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s Bev Ecker surveys the stretch
of downtown visible from the
Beaverton History Center, she
describes how the museum and
resource center can serve as a community
core in a city of more than 91,000 people.
An artist and an organizer, Ecker
reimagined that very stretch in a 70-foot-
long mural on the side of the center that
depicts Southwest Broadway Street as it
appeared in the 1910s and 1920s: There’s
the M.P. Cady building, the First bank of
Beaverton, the bandstand. The spirit of Earl
E. Fisher, “Beaverton’s youngest mayor, and
oldest mayor,” is alive in the painting -- after
all, he lived for a time under that bandstand.
Fittingly, the mural is dedicated to him.
The Beaverton Historical Society moved
into the classic Art Decco-style building
on Broadway three years ago thanks to
the support of Jerry Hrabal. Inspired by a
presentation Ecker made to the Kiwanis
Club, Hrabal tasked Ecker with finding a
location, became the landlord, andhelped the
organization make extensive renovations.
Now, the History Center is open Tuesdays
and Thursdays from noon to 4, thanks to
volunteer support. It boasts a treasure trove
of artifacts fromthe city’s history: relics from
Beaverton’s earliest, swampier pioneer days.
Household knickknacks through the ages.
A gallery of photos featuring Beaverton’s
founding families. And a taxidermy beaver,
of course.
In addition, the center is a gathering place
of sorts, supporting programs like Golden
Grads, a network of those who can boast
graduating from Beaverton High School (as
Ecker and her children have), 50 years ago or
more. Such residents and former residents
are invaluable to Beaverton’s story.
The center offers a research library and
access to archived newspaper articles on
microfiche.
Ecker is gracious about the center’s
success, but she wants to draw more of
Beaverton in. The Historical Society needs
more residents to aid with walking tours
and the important mission of educating the
public about its own history.
Ecker, who has been involved with the
Beaverton Historical Society for five years,
finds that history extends far beyond the
walls of the museum she helped establish.
At Hearthstone Senior Living Center, which
Ecker’s family owns and operates, one
resident has memories of working a high
4
DOWNTOWN BEAVERTON
|
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Story by
Saundra Sorenson
| Photography by
Jaime Valdez
Strengthening the community core
Continued on Page 5 >>
PROFILE
DOWNTOWN BEAVERTON
Bev Ecker who is the vice-president of the Beaverton History Center, stands by a plaque on the center’s building which provides information about downtown Beaverton.
Ecker, who has been involved with the Beaverton
Historical Society for five years, finds that history extends far
beyond the walls of the museum she helped establish.
Bev Ecker focuses on Beaverton’s present and past