Living History Program
The Rose Festival Living History Program is an educational initiative designed to bring both Portland and Rose Festival history to life for festival-goers and local students. The award-winning Rose Festival Living History Program will be back in 2012 with three exciting new characters that will connect students with the past in an interactive 45-minute presentation.
The Rose Festival Living History Program is an educational initiative designed to bring both Portland and Rose Festival history to life for festival-goers and local students. The award-winning Rose Festival Living History Program will be back in 2012 with three exciting new characters that will connect students with the past in an interactive 45-minute presentation.
W.J. Hofmann, the first Prime Minister of the Royal Rosarians, will share what life was like in the early 20th Century when the Rosarians were first formed. Thelma Hollingsworth, the first elected Rose Festival Queen, has stories to tell about the second half of the 20th Century, when new-fangled inventions like television and Disneyland added their own brands of magic to people's lives. And Silas Christofferson -- the bold, young aviator who flew off the roof of the Multnomah Hotel in downtown Portland in 1912 -- will recall both the excitement and triumph of being an inventor and a flyer in the bygone days of the biplane.
In the Centennial year of both the founding of the Royal Rosarians and Silas Christofferson's memorable 12-minute flight from Portland to Vancouver, the Portland Rose Festival Foundation is proud to offer these Living History presentations to augment historical curriculum in local schools. Information will go out in early 2012 about scheduling a presentation for either the second week or the fourth week of April.
For more information, contact Sara Wright:
saraw@rosefestival.org
503.227.2681
The Rose Festival Living History Program is made possible by a generous grant from the Royal Rosarian Foundation.
Living History Characters:
W.J. Hoffman
The 'Duke of Portland' and Portland's First Prime Minister
(1871 - 1945)
W.J. was a successful leader and businessman who helped form our Royal Rosarians! W.J. operated the Multnomah Hotel, today the Embassy Suites downtown. A powerful motivator, he was recruited Portland businessmen to come with him to visit out of town festivals. These men hatched the idea in a smoky train car of having a group of men who could represent Portland and host our out of town visitors! In June 1912 the Royal Rosarians were officially formed, and W.J. served as the first Prime Minister of the Royal Rosarians. Our Rosarians today are celebrating 100 years of service and dedication to our city! Come see this inspirational figure come to life during the Rose Festival's 2012 celebration!
Thelma O. Williams
Portland Rose Festival's First Queen
(1896 - 1984)
Thelma Williams was a young Portlander when she became our festival's first Queen! In 1914 the Rose Festival decided to identify a queen to compete among young businesswomen in Portland. Thelma, an attractive go-getter, was asked by her boss to compete when she was 17. Thelma represented the Harriman Transportation Club of railroad workers as one of the 24 contestants and won! Thelma toured with her 11 'maids of honor' representing our great city and planting roses in over a dozen northwest cities. Acting in true Portland spirit, Thelma did not take herself too seriously. She just wanted folks to see the festival as a fun event and make people happy. Thelma continued to be involved and excited about the Rose Festival throughout her life. Come see Thelma, our first Queen, still making people smile during the Rose Festival's annual celebration!
Silas Christofferson
Bold-Flying 'Bird-Man'
(1890-1915)
Silas Christofferson was a charming daredevil who made aviation history! Silas was an automobile and motorboat racer who starting experimenting with flying his Curtis bi-plane over Portland at a very young age. He was only 22 when he planned a spectacular stunt for the Portland Rose Festival on June 9, 1912 -- to fly from the top of the Multnomah Hotel (now the Embassy Suites Downtown) to Vancouver, Washington! Over 50,000 bystanders watched, most likely expecting a disaster. A mighty roar went up as Silas gracefully took off from the top of the hotel and landed safely 12 minutes later in what is now Pearson field in Vancouver, Washington! Silas never tired of the spotlight, and went on to accomplish more in aviation history. Come and meet this enchanting and fearless flyer on his 100yr anniversary of his aviation feat at the 2012 Rose Festival!
