PEOPLE of Sabin
Lauren Gross grew up in Portland and has lived in Sabin for three years. She recently returned from several years in the Netherlands where she attended a social entrepreneurship program. She was interested in the idea of a business that could repurpose things, do good for the community and make money. These adventures led her to co-found REPAIR PDX, a volunteer-run free repair event designed to increase reuse based on a program begun by Martine Postman in the Netherlands and now wide-spread across the world. Lauren is also avidly pursuing a winter bike mitt business as well as marketing for local kombucha and hard cider companies. Lauren signed up last week to be on the Sabin board and is excited about sharing her passion for community and reuse through the Sabin Clean Up Day. If you are a handy person and want to lend your skills to the repair cafes in your area please email [email protected]
When I met with Lauren she shared with me that her list of unending ideas and knack for problem solving is a family trait, and that her favorite quote (and a guiding life principle) is, Don't ask what the world needs, ask what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. -Howard Thurman
(interview by Sarah Farahat)
When I met with Lauren she shared with me that her list of unending ideas and knack for problem solving is a family trait, and that her favorite quote (and a guiding life principle) is, Don't ask what the world needs, ask what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. -Howard Thurman
(interview by Sarah Farahat)
Harold L. Johnson is an engaging storyteller who has lived in Sabin for many years. He was born in Yakima Washington and came to Portland as a young man in1952. While studying literature at University of Portland, he frequented the jazz clubs in the Albina District and became friends with many of the Vanport families. He has tales of the Knott Street Center, the Porters Club and the personalities who frequented Lew's Man's Shop on NE Vancouver.
Harold's keen observations are filled with a fascination with the human experience and tinged with humor and irony. He taught many years in Portland Public Schools and is an accomplished writer and poet. Citizenship, a book of poetry will be published soon by
Many Voices Press.
Harold's keen observations are filled with a fascination with the human experience and tinged with humor and irony. He taught many years in Portland Public Schools and is an accomplished writer and poet. Citizenship, a book of poetry will be published soon by
Many Voices Press.
Luella Landfair lives on NE Klickitat in an historic home designed by Ellis Lawrence, founder of the University of Oregon School of Architecture. She and her husband Fran purchase the home in 1973.They vowed to "love, honor and paint" and the house is now in prime condition. Mrs. Landfair has had a distinguished career in business including being the Financial Manager for KOIN TV and a Board Member of the National Association of Credit Management (NACM).
Knowing of her accomplishments in finances, neighbors might be surprised to learn that at the age of 18, she was a certified welder and member of the Pipe Fitters Union. As skilled worker in the Kaiser Shipyards, Luella worked building the Liberty Ships and was one of the many women to step forward and work for the war effort during WW II. She helped change history - in Sabin, Portland and around the world.
Lorraine Jones
In a conversation with neighbors, Nicki Eybel, Jean Rystrom and Linda Wysong, Lorraine Jones recalled her life-long employment as an AT&T switchboard operator. She remembered working when the news of Pearl Harbor broke and how every light on the board flashed on simultaneously. Ms. Jones also recounted going to get a loaf of bread at the neighborhood grocery owned by Mrs. Tsumanaki and found it closed and boarded up. Mrs. Tsumanaki was one of the Japanese Americans in Portland who confined in the Transfer Center (Stockyards at the Expo Center) and later shipped to Internment Camps.
Here are some excerpts from her handwritten remembrances brought to a Sabin Coffee on March 11, 2014 -
My parents bought our house on 18th Avenue in October 1944. I was 21 yeas old at the time and had two older sisters. I have remained in our house continually and am the sole surviving member of my family.
There was no bus on Fremont Street then but the no.8 bus, then called the Irvington bus ran on 15th Avenue and was the one we used. Down at 15th and Fremont was our business district. In the corner now Mojo restaurant was a nice grocery store owned by Mr. and Mrs. Al Presthodlt. They called it A &P Grocery. These were the days before super markets, and you were waited upon, could run charge accounts and have deliveries, sometimes by a boy on a bicycle with a big basket.
There was a pharmacy on Fremont Street (1507 NE Fremont). The name Fremont Pharmacy is set in tiles in the doorstep. North of the A &P Grocery on 15th was the Irvington Gift Shop, a very fine gift shop very fine gift shop filled with many fine articles. The shop was owned by Mrs. Osie Cornwelk. Some items from her store are still in my cupboard. Next to Osie’s store was Marvin’s Beauty Shop and Barber Shop.
On the west side of 15th on the corner of Fremont was a gasoline station. There were houses north of that which were all razed later and replaced by a big Tradewell Store and an Electric Co Office. These have long ago been replaced.
People in the block were so friendly to us when we moved here, and brought food and made us feel welcome. We loved it here then and I love it still.
Tristan Brillanceau-Lewis attended Sabin Elementary and Grant High School. He documents Skate Boarding in Portland and around the world. He began in the neighborhood and was recognized nationally with his camera work of Burnside in Gus Van Sant's Paranoid Park (2007) He was a key member of Tribute Skateboards: http://tributeskateboards.com and contributor to Thrasher Magazine.
After graduating from Portland State University with a degree in film studies, he is now a part of the Quarterfour Sports team.
Check out his video Portland Lines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwKGxyhXMq0&list=UU2RplxXLwTVpKW7zVT2ovZw
After graduating from Portland State University with a degree in film studies, he is now a part of the Quarterfour Sports team.
Check out his video Portland Lines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwKGxyhXMq0&list=UU2RplxXLwTVpKW7zVT2ovZw