credit: John Rosman / OPB

Tim Hills, historian for McMenamins

As a kid, Tim Hills liked to explore cemeteries.

Hills read the names on headstones and later pored over pioneer records or asked community members about the names with the hope of finding out who these people once were. "I never thought I could get a job doing that kind of thing," Hills explained to Think Out Loud's David Miller, "but it definitely was my passion."

Years later, Hills found a job doing exactly what he loves. As a historian for McMenamins, Hills digs through historical records and conducts interviews to learn about the unique history of the different McMenamins buildings. Since many of the sites are restored historic landmarks, Hills collaborates with different artists who use his research to create the decor for McMenamins's pubs, hotels and concert halls, incorporating historical events and people with a connection to the spaces. With 56 McMenamins locations and still growing, there is almost an infinite number of stories to uncover and tell.

Hills sat down with Arts & Life to talk about some of the iconic people with ties to some of McMenamins's locations.

Kennedy School

credit: McMenamins

Kennedy School in the 1920s

Amo DeBernardis was a notoriously delinquent student graced with a silver tongue and a tendency to skip classes. During his stay at Kennedy School from 1910-1920, DeBernardis spent a lot of time with the principal, Miss Cornelia Spencer, who had an equally notorious reputation as a stern disciplinarian. However, DeBernardis credits Spencer for, among other things, keeping him out of juvenile detention and on the right track. DeBernardis eventually became the founding president of Portland Community College.

Kennedy School student Don Johnson was also impacted by his special connection with a staff member. Steve Hutton, a janitor from Scotland, took a shine to the young Johnson and taught him how to throw a baseball in a unique way. He called the pitch the "wiggle ball," and it must have been a doozy. Johnson became a major league pitcher, playing in two world championships with the New York Yankees.

"Later in his career," says Hills, "Johnson would tell the story of playing winter ball in Cuba. In one game against the Havana team, the opposing pitcher was Fidel Castro. The next year when Don returned, his former opponent was the leader of the country."

Rams Head and Sand Trap

credit: McMenamins

Photo taken on edge of the Gearhart golf course, the present site of the Sand Trap

Robert Livingstone came to Portland by way of Scotland. As a representative of a Scottish investment firm which was lending big bucks to Portland and Seattle to build railroads, Livingstone settled into a nice mansion on Northwest 23rd. Although his house was eventually torn down, this location is the site of McMenamins's Rams Head. Livingstone was an avid golfer, learning to play the native Scottish game long before coming to the States. He eventually became the founding president of Portland's Waverly Country Club. His travels around the state also brought him to the Oregon Coast, where the high grass and beautiful scenery reminded him of the Eastern Scottish coast. Livingstone bought property in Gearhart. "The locals [in Gearhart], who like most Americans of the time were unfamiliar with the game of golf, would see him hit a ball with a stick around the dunes and think he was either drunk, crazy or both," says Hills. But the few holes Livingstone laid out eventually grew to become the Gearhart golf course, where McMenamins later built the Sand Trap.

Edgefield

credit: McMenamins

The county poor house in 1950 is now the current home of Edgefield.

Edgefield served as the county poor farm from 1911-1982. For 71 years, people from all walks of life came to the poor farm to live. "In an age without social security or welfare, the people who lined the beds were everyone from titans of Portland industry to individuals who lived in poverty all their lives. It housed former slaves and former slave owners," explains Hills.

The nephew of Stonewall Jackson, the famous Confederate general, turned 100 on the poor farm.

One of Edgefield's most iconic characters was Frankie Baker, made famous in books, movies and the country murder ballad Frankie and Johnny. After she shot Johnny (she was acquitted after pleading self defense), Baker moved from St. Louis to Portland. Throughout her life, she was on a mission to sue the various entertainment entities that profited from her story. She never won. However, Baker was the recipient of the first-ever lifetime achievement award given by the Urban League of Portland.

"It was said that despite her meager means and wages, she devoted all the time and money she had available to help the cause of African Americans living in Portland," says Hills.

Six months later, Baker moved to the poor farm and then later to the state hospital, where she eventually died.

Crystal Hotel

credit: HistoricPhotoArchive.com

The Crystal Hotel in 1925

The first nightclub in the Crystal Hotel opened during World War II and was owned and financed by a remarkably successful underworld figure named Al Winter. He became the gambling kingpin of the Northwest. He had connections all the way down to Los Angeles and kindled close relationships with mob bosses like Bugsy Siegel. Through his growing connections, success and influence, Winter eventually opened the Sahara Casino in Las Vegas.

"One story has it that Winter was on the last plane out of Havana when Castro overthrew the country," says Hills.

To learn more, listen to Think Out Loud's full conversation with historian Tim Hills. 

This article includes contributions from Think Out Loud's Julie Sabatier.