Home History School www.alamedahistory.org Hidden Horses

HomeHistorySchool|Spring2020

HiddenHorses

NE26thandAlberta,lookingnorth/northeastabout1909.

Backintheearly1900swhenourneighborhoodswerejusttakingshape,therewerefewerthan200carsintheentirestateofOregon.Thinkaboutthat:injustover100yearshowmuchhaschanged.Youcanprobablywalkaroundafewblocksinyourneighborhoodandcount200carsinjustafewminutes.Inthosedays,Portlandwasfilledwithliverystables,whichtookcareoftheworkinghorsesthatdeliveredeverythingfromgroceriestobigblocksoficeinthedaysbeforerefrigerators.Youcanfindcluestothehorseandwagondaysinourneighborhoods.Andsomeneighborsandartistsarebringinghorsesbacktoourstreets.Toyhorses,thatis,tieduptothesametetheringringswherecarriagespulledbyreallivehorsesusedtostand100yearsago.It’stimetogofindsomehorsesrightinyourownneighborhoodwhilelearningmoreabouthowhorseshelpedmakelifework.

Home History School www.alamedahistory.org Hidden Horses

FoodforThoughtEverycommodityandsupplythatcametoyourhouseintheearlydayswasdeliveredbyhorseandwagon:firewood,coal,ice,groceries,drygoods,laundry,buildingmaterials,parcelpostpackages.ApageofclassifiedadsinTheOregonianfrom1900-1910lookslikethelandofopportunityforhorse-wagondeliveryteamsandpeoplewithstrongbacks.Ifyouhadahorseandwagon,youhadajob.In1907PortlandCityCouncilpassedanordinancerequiringthatnewcurbsinfrontofhouseshave“ringbolts”installedevery25feetsodeliveryvehiclescouldbesecurelytieddowntoprotectpedestriansandotherwagonsusingthestreet.Theseringsweren’tsomequaintdesignfeature.Theyweredesignedwithsafetyinmind,andtheywerethelaw.Today,youcanstillfindthesehorsetetheringringsoncurbsinmostofourolderneighborhoods.Overtheyears,someoftheringsweretakenoutbythecity,butneighborsprotestedsayingtheringsremindedthemofourhistory.Andthenafewyearsback,someneighborscameupwithanideatocelebratetheoldhorsesbytyinguptinytoyhorsestotheoldtetheringrings.Today,there’squiteaherdoftinyhorsesouttheretetheredtoouroldcurbsActivitySuggestions&Curiosities1. Haveareadthroughanarticleaboutwhythetetheringringswererequiredinthefirstplace

andhowpeoplehavefeltaboutthemovertheyears.Besuretoreadtheactualcityordinancerequiringtherings:https://alamedahistory.org/2018/06/12/portlands-horse-tethering-rings/

2. Doyouhavehorsetetheringringsonyourblock?Arethey25feetapartliketheordinance

requires?Aretheyplacedrightinfrontofyourhouse?Atthebottomofthesteps?Whymightthatbe?

3. Drawamapofyourblockandshowwherethetetheringringsare.Iftheyaren’tinfrontofeveryhouse,whymightthatbe?

4. Timetogoforawalk.Bringanotepadoracameraandseehowmanytetheredtoyhorsesyou

canfind.Takepictures(sendusyourfavoritesifyoulikeandwe’llsharethem!).

5. Doyouhaveatoyhorseyoucouldaddtoatetheringringonyourblock?Checkouttheseotherlinks:OldfilmofmaildeliveryfromtheLibraryofCongressIt’snotnortheastPortland,butitdoesgiveyouanideaofwhatourlandscapelookedlikearoundhere,andthehorsesthatdeliveredthethingsweneeded:https://youtu.be/1LfQpG_31EMIcedeliverywagonandkidsAgain,notPortlandbutthis:22secondcliphelpsusimagineaneighborhoodicedelivery.https://www.gettyimages.ie/detail/video/children-climbing-onto-ice-delivery-wagon-on-stock-video-footage/2003-2AfunvideoaboutthePortlandHorseProjecthttps://vimeo.com/34871153 HomeHistorySchoolisacollectionofactivitiesforkidsofallagestoexperienceandconnectwithneighborhoodhistoryinNortheastPortland,Oregon.Thisisoneofadozen“lessonplans”onavarietyoflocaltopics.Thecollection—whichwe’readdingtoeachMondaythisspring—canbefoundatwww.alamedahistory.org.Formoreinformationorotherideas,contactDougDecker,doug@alamedahistory.org/503-901-5510.