[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 211]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE CITY OF GLADSTONE, OREGON, ON ITS 100TH ANNIVERSRY

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                           HON. KURT SCHRADER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 6, 2011

  Mr. SCHRADER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the City of 
Gladstone, Oregon, on the occasion of its 100th anniversary. From its 
perch at the confluence of the mighty Willamette and Clackamas rivers, 
Gladstone has for 100 years kept a watchful eye on Oregon as our fine 
state has grown from humble pioneer beginnings.
  The land that Gladstone residents call home today was originally a 
meeting place for local Native American tribes--namely the Clackamas 
and Multnomah Tribes. The famous Pow Wow Tree, where tribes from all 
over the region would gather to trade and conduct important community 
proceedings, still stands today near Clackamas Boulevard. This ancient 
tree serves as a significant reminder that Gladstone's history as an 
important place to come together long predates the founding of our 
Union.
  Pioneers arrived in Oregon via the Oregon Trail and began settling 
the Willamette Valley in the 1840s. The Cason and Rinearson families 
were granted the original donation land claims in what is now known as 
Gladstone. In fact, the boundary between the Cason and Rinearson 
settlements, now known as Portland Avenue, serves as a prominent 
municipal boundary today. Although the area would continue to serve as 
an important regional gathering place, hosting the first Oregon State 
Fair in 1861, the official founding of the City of Gladstone would not 
happen for more than 60 years.
  After purchasing portions of the original Cason family land claim in 
the 1880s, Clackamas County Judge Harvey Edward Cross set about 
platting a town and offering parcels of his land for sale. On January 
10, 1911, the city was officially founded. Judge Cross chose as the new 
city's namesake, the famed four-time British Prime Minister and 
Chancellor of the Exchequer, William Ewart Gladstone.
  In 1894, local author and Chautaqua movement proponent, Eva Emory 
Dye, enlisted Judge Cross's help to bring Chautaqua to the Gladstone 
area. Judge Cross concurred that Chautaqua would bring great cultural 
enrichment; therefore, he agreed to lease his Gladstone Park to the 
Willamette Valley Chautaqua Association for a term of 50 years. After 
the first festival was rained out in 1894, an assembly hall with 
seating for 3,000 was constructed on site. The Gladstone Chautauqua ran 
for many years and hosted appearances by such famous Americans as John 
Philip Sousa, Theodore Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan. Although 
crowds could swell to as large as 50,000 in certain years, dwindling 
attendance eventually forced the Willamette Valley Chautaqua 
Association into bankruptcy and closure in 1927.
  Today, Gladstone continues its tradition as an important community 
gathering place. The spirit of the Pow Wow Tree and early Chautaqua 
events can be felt every summer at the City's Chautaqua Festival and 
parade. Despite urban encroachment, Gladstone has retained a small town 
character and strong sense of community that make it an ideal place for 
families young and old to live, work and play. With a strong sense of 
its history and an eye toward the future, I am confident that Gladstone 
will continue to thrive for another 100 years.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be the representative of the fine 
community of Gladstone, Oregon. I congratulate the citizens of 
Gladstone on their centennial, and I look forward to sharing in the 
celebration.

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