Along the trail are many small towns that were stopping points along the Oregon Trail. Some either flourished or faded away as the Oregon Trail era came to a close. One of those towns is Huntington, Oregon.
In the mid to late 1800s, Huntington was the last camp of the pioneers before they headed over the mountains down to the Columbia River. Before it became a major rail head for shipping cattle, it was also a stagecoach stop for weary travelers. Like many small towns, it also went through a time of bad "publicity", being known for its Chinese opium dens, saloons and gunslingers.
Recently, we took the opportunity to drive through Huntington on our way home from Washington. The town is only one square mile in size and has a population of just over 500 citizens. We found this old building, which was a restaurant in the early 1900s, that clearly identified "All White Help". It's hard to imagine that a small town, out in the middle of nowhere, felt the need to advertise that it's employees were white (versus black, Chinese, or any other color) in order to solicit business.
It would seem that the prejudices of the east followed the pioneers west. While most were looking for a better way of life, some of the biases and stigmas were still attached to the color of their skin.
I am so thankful that I have a loving God that doesn't care about skin color or physical abnormalities or education or financial status. He loves me. Period. Wouldn't it be wonderful to live in a world where everyone was loved by everyone, with no prejudices? Soon and very soon, Jesus is coming to take us to that world!
2 comments:
Wow. It's kind of hard to believe that they haven't painted over that yet...but then again, they're a small town, not a big city. In a big city there would've been a protest with crowds and signs and demonstrators...and articles in the paper, news on TV, police involved, people hurt...
But at the same time, I'm kind of glad they didn't cover it up. As painful as it is, it's part of our past. It's where they came from. It's a reminder of how far we've come and the journey we've traveled. And are still traveling.
I am glad they have not yet painted over the sign. It reminds us of that part of our past and makes us thankful that, for the most part, things are better in that respect today. I have pictures that I took in the late 50's early 60's in Florida of signs that made if very clear what was for whites and what was for "non-whites". Looking back it is hard to believe that it was so prevalent when I was young. I wonder what color we will be in Heaven? I bet we will not even notice.
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