex- plains Burell, whose passion for preserving the church’s narrative stems from his own upbringing within its active community, and its importance to the black community of Portland. Burell, who has dedicated an untold amount of time as a church volunteer and local ex- pert on black history, says that the impetus behind the historic designation was “the preserva- tion of a culture.” Portland’s black community has a very layered and intricate history, he told the Portland Observer, “There’s so little documentation… That’s really what thrust me to do it,” The church was founded in 1944 by the Rev. James Brown during the time of World War II when Portland’s black commu- nity grew. Under the steward- ship of the Rev. Oliver Booker Williams, the church’s popula- tion went from a handful of pa- rishioners to more than 1,200 in 1955. “These were very active par- ticipants, so it became quite the place,” Burell explains. Over the years, the church has not only met the spiritual needs of its community, but it has served as one of the city’s social and cultural centers, drawing a large number of historical figures through its doors. “Anytime anyone of signifi- cance on a national level visit- ed Portland, they spoke here,” Burrell says. In addition, he says Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church played a tre- mendous role following Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assas- sination in 1968, by holding a city-wide memorial service. Burrell’s efforts to place the church on the National Register of Historic Places took nearly seven months. “Even though I knew the history, it was just putting it into context,” he ex- plains. The final document was more than 130 pages, and de- tailed the church’s rich history. The church’s new national recognition will help it survive in a rapidly gentrifying stretch of North Portland. “It just puts it in a different place in terms of recognition and preservation… By having it deemed a national landmark, it’s much more important to the community.” Burell says. Burell, whose family has at- tended Vancouver Avenue First Baptist for four generations, traces his interest in history to his own familial genealogy. “It really gave me perspec- tive for who I am as a being,” he explains. Similarly, he says, his work documenting the his- tory of the church, “Celebrates who we are as a culture. It helps people to say, ‘our cul- ture matters.” Burell says that reaction to the historical listing has been overwhelmingly positive. People were just beaming with pride,” says Burrell, who is being honored by the World Arts Foundation for his efforts to list the building.