Oregon Voices: A Look at "The Veracious Chronicles of the Cliff Cottage Club"
2008; Oregon Historical Society; Volume: 109; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/ohq.2008.0090
ISSN2329-3780
Autores Tópico(s)American History and Culture
ResumoOREGON VOICES A Look at The Veracious Chronicles of the Cliff Cottage Club byCarole Glauber "THERE ARE SCORES OF MEN who have made large fortunes and some of them are fabulously wealthy. Iwish I could find out theway to do it," wrote PeterKerr inNovember 1892, not long afterhe moved to Portland.1 After traveling theworld for several years, Scotland-born, Kerr did "find a way," becoming a solid member of the city's affluent Establishment. He had family connections to Donald Macleay and other Scottish investors inPortland and had visited the city in 1888.2 He soon thought of himself as a "regular webfoot" and noted that the population of Portland was booming at around 80,000 or 90,000 people and that "electric cable cars run every where ? evenmiles out into atpresent uninhabited country.... It isbound to be a big place someday if they don't overdo things ? and in every place the booming is done by local capital ? absolutely no foreign or even local loans for improvement_I may buy Walla Walla wheat."3 Kerr initially worked as an agent for Dewar and Webb, wheat-shipping magnates based in London and, likemany local grain merchants, he eventually accumulated a large amount ofwealth through his business interests and real estate. In 1893,Kerr joined the exclusive Arlington Club, established in 1867by thirty-five businessmen who hoped to recreate a European stylegentleman's social club. Kerr initiallypaid the $150 membership fee and $10 a month dues; by 1894, he was living at the club for $15 amonth, with meals but excluding liquor for an additional $2 a day. He hated the "wretched whis key cocktails," wishing club members would drink tea instead ofwhiskey.4 The club occupied a luxurious build ing on the corner ofAlder and Park Streets and had four bowling alleys, a mahogany-lined billiard room, awine room, a coffee room, a library,private and open dining rooms, and five bedrooms. In 1896, Kerr was elected its president, joining the ranks of 128 OHQ vol. 109, no. I ? 2008 Oregon Historical Society s W \ PatrickB. Gifford, PeterKerr, and Thomas Kerr (leftto right)pose for a photograph on the front stepsof theirhome,CliffCottage. former presidents William S. Sibson and Donald Macleay.5 But Kerr did not spend all of his time at theArlington Club. Around 1897, Kerr and two other bachelors ? his brother Thomas, and Patrick Gifford? moved to a thirteen-acre parcel of land, known as Elk Rock, about threemiles south of Portland on the bluffs above thewest bank of theWillamette River.6 The land was in an area referred to as Rivera or Riverside, where many prominent Portland families constructed mag Glauber, A Look at The Veracious Chronicles of theCliffCottage Club 129 00 ?* *etov^-couAt," Ove* fck Mt*i . CjulcU4| ut?^tit?i*. a page fromThe Veracious Chronicles October 29, 1898. Delightful evening entertainment on the occasion of the President's birthday and collection for thepoor of theparish, netting about five dollars, ofwhich amount Mr. Ladd generously contributed a dollar. The supper was somewhat marred by the ice-cream sliding from thewindow (where it was put to keep cool) down on the grass. The dogs however did not getmuch of it andMr. Tom succeeded in shaping itup so thatnobody knew. 138 OHQ vol. 109, no. 1 January i, 1899. Encouraged by his success in thematter of cakes,Mr. Gifford stillhot upon culinary improvements and bent upon a reformation in the soup department. Today being a holiday and verywet, Mr. G. took the opportunity of inaugurating kidney soup atCliff Cottage. Yen's firstattemptwas a triflethin and carotty but otherwise excellent, and we live I hope. Mr. G. and Yen both somewhat short in temper and the usual jokes and salutations conspicuously absent. April 1,1899. Tapioca pudding invented byMr. Gifford, assisted byYen.Wages of the lattercontinually advancing. April 2,1899. Towzer again admitted into the house afterhis record season of fourteen skunks. April 5,1899. Astounding occurrence. Marriage ofMr. Wheeler. Mr. Gifford's opportunity. It is said that Mrs. Wheeler was greatly delighted with the can of sausages which Mr. Gifford sent as awedding present packed inmany boxes and wrappings. May 1,1899.Visit fromMajor Webb of London. Special...
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