The Wake of Vanport, April 3, 2016

The Skanner News hosted the third showing of The Wake of Vanport at the Oregon Historical Society on April 3, 2016. The oral history documentary has been updated with new stories from survivors who attended the last film showing.

Lee Moore, who was a child of Vanport, gave a personal reflection of the temporary workforce town that washed away on Memorial Day of 1948. He described a town that was progressive for the era. Vanport had integrated grade schools and provided day care for workers.

After the showing of the film, survivors of Vanport were on hand to answer questions and tell their stories. Volunteers offered to write these stories down to add to the oral history collection. The Skanner News plans on adding these new accounts to The Wake of Vanport and showing them in August.

Thank you to our sponsors: the Oregon Lottery, PCRI and the Oregon Historical Society.

To see pictures from the event, check out our slideshow:

The Wake of Vanport April 3, 2016

Vanport survivors Dan Scarl, Hurtis Hadley, Ethan Scarl, Lee Moore and Mariah Taylor
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Vanport survivors gather for a group shot. In the top row: Dan Scarl, Hurtis Hadley, Ethan Scarl, Lee Moore and Terry Kanderkooy. Bottom Row: Mariah Taylor, Dorothy Hadley, Betty Jones, Alta High Elk, Marian Loveland and Betty Chinn.
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Lee Moore gives a personal history of Vanport to the audience at the Oregon Historical Society.
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Maxine Fitzpatrick talks to the audience about the history of displacement in Portland and PCRI's efforts to preserve the community.
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Vanport survivors Mariah Taylor and Dorothy Hadley.
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Vanport survivors Terry Vanderkooy and Alta High Elk.
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Vanport survivor Marian Elsey Loveland with her daughter.
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The Loveland family stands next to Marian's written account of Vanport.
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Vanport survivor Betty Jones tells her story of Vanport.
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Betty Jones' written account of Vanport.
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Vanport survivor Dorothy Hadley tells her Vanport story.
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Vanport survivor Dorothy Hadley tells her story as a volunteer offers to write it down.
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Vanport survivor Hurtis Hadley tells of his experience in Vanport.
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Marisha Childs volunteers to write Hurtis Hadley's Vanport story.
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Hurtis Hadley answers questions about Vanport as Marisha Childs writes the answers.
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Vanport survivor Betty Chinn.
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Vanport survivor Betty Chinn tells her Vanport story to a volunteer who records it.
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Sherry volunteers to write down Vanport survivor Betty Chinn's story.
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Alta High Elk tells her Vanport story to Cheryl who has volunteered to write it down.
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Alta High Elk's Vanport stories.
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Vanport survivor Ethan Scarl tells his story.
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Vanport survivors, brothers Daniel and Ethan Scarl.
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Ethan and Daniel Scarl's Vanport stories.
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Monica and Sheriah Foster take care of the written Vanport stories.
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Vanport survivor Lee Moore speaks with Larry Cross.
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Maxine Fitzpatrick, Judge Adrienne Nelson and Karin Edwards.
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Ken Boddie talks with Vo McBurney about the Wake of Vanport.
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Hurtis Hadley answers questions about his Vanport experience.
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Larry Cross talks with Dorothy Hadley about Vanport.
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Lee Moore gave his personal reflection on the meaning and importance of Vanport.
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The film, The Wake of Vanport, played to a full house at the Oregon Historical Society on April 3, 2016.
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Survivors of Vanport Betty Jones, Betty Chinn and Alta High Elk watch the Wake of Vanport film.
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The film, The Wake of Vanport, played to a full house at the Oregon Historical Society on April 3, 2016.
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The film, The Wake of Vanport, played to a full house at the Oregon Historical Society on April 3, 2016.
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The film, The Wake of Vanport, played to a full house at the Oregon Historical Society on April 3, 2016.
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The film, The Wake of Vanport, played to a full house at the Oregon Historical Society on April 3, 2016.
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Vanport survivor Betty Jones watches the film The Wake of Vanport.
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The film, The Wake of Vanport, played to a full house at the Oregon Historical Society on April 3, 2016.
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Audience members clap at the conclusion of the film, The Wake of Vanport.
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Vanport survivors are asked to raise their hands.
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Vanport survivors Dan Scarl, Hurtis Hadley, Ethan Scarl, Lee Moore and Mariah Taylor

Vanport survivors gather for a group shot. In the top row: Dan Scarl, Hurtis Hadley, Ethan Scarl, Lee Moore and Terry Kanderkooy. Bottom Row: Mariah Taylor, Dorothy Hadley, Betty Jones, Alta High Elk, Marian Loveland and Betty Chinn.

Lee Moore gives a personal history of Vanport to the audience at the Oregon Historical Society.

Maxine Fitzpatrick talks to the audience about the history of displacement in Portland and PCRI's efforts to preserve the community.

Vanport survivors Mariah Taylor and Dorothy Hadley.

Vanport survivors Terry Vanderkooy and Alta High Elk.

Vanport survivor Marian Elsey Loveland with her daughter.

The Loveland family stands next to Marian's written account of Vanport.

Vanport survivor Betty Jones tells her story of Vanport.

Betty Jones' written account of Vanport.

Vanport survivor Dorothy Hadley tells her Vanport story.

Vanport survivor Dorothy Hadley tells her story as a volunteer offers to write it down.

Vanport survivor Hurtis Hadley tells of his experience in Vanport.

Marisha Childs volunteers to write Hurtis Hadley's Vanport story.

Hurtis Hadley answers questions about Vanport as Marisha Childs writes the answers.

Vanport survivor Betty Chinn.

Vanport survivor Betty Chinn tells her Vanport story to a volunteer who records it.

Sherry volunteers to write down Vanport survivor Betty Chinn's story.

Alta High Elk tells her Vanport story to Cheryl who has volunteered to write it down.

Alta High Elk's Vanport stories.

Vanport survivor Ethan Scarl tells his story.

Vanport survivors, brothers Daniel and Ethan Scarl.

Ethan and Daniel Scarl's Vanport stories.

Monica and Sheriah Foster take care of the written Vanport stories.

Vanport survivor Lee Moore speaks with Larry Cross.

Maxine Fitzpatrick, Judge Adrienne Nelson and Karin Edwards.

Ken Boddie talks with Vo McBurney about the Wake of Vanport.

Hurtis Hadley answers questions about his Vanport experience.

Larry Cross talks with Dorothy Hadley about Vanport.

Lee Moore gave his personal reflection on the meaning and importance of Vanport.

The film, The Wake of Vanport, played to a full house at the Oregon Historical Society on April 3, 2016.

Survivors of Vanport Betty Jones, Betty Chinn and Alta High Elk watch the Wake of Vanport film.

The film, The Wake of Vanport, played to a full house at the Oregon Historical Society on April 3, 2016.

Vanport survivor Betty Jones watches the film The Wake of Vanport.

The film, The Wake of Vanport, played to a full house at the Oregon Historical Society on April 3, 2016.

Audience members clap at the conclusion of the film, The Wake of Vanport.

Vanport survivors are asked to raise their hands.

View Lee Moore's introduction:

Bernie Foster of The Skanner News received this thank you letter from Aija Kanbergs after the event:

Dear Mr. Foster
Thank you for the informative well-organized “Wake of Vanport” presentation last Sunday. I had heard about Vanport, but seeing the interviews and actual survivors made it much more real and moving.
You and everyone else were very gracious, and I felt welcome even though I had no connection to the events of 1948. ( I was at a refugee camp in Germany that year!)
Thank you again
Sincerely,
Aija Kanbergs
P.S. I’m the person that left early.
P.P.S. The cheesy grits were great!