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Monday, June 22, 2009

150 Years of History-Oregon Celebration

This year is Oregon's 150th birthday. The World and The Oregonian have run a series of articles identifying significant milestones.


Oregon Coos County Women led the way for the nation to allow women to vote in the November 1912 election. In addition, the election committee debated on the need to suspend smoking in the precinct in deference to the many women who would cast their ballots. The votes were 1,864 for, 1,255 against.

I am sure those men who voted against had to contend with the lack of services around their abode for the rest of their living days. Since most of them worked in the saw mills or shipyards, they probably had lots of conversation and solidarity with other fellas.

Notable among the ladies was Mrs. Burns, the lady barber of North Bend, who was the first to register to vote, followed by a long list of well-respected ladies of the county.

In "Women Hurry to Register" the local paper reported that the city recorder planned to keep the office open late , as a long line of women had filled the office and the hallways by 3:00 p.m.

Since North Bend and Marshfield competed for businesses and commerce ever since they were founded, a local article back in 1912 chided North Bend for not having registered as many ladies as Marshfield. Marshfield was the old name for the present Coos Bay.


The women of Oregon: "After long and patient effort, have persuade the men of the State to place them upon a footing of political equality by granting to them the right of suffrage." ( This quote is from the World Newspaper.)

Oregon along with Michigan, Kansas, Arizona passed this new law in 1912. Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah paved the way.

25 comments:

Tess Kincaid said...

Way to go Coos County girls! Happy 150th Oregon!

Unknown said...

Good for them! Happy 150th Oregon!

Carol Murdock said...

Persistent women get it done!
Happy 150th Oregon!

Beth said...

What a great reminder of how far women have come in America!

potsoc said...

All the best to Oregon and all Oregonians especially Coos Bay citizens.

Man of Roma said...

Very interesting piece of history. I didn't know Oregon led the way nationally to women's vote. So happy Oregon 150th birthday!

NitWit1 said...

Women everywhere owe a debt of gratitude the pioneering Oregon women sufferage movement.

Reasons said...

Happy 150th to you Oregon. I'm off to check out the music site you mention in the previous post.

Renee said...

Is your twin granddaughter going to come and visit you over the summer.

Love Renee xoxo

Elizabeth Bradley said...

I lived in Oregon from the age of 8 until 16, I sure do miss it! Your post reminds us that women settled America too! Enjoyed dropping by.

Polly said...

Very cool indeed! Polish women were second in the world to get voting rights, after the Oregon girls paved the way. I'm always proud of that, even though it's only second place :-)

150, gosh, that sounds young. Happy birthday, Oregon!

xxx said...

150 young...
I think Australia was only settled just over 200 years ago :-)

best wishes
Ribbon

Cheryl Cato said...

Rosaria, dear, I have awards for you at my blog.

Shadow said...

a good piece of history.

Saz said...

happy birthday....and in such a short time....so much achieved......

Suldog said...

Happy 150th to Oregon!

Reya Mellicker said...

This is a great post and seems especially significant in light of what's happening in Iran.

Of course oregon led the way! Of course.

Women rock the vote! Oh yeah!

Room Service ~ Decorating 101 said...

Thanks for visiting and the sweet note that you left me...

Pyzahn said...

A big shout out to the pioneering women of Oregon! And to you for reminding us how far we've come.

Woman in a Window said...

It's so difficult for me to imagine a western world when that was not possible. I'd be rather tragic now, I think, or wildly rebellious.

Feisty Crone said...

Hi Lakeviewer, I actually live in Seattle. I changed my location on my blog, and on Twitter, to support the Iranian people protesting their latest election.

And Happy Birthday, Oregon!

Rob-bear said...

Happy 150th, Oregon! Hope you have lots of parties, and lots more years.

Lori ann said...

Happy 150th Birthday Oregon. Thanks for sharing this piece of history.

Crafty Green Poet said...

Thanks for the look into the state's history. Happy 15oth Oregon!

Cormac Brown said...

A Happy 150th! I had no idea that Oregon was on the vanguard of the women's right to vote.