PORTLAND’S GAY COMMUNITY CENTER

 258 SW Alder 227-5651

Years: 1971 (announcement)-

“occupied from” May 1972 - September 1973

FIRST LOCATION

Ad in June 1972 The Fountain

The Fountain newspaper July 1972

By July 1973 the headline read “FOUNDATION OFFICER ACCUSED OF EMBEZZLEMENT” [The Fountain]. The Second Foundation of Oregon largest gay organization in the Pacific Northwest, found itself in deep trouble last month with up to $3,000 missing and a president who suddenly skipped town. By November a group was formed Six Under Inc. This was a group formed that sold ‘stock’ into the organization. Groups expressed interest in the complex: Second Foundation, the Portland Forum, Second Foundation Youth Alliance, Metropolitan Community Church, the list was long.  It had another blow when the Fire Marshall per article in The Fountain September 1973, page 3 below Right stated, “You cannot spend another winter there.”

Article to the left from July 1973 The Fountain page 4.

Article below from front cover of September 1973 The Fountain

citations & references:

• Cited in The Fountain under “Guide to the Portland Area Gay Scene” July 1971 “Portland Gay Community Center” 258 SW Alder 227-5651

• First, it was above the Other Inn beginning in May 1972 and it was located at 258 SW Alder. The ambition was to develop the largest gay community center on the west coast. In the beginning, it was exciting as it was a large place; once a restaurant, then an office it was transformed into a community center. It was quite a transformation, adding an antique bar with stools, a jukebox, a pool table a ballroom, a library, and offices. Within a year community center had to move. The reason for the move which was started in July 1973 was, “(The Second Foundation) is having difficulty meeting the fire codes. According to city regulations, the center would need another enclosed fire exit, a heavy expense since the center is located on a second-floor building that has stores with high downtown rent.  Fire officials gave The Second Foundation until September 1972 to vacate the building.”

• Per the GLAPN - A Walking Tour of Downtown Portland: A Century of Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Historic Sites June 1999: The offices of the Second Foundation of Oregon, inc. became the city’s first gay community center (and only, since) when it opened in May 1974 The occasion of the opening of the center also marked the first time that the city’s daily newspapers covered the lesbian and gay community in a way that treated gays other than sick or criminal. The offices were located in a building as shown here above a Laundromat and popular gay bar-The Other Inn. The center was short-lived, for it moved to the Pythian Building, 100 many, months after this photograph was taken. The entire block of buildings was razed in 1982 for a parking lot.

• Places of Pride – LGBTQIA+ Historical Landmarks | (mwaarchitects.com) PLACES OF PRIDE – LGBTQIA+ HISTORICAL LANDMARKS Note it did not close because of financial woes at this location - the fire marshall of Portland made them leave.