By Melissa Wagoner What would a celebration of the famous political cartoonist, Homer Davenport, be without a celebration of cartoons? “To that end, the International Cartoon Contest has returned,” organizer, Gus Frederick, wrote in a recent press release. “As in past years, the competition is for ‘political’ or ‘editorial’ cartoons on any topic as long as they are not libelous, […]
By Melissa Wagoner The Silverton Country Historical Society is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024 with banners, exhibits, promotional materials and events throughout the year including a Homer Davenport Community Festival parade float and a celebration in the fall. “We especially want to honor and thank our members, donors, supporters, and volunteers who have helped along the way,” Director Jeff […]
By James Day The new Silverton Civic Center will not be occupied until next spring. The $19.5 million project, which originally was projected to open in July 2023, has experienced a steady stream of delays, including supply chain issues, work that had to be redone and even emails that went missing. The project remains under that $19.5 million overall cost, […]
The all-abilities playground project in Silverton’s Old Mill Park has been delayed because of concrete work that still needs to be scheduled. Mayor Jason Freilinger noted that city officials and the Silverton Rotary Club, which are teaming up on the project, had hoped to complete the facility so it could be used during the Homer Davenport Community Festival and the […]
By James Day Silverton People for Peace, a group that formed amid the buildup to the 2003 start of the Iraq War, has turned 20. The informal group, which began with vigils in opposition to the Iraq buildup, has broadened its focus and also participates in Silverton’s MLK Day observances as well as the Homer Davenport Community Festival, where […]
By Melissa Wagoner Gus Frederick has always been interested in the art of cartooning. But in 1972, he’d never heard of the famous political cartoonist Homer Davenport, let alone seen any of his art. It wasn’t until a shift at the local cannery, where he met several other cartoon fanatics, that he learned a famous cartoonist once lived in the […]
By James Day The Silverton Runners Club is turning 40, and organizers are planning some new events to boost participation in the club, which works to support running programs in Silverton and Mount Angel. The club, which was organized in 1982 by Silverton resident Amy Castle, is taking over management of the 5-kilometer and 10-kilometer runs associated with the Mount […]
By Melissa Wagoner Affectionately known as “Homer Days,” the Homer Davenport Community Festival – held the first Friday through Sunday in August (the sixth through eighth this year) – is absolutely unique. An offshoot of the Silverton Arts Association’s, Family Festival of the Arts, held for the first timåe in 1980, the Homer Days festival is the only celebration in […]
The sun is out, the days are warm and it is the time of year when friends and neighbors look for opportunities to be together and share some fun. August features two of Silverton’s favorite festivals, one a celebration of community and one a tapestry of the arts, both in Coolidge McClaine Park. This year’s Homer Davenport Community Festival runs […]
By Kristine Thomas Homer Davenport isn’t the only noteworthy Davenport. Just ask Ann Davenport Vasconi, who can trace nine generations of Davenports in America. The local Davenport history begins with Dr. Ben and Sarah Davenport who staked a land claim in the Waldo Hills in 1851. “Sarah had five children and the youngest son was Ben Jr., my great grandfather,” […]
By Brenna Wiegand Richard Carlson will receive the Silverton Chamber of Commerce’s Distinguished Service award for a feat that may well go down in Silverton’s history. He has the distinction of leading an effort to save Homer Davenport Days from extinction – twice. His first rescue was linked to the eight months he spent helping navigate the Silverton Chamber of […]
Although Homer Davenport is known by most as a world famous cartoonist who poked fun at the high and the mighty in public life, he was more than a political caricaturist.
Perhaps the best thing about Silverton’s annual Homer Davenport Community Festival the first weekend in August is a chance to see and catch up with lots of friends, old and new, all in one place. For that matter, the festival is also a gathering together of a surprisingly diverse, almost dizzying array of things to see and do.
