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Dorothy Knittel letter about windstorm in Portland

 Collection
Identifier: Coll857

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of a three-page letter from Dorothy Knittel of Portland, Oregon, to Robert W. Jorg, a private in the Army Air Corps stationed at Sheppard Field, Texas. In the letter, dated December 5, 1945, Knittel describes walking to downtown Portland with her friends after school the previous day, when a windstorm came. She notes having witnessed the windows of the second story of the Portland Outdoor Store being blown out, and writes that the power lines in her neighborhood were felled.

Dates

  • Creation: 1945 December 5

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Historical Note

On December 4, 1945, a "sou'wester" windstorm blew from Washington State to the San Francisco Bay Area. This storm reached gusts of 60 to 70 miles per hour in the Puget Lowlands, over 70 miles per hour in the Willamette Valley, and over 80 miles per hour along the Washington and Oregon coasts. The storm damaged property and felled trees and power lines. The storm killed three people, including one person at the Vancouver Army Barracks.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder in shared box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Letter from Dorothy Knittel to Robert W. Jorg, in which she describes her experiences in a windstorm the previous day. The windstorm blew from Washington State to the San Francisco Bay Area, reaching gusts over 70 miles per hour in the Willamette Valley and causing property damage and power outages in the Portland area.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Leah Halper, May 2020 (RL2020-014).

Title
Guide to Dorothy Knittel letter about windstorm in Portland
Status
Completed
Author
Jeffrey A. Hayes
Date
2021
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository

Contact:
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240