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Bridlemile Elementary School Oral History Project

Video clips by Melinda McCrossen
Photographs by Victor von Salza

During the 2005 - 2006 school year, the Fourth and Fifth Grade students at Bridlemile Elementary School(BES) investigated the history of Bridlemile and surrounding neighborhoods. The students interviewed longtime Bridlemile residents about the history of the neighborhood and what it was like to live and grow up here back then.

Melinda McCrossen with five of the interviewees
Melinda McCrossen with five of the interviewees after the event.

On April 12, 2006 the students presented some of their findings at a joint Brildlemile Elementary School / BNA event.

Setting up for the event
Setting up for the event.

Video Clips from the interviews

Below are links* to the wonderful and informative Bridlemile Elementary School Oral History Project video clip selections shown at the April 12th, 2006 presentation:

Owen Cramer PPS BES Oral History Project
Click on this link to watch video of Owen Cramer talking about living on upper Dosch Rd from 1920's, schools he attended, family farm where school is today, proposed tunnel from Portland, local saw mill during WWII, winter sleding from Dosch Rd to Hamilton St, after school sports, and the Columbus Day Storm. December 14, 2005

Jim Driscoll PPS BES Oral History Project
Click on this link to watch video of Jim Driscoll talking about Albert Kelly, first orchards, The 1859 Prarie Traveler Guide Book (shown above), and what was grown on the Albert Kelly farm. December 15, 2005

Ken Leatherman PPS BES Oral History Project
Click on this link to watch video of Ken Leatherman talking about living during 1950's, lower Brookford, water and sewer, building the school, bow and arrow business, ring neck pheasants, notable residents, longtime Brookford residents, snakes, fish in Fanno Creek, and building homes in the 1940's. December 12, 2005

Bill Schumacher PPS BES Oral History Project
Click on this link to watch video of Bill Schumacher talking about Hillsdale Piggley Wiggley Market, Glen Cullen railroad, Heritage Trees, water well, local taxidermists quail and wood duck, local fauna and Doschdale. January 2006

Bev Shaw PPS BES Oral History Project
Click on this link to watch video of Bev Shaw talking about location of Bridlemile School, pheasants, school plaque, Fiona fountain, and a car accident. December 15, 2005

Annette (Long) Stone PPS BES Oral History Project
Click on this link to watch video of Annette (Long) Stone talking about living on a chicken ranch, chores, local store, and the Great Depression. December 13, 2005

*The above video clips are located on the
Portland Public Schools Media Library, History of Bridlemile page. NOTE: If your browser, e.g. Internet Explorer, does not play the above clips, right click on the image and choose "Download Link to Disk", then after the file has downloaded play it using QuickTime Player.

In between each of the video clips students read brief reports (shown as Powerpoint slides) on related history topics that the students had researched.

Students reading from the Powerpoint Reports.
Students reading from the Powerpoint Reports.

Students who presented
Students who gave the presentation.

To contact BES Media Specialist Melinda McCrossen, mmccrossen@pps.k12.or.us, 503-916-6292.

Students and interviewees after the event.
Students and interviewees after the event.

What a wonderful way for our children to learn to interview and document past events! Thanks to all those who participated.