by David Sweet

There are a number of mature Monkey Puzzle trees (Araucaria araucana) in Sabin and other parts of inner-city Portland. These curious trees are native to Chile and Argentina where they thrive on the lower slopes of the Andes. An ancient species, they are sometimes called a living fossil. The story of how they happen to be here provides a link to an interesting chapter in Portland history.  

Portland was booming in the 1880’s and ‘90’s, but the national economy was rocked by a series of recessions and depressions, caused by an unregulated financial industry. After the Panic of 1893,  it was suggested that, to aid recovery, Portland should host an international fair, marking the turn of the century.  This idea blossomed into the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in 1905, marking 100 years after the Expedition of Discovery floated down the Columbia. The exposition was held at Guilds Lake in Northwest Portland, near where the Montgomery Park building stands today. 

The Exposition was a huge success, attracting more than 1.6 million visitors in it’s 5½ month run, and actually turned a profit for its investors. It was said that Portland had joined "the great march of progress." 
Some suggest that this event was responsible for Portland’s explosive growth over the next five years, from 161,000 to 270,000.

Among the 21 nations exhibiting in Portland that year was Chile. As a gesture of goodwill, the Chilean delegation distributed seedlings of the Monkey Puzzle, the national tree of Chile. Portlanders planted these in their yards, and some have grown into the stately and unusual trees that grace our neighborhood today.  The growth of these trees into towering giants reminds us of the event that triggered the growth of our city.

Although Irving Park isn't within Sabin boundaries, many residents use the park's facilities. It's a safe bet that most folks are unaware of the park's history as a popular horse-racing track. Here's how it happened...

In 1865, Captain William Irving and his wife Elizabeth established a 635-acre land claim on the east side of the Willamette River. At that time, the area was mostly farms and forests.

After the Captain died in 1872, Elizabeth and her son sold off the eastern portion of the family's property.  In 1887, she leased 90 acres to her nephew, W.S. Dixon, who then sub-leased it to the Multnomah Fair Association.  The MFA constructed a horse-racing track, with grandstands and paddocks. The Irvington streetcar line,  built in 1890 to link downtown to the eastside, provided easy access to the popular racetrack.

In 1905, there was a lawsuit over the betting operations at the track. After an extensive legal battle, Elizabeth regained control of the land, and in 1907, the racetrack was demolished.  Soon after that, Elizabeth donated 14 acres to the city of Portland to establish Irving Park where the horse stables had once stood.  Elizabeth died in 1922.

Sources:

Oregon Historic Sites Database
Carl Townsend - irvingtonpdx.com
Steve Schreiber  - volgagermans.net

Did you know that the New Testament church on NE 13th and Failing used to be a grocery and meat market called Danewolf's? Mary Smith's grandparents, Henry and Marie Danewolf, built the store in 1919.  They made and sold German sausage and bakery treats such as rivel kuchen, a coffee cake that may be topped with fruit or caramelized sugar.  The Danewolf family lived in a space attached to the store.  You can read more about Mary's memories on the Volga Germans website, created by local historian (and former Sabin resident) Steve Schreiber.