On July 4, 1846, Oregon was not even an incorporated territory of the United States, much less a state. But that didn’t keep Oregon’s earliest American pioneers from celebrating their country’s birthday here on the Pacific shores.
Thanks to early newspaper journalists, we’ve been given front-row seats to Oregon’s first Independence Day events. Our state’s first newspaper — the Oregon Spectator, established in 1846 — described in great detail two of these celebrations held that year. The first took place in Oregon City. The second was hosted right here in our own neighborhood at today’s Champoeg Park.
Like all new Oregonians, the pioneers at Champoeg were still trying to adjust to Oregon weather — and the unpredictable nature of it even in the middle of summer. The “heavy fall of rain” that day led the ladies to cancel their plans to march in the parade. Without the refuge of pavement, a rainy day was also an extremely muddy day!
The rain didn’t keep people from coming to the event, though. A militia group — the “Oregon Rangers” — officially kicked off the festivities by marching to where a “large number of the Oregon fair” were seated. Next, the “Chaplain” offered a prayer, a town leader read the Declaration of Independence, and finally an oration was recited for the purpose of educating the “descendants of the heroic men who lighted the beacon of liberty…”
The orator closed his speech with the following words: “And now, fellow-citizens, prone as Americans are to differ in opinion, I know you will all unite with me in saying ‘That star-spangled banner, O long may it wave, O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.'”
The following year, The Spectator made a brief mention of Portland’s celebration: “There was a large assemblage of people from various parts of the territory, who had suspended their daily avocations to keep the ‘Sabbath of the Nation.’ A salute of thirty guns was fired at 12 o’clock, after which an excellent oration was delivered to a crowded audience…”
In the spring of 1848, a small group of men gathered in a rustic log schoolhouse near present-day Lafayette to plan what is possibly the first documented July 4 event in Yamhill County.
A few weeks later, the men led a gathering at the Yam Hill Falls, just past Lafayette’s old steamboat landing at the Yamhill River. Alonzo Skinner, the first circuit judge of Oregon Country, gave the patriotic speech. He was a circuit rider and most likely showed up to the event on horseback.
Since Lafayette was the county seat during this pioneer era, it was usually the host for these local holiday gatherings.
On July 4, 1850, a parade began at the town’s public square. After the parade, the Declaration of Independence was read, speeches and toasts were given about the nation’s founders, patriotic songs were sung, and a group prayer was offered.
In 1852, journalists returned to Champoeg, where many toasts were given. The first one was as follows: “‘The day we celebrate — The Glorious Fourth — when Freemen shall cease to celebrate this day, then may the sun go down forever.’ 1 gun, 3 cheers.”
Another toast raised there: “‘Oregon Territory — Like Heaven — hard to reach.’ 1 gun, 6 cheers.”
A few years later, in 1854, when a flag could not be found, the women of Lafayette pooled their scarce resources to make one. After speeches and a presentation of Old Glory, all were invited to a public dinner. Catharine Amanda Coburn, a pioneer of Lafayette and writer for the Oregonian, described the setting:
“Rude, improvised tables were set in the grove; cherished linens from grandmothers’ looms, that had been brought by ox team express across the plains, covered the unsightly boards, sprigs of fir and cedar, bouquets of hollyhocks and pinks, with now and then a bunch of sweet ‘mission roses’ garnished them, and over all the new old flag floated.”
A few years later, Lafayette’s gathering boasted a crowd of between 3,000 and 4,000 people. There were “no less than” three ice cream stands for them all. The pioneers danced and lit fireworks. The journalist also found it worth mentioning that there was “a swing in constant motion.”
Some of these recorded activities are familiar to Americans, and some sound a bit peculiar to modern ears. Maybe the most striking part of these 19th century versions of America’s birthday is simply how unpolluted the holiday was by commercialism and superficial hype. No Fourth of July sales. No cheap, plastic Dollar Store decorations. No flags made in the factory of a foreign nation. Take away the outer packaging of consumerism and, in the middle of this vast and rugged wilderness, there is a glimpse of patriotism in its purest form.
After a 2,170-mile trip across the Oregon Trail, these pioneers took nothing for granted. Many had buried loved ones along the journey. The ones who survived had very few material possessions. Some of them were barefoot by the time they arrived.
Yet in the middle of these harsh conditions, they focused on what they had: a shared love for the homeland they had left behind. And since the Oregon Treaty with Great Britain had been signed in 1846, they were hopeful that the United States would one day welcome Oregon into the fold.
On Valentine’s Day, 1859, their dream was realized when Cupid aimed his arrow out west and Oregon became the 33rd state of America.
As we celebrate and reflect on 250 years of national independence, Oregonians can also be grateful for our pioneer ancestors. They traveled from sea to shining sea — by foot — to get here, and then planted not just crops but also the early seeds of American ideals in this beautiful part of the country we call home.
Sheri King, a historical preservation volunteer for more than 15 years, is fueled by a love for bringing old stories to new generations. She’s written three self-published books about local history. The mother of three adult sons, she makes her living as volunteer coordinator at a local retirement community, where her focus is also bringing generations together.
