BLOG: It was a blast at the 45th St. annual Johns Parade

By Sam Adams

Our heroes back from Iraq.The weather was warm without being too hot, bright but not too sunny (if that is possible this time of year!); I had a great time again participating in the 45th St. Johns Parade.

2007 St. Johns ParadeThe parade route started at Roosevelt High School at noon and ended at the St. Johns Community Center.

Not impressed with the politicians in the paradeThe St. Johns parade is the first time the Rose Festival Rose Princesses representing each of the city's high schools appear together in a parade.

I get a high score from some friendly judgesThe theme of the St. Johns Parade this year was, "Celebrate Community Volunteers." My thanks to all the volunteers who pull off the St. Johns parade in such an upbeat and organized fashion: another reason it makes me proud to be from North Portland.

Picking the best spot to watch the paradeIt was a grassroots event and drew a couple thousand spectators, more than last year.

Raffle tickets to win quiltI wore my, "Enjoy St. Johns," t-shirt (which you can pick up for yourself at The Man Shop, across from the St. Johns Plaza).

The Royal RosariansConcurrently with the parade, our neighborhood newspaper The St. Johns Sentinel hosted the St. Johns Bizarre. Local merchants sold crafts and gifts, live music and performances, as well as food and beer flowed.

Taking a little nap while waiting for parade to startSt. Johns is experiencing a major revitalization. New residents are moving in, longtime businesses that had languished are coming back and entrepreneurs are taking over vacant spaces.

Jimmy Johns, the founder of St. Johns neighborhoodTwo projects in St. Johns attracting a lot of interest these days are the potential redevelopment of the so-called Diamond Block that includes the city-owned St. Johns Racquet Club, 2131 N.E. Thompson St., and the completion of the North Portland Greenway Trail between Cathedral Park and Swan Island.

Oregon State Senator Margaret CarterSt. Johns was named after a reclusive hermit by the name of James "Jimmy" John (1809 - 1886) who started a Willamette River ferry between Linnton and St. Johns with a single small boat in 1852. John was a small, quiet man, with a keen, but dry, sense of humor. A man educated far beyond the average person of his day.

Some royality of our own.Where is the candy!John was 77 when he died at his home on May 27, 1886. John's Last Will and Testament, dated March 14, 1883 was prepared by John Catlin. He decreed that all proceeds from his estate be used to establish free schools for the children of the area and that the money should never be used to Kell's Irish bagpipespromote in those schools any one doctrine or religion "one more than another". He was buried in a pauper's grave at the Columbia Cemetery, which was not marked until 1909.

Parade watcher with festive hatPeople who knew him were divided in their opinions. Some called him friend, but others saw him as an 'eccentric', a 'recluse' and a 'demijohn'.

Boy Scout Troop 538Seeing a need to establish it's own local government the community incorporated on February 19, 1903. It survived on it's own for 12 year until requesting Snow cones for saleannexation to the City of Portland. Merger ballots for the City of St. Johns and the town of Linnton were held June 7, 1915. Both were approved and each became part of the City of Portland on July 8, 1915.