The Handwritten Account of
The Beginning of Friendly House
By Amelia Anderson, First Director of Friendly House
Note: all text is typed exactly as written --
brackets refer to original page numbers
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Provenance:
Sunday, March 18, 1990
First Presbyterian
Church Jean Cusick - Historian

This is the handwritten account by Amelia Anderson of the beginning of Friendly House. Gertrude Lister gave it to me shortly before her death.
Elizabeth Lory has verified it.
Submitted by, Helen Jackson Bestel
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Text:

[1] September 1, 1926 I arrived in Portland, Oregon, under the Direction of Board of National Mission of Synod of Oregon to do young peoples work in either North or South Portland on west side There was no direction or particular interest shown in the way the work was to progress. After a months observance of North and South Portland on the west side a survey was made of facilities for the community services.

The survey contrasted the South Portland community services, a beautifully organized Neighborhood Center, swimming pool and all the room and equipment for education and recreation for youth and adults. This was the project of Jewish citizens of Portland open to the community a branch of the Portland Library.

Then the Helen Mauly Community Center was to be completed at the cost of $80,000. This had a well equipted building with chapel and facilities for Religious Education programs Church and Community services for youth and adult. The Fourth Presbyterian Church, with a small but active adult congregation, with church school, a Public Playground near the Jewish Community Center, and on the Elementary school grounds in the district.

[2] North Portland, had a small Presbyterian Church Marshall Street, at 17 street Sunday School was conducted by members of Dan Grall Society of First Presbyterian, Carrie Heywood, supt. Laurence Lister, John Church John Eaton, Walter Johnson teachers Helen Hunt (Jackson) Bestel pianist.

The 37 members of the church employed a retired Pastor and held 1 service on Sunday. Dr. R.D. Donaldson of New York Dr. W.J. Gilbert and Dr. David Thompson of the National Missions of Oregon approved the suggestion that a community center and program be organized in North West Portland where there were no facilities to meet the needs and interests of the community. There was the Epworth M.E. at 26 & Savier with a rich history that goes back more than fifty years, when the mother of Mr. Amadie Smith a prominent M.E. Layman of Portland. Mrs. Smith came out to North Portland and held Sunday School each Sunday after noon from that loyal devotion the Epworth M.E. was organized Dr. Thompson was the pastor at the time this survey was made. Mr. & Mrs. Wilkerson, Mr. Wray, Mrs. DeCamp Mrs. Earl and Margaret Mrs. Haines Mr. & Mrs. Kiltredt and family Mr. and Mrs. Herske and family were active in the church.

Dr. J.J. Youngston, supt. Of M.E. Conference, other officers were Mr. Amadie Smith, Late Mr. E.S. Collins and Mr. Ernest Peterson.

[3] Marshall Presbyterian Church was incorporated June 24, 1880 by elders of First Presbyterian Church, the property having been donated by the Trustees of 1st Pres. Church by Couch Estate. Among the S.S. Supt. was Mr. Wm. Ladd, C.F. Seal and Dr. C.C. Strong. Pastors were Rev. C.W. Hayes, Rev. Mr. Albert J. Hanna, Rev. P.O. Bonebrake. The Marshall Community Center was organized September 1926 under the board of Trustees and Elders of Marshall St. Presbyterian Church and Board of National Missions.

For most of the Leaders thru the next for years, when plans evolved to meet some of the needs of a growing community, were Mr. Geo. C. Stephenson Pres. of Brd. of Trustees, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Tannock. Mr. and Mrs. John Bowie, Mr. and Mrs. A.T. Thomson Mr. Mrs. Siders, Mrs. Couray, Gertrude and Mildred Couray, Daisy and Alex T. Thomason, Miss Mutch, Mr. and Mrs. Gorn, Mrs. E. Geijsbeek, Mrs. Geo. Stephens, Mrs. Gertrude Steigerwald and C.B.Stephenson, Florence Bowie and Florence McGinnis, Mrs. Lister. The Manse was converted into a Community Center a branch of Public Library was established in one room - other rooms were redecorated and furnished form the cast-aways that were in excellent condition from interested friends of Westminster & 1st Church. The Piano was from Mrs. Lockwood mother who was one of the charter members of Westminster. A Kitchen Stove, rug and 1 rocker were the first items contributed.

[4] Chairs and small tables were used from the church for kindergarten, and club activities. The work developed beyond the capacity of the House and equipment.

During these first years a close cooperation was maintained between Epworth and Marshall street. There were many many meetings with Marshall St. Board of Directors, National Miss and the Supt. of Methodist Conference and his committee and individuals to coordinate the Christian community program of N.W. Portland. After much prayer and conversation there was a decision made for the Presbyterian take responsibility of N.W. Portland, and the Methodists would be responsible for S.W. Portland where their beautiful Marley Center was in operation. June 22, 1930. The little (Scotch) worship edifice Marshall Street Presbyterian Church closed its doors, after a history that goes back 50 years to the Scotch Elders from land of Leather, Orkney Island, to make way for a new program.

Not a member of the church was lost, their members were received into 1st Church (35) and 2 went to another Presbyterian church near their house. Twenty five young people joined the new church group at 1st Church.

A very large part of the credit for success of this community work was due to the Christian men and women of Marshall and Epworth who continued their interest.

The 1st President of the new Board was W.F. Norman he and Mrs. Norman and their auto were always [5] serving where ever & when ever the call came. Mrs. Mary C. Mercer (1st Church) taught Adult Bible class and held Easter Breakfast for our Y.P. after Easter sunrise services at Washington Park. In her will she left a generous gift for Friendly House. Mrs. John Archer Bell's gift for Friendly House in building a childrens worship center where Gertrude Lister and Elizabeth Lory have so devotedly carried their responsibility since their Jr. High school days at Old Marshall Street S.S. Dr. Harold Leonard Bowman, Pastor 1st Pres. Church was untiring in his services toward the development of this enterprise. It was he and Dr. W. Clyde Sweet, Gertrude Conroy Alex Thomas and George Stephauna who decided on the present name The Friendly House. A center of friendliness to all who entered or came in contact with the work in the community.

Prayer and faith in the work brot others to our assistance in meeting our financial responsibility, Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Burnside, Mr. & Mrs. Sam Lockwood Mr. & Mrs. CW King Mr. & Mrs. J.C. Franklin Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Grigsby, Mr. & Mrs. Lordu Miller. They gave time and money, opened their houses to silver teas and concerts.

Then Miss Henyrella Lawrence, Guild President Bertha Hoon, teacher and leader, Mrs. Gerlack, Mr. & Mrs. Jake Winter - Dr. and Mrs. Ira Gaston and many others, whom I cannot list at this time were devoted to the work of Friendly House.

Most of group who were at F.H. all the time worked so diligently - as volunteers and staff had so little money to work with, that we [6] did not realize their was a depression. When families were with out food, groups went to the fields and orchards, brot the produce to the new empty building on Marshall Street and distributed the food to those who had need. Fishermen brot salmon and for a time an expert supervised canning fish - and can you remember the "Helping Others" club - cloths renovated by the giver and receiver. Ask Jeanette Vanderwall or Mrs. Kethal Wray or Haines. All this before a public assistance program was in existence.

If there is to be a better community and world, not for a small group but for all mankind, then it is not enough to proclaim our ideals or even be convinced that we have them. In order to persevere, uphold and maintain them, there are times when we throw all we cherish into the effort to fulfill these ideals even at the risk of failure. Marshall Street and Epworth M.E. risk their all - Friendly House is the result. A search for new ways of creating together a more wholesome life within the Friendly House and the neighborhood.