Offbeat Oregon History podcast

Listen, download, subscribe

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Rooftop stunt made local aero-daredevil famous

“This is an age of do-it-first,” said Silas Christofferson, and proceeded to launch his spindly kite-like “aeroplane” from the roof of a downtown hotel — making aviation history in the heart of Oregon's biggest town. (Portland, Multnomah County; 1910s) (For text and pictures, see https://offbeatoregon.com/1408e.302.silas-christofferson-portland-hero-aviator.html)

• 

  How Oregon almost lost public access to beaches

• 

  Childhood tree-planting memories for thousands

• 

  Tillamook Burn ‘blew up’ with shocking speed

• 

  Tillamook Burn sprang from loggers’ bad gamble

• 

  Bunco Kelley, Coyote of P-town waterfront legend

• 

  Oregon’s most notorious shanghaier: Bunco Kelley

• 

  Legendary ‘Chief Bigfoot’ elusive as, well, Bigfoot

• 

  In 1880s, salmon were the “most dangerous catch”

• 

  Steamer wrecked by future Costa Rica admiral

• 

  Frankie Baker found a home, and some peace, in Oregon

• 

  ‘Johnny’s’ Frankie lived in Portland, hiding from "her song"

• 

  Charming gentleman by day, robber-poet by night

• 

  Rosecrans rescue one of Coast Guard’s finest hours

• 

  Cursed or not, Rosecrans was one unlucky ship

• 

  Town’s police chief was later executed for murder