Offbeat Oregon History podcast

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A crooked gambler’s-eye view of frontier Oregon (Part 1 of 2)

French-Canadian gambler started out as one of the most scurrilous rascals in the state, then reformed his ways and became one of its most earnest and effective reformers. This is the story of his early years. Part 1 of a 2-part series. (Lower Willamette River, Clackamas County; 1840s, 1850s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1312a-edouard-chambreau-part1-early-years.html)

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  Palatial riverboat caught in hurricane on open sea

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  Drunk looting party broke out at scene of shipwreck

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  Civil War plotters hoped to get West Coast to secede

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  Buster Keaton brought Hollywood to Cottage Grove (Part 2 of 2)

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  Buster Keaton brought Hollywood to Cottage Grove (Part 1 of 2)

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  Prohibition sting ended with a deadly gunfight

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  Town’s emergency wood money is still legal tender

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  Bunny-massacre parties were big social events

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  Corvallis man found cows make lousy boat engines

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  Alcoholic shipmate drank snake-preserving whiskey

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  Schemers’ plans to exploit Multnomah Falls failed

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  Shanghai tunnels mostly a myth...or are they?

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  Tarzan fans are grateful for gold miner’s failure

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  Riverboat party turned out to be shanghaiing trick

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  Skipper doubled down on a bad bet ... and lost it all

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  Bad recording technique led to FBI investigation