Offbeat Oregon History podcast

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WPA writers captured a snapshot of early Oregon Oct 29, 2026

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IN 1935, IN the depths of the Great Depression, the U.S. Congress passed what’s sometimes called the “Second New Deal.” It was a $4.88 billion investment into getting Americans through the Depression. The philosophy behind this new New Deal push was to let unemployed workers earn their way by putting their existing skills to use, rather than treating them like charity cases or giving them make-work jobs raking leaves or doing litter patrols. One category of skilled workers who are often unemployed during hard times is writers and artists. So a comparatively tiny sliver of the WPA’s funds went toward “Federal Project Number One,” a group that included the Federal Writers’ Project, Federal Art Project, Federal Music Project, and Federal Theatre Project. In Oregon, the Federal Writers’ Project was especially interesting, because in 1938 — when most of its work was done — there were actual Oregon Trail pioneers still alive. (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/2509a0908b.wpa-writers-project+SB-wakeworks-707.032.html)

Rabies epidemic was like a war in Eastern Oregon Oct 28, 2026

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State health officials scoffed at the idea of hydrophobia in Oregon — until people started dying. It was the start of a decade of attacks by mad coyotes, when folks carried shotguns everywhere and nature seemed to be in open revolt. (Central and Eastern Oregon; 1910s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1303b-rabies-epidemic-eastern-oregon-mad-coyotes.html)

Murderer avoided gallows by faking a 2-year coma Oct 27, 2026

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Charles Fiester lay there on his cot, eyes open, staring at nothing, pretending to be catatonic, for 515 days ... knowing that when his ruse was discovered, he'd be hanged. (Kerby, Josephine County; 1890s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1803a.fiester-murderer-faked-insanity-515-days-485.html)

Jumbo jet landed at tiny rural airport by mistake Oct 26, 2026

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Troutdale Airfield is just 10 miles from Portland International — and built to serve Cessnas, not Boeings. But one dark night in 1962, a jumbo-jet pilot got a little confused .... (Troutdale, Multnomah County; 1960s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1802a.massive-jet-lands-at-tiny-country-airport-by-mistake-481.html)

The Prineville Vigilantes: Part Three — The Resistance, and the Fall. Oct 23, 2026

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Crook County citizens finally decided they'd had enough of the secretive lynchings and killings; they banded together and defeated the gang of masked riders without a single shot being fired. (Prineville, Crook County; 1880s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/2408c-1211d.prineville-vigilantes-663.199.html)

The Prineville Vigilantes: Part Two — The Shadow Government Oct 22, 2026

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Crook Count was formed at the height of Vigilante ascendancy, so when the governor named prominent locals to leadership positions in the new county government, he ended up stocking it with members of the gang. Their official rule would be bloody and chaotic. (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/2408c-1211d.prineville-vigilantes-663.199.html)

The Prineville Vigilantes: Part 1 — The Lynch Mob, and the Rise. Oct 21, 2026

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In Crook County, the early 1880s were like something out of a Louis L'Amour novel: Masked riders galloping around by night, dispensing what they saw as justice. It all started with the lynching of an innocent man. (Part 1 of 3) (Prineville, Crook County; 1880s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/2408c-1211d.prineville-vigilantes-663.199.html)

Tillamook Guerillas were ready for enemy invasion Oct 20, 2026

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When the Oregon National Guard was called up at the start of World War II, Oregonians felt vulnerable to Japanese invasion. So they loaded their rifles and possed up ready to give 'em hell! (Tillamook County; 1940s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1802b.tillamook-guerillas-ready-to-fight-off-invasion-482.html)

Joseph Drake: Murderer, or just an innocent patsy? Oct 19, 2026

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It's nearly certain that Drake was guilty only of extreme naivete — and his landlord, after murdering a neighbor, knew he could pin the crime on him because Drake was Black. (Salem, Marion County; 1880s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1801d.joseph-drake-murderer-or-innocent-patsy-480.html)

Innocent man’s sacrifice averted deadly ‘tong war’ Oct 16, 2026

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It was obvious to nearly everyone that Chee Gong was innocent. But one of his tong brothers had murdered Lee Yik and disappeared, and blood had to answer for blood. (Portland, Multnomah County; 1880s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1802c.tong-war-in-portland-averted-with-hanging-483.html)

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