The Great Coin Toss of Destiny: How Portland Almost Became Beantown West
Ah, Portland. City of Roses, Raincoats, and... wait a minute, Roses and Raincoats sound much cooler than "Boston on the Willamette." That's right, folks, our fair city almost had a completely different name, thanks to a twist of fate that would make a nickelodeon weep. Buckle up, history buffs (and those who appreciate a good chuckle), because we're about to delve into the hilarious happenstance that almost gave us a completely different cup of joe.
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| What Was Portland Oregon Almost Named |
The Founding Fathers (Well, Kinda)
It all goes back to 1845, when Portland was a wee little settlement known as "The Clearing." Enter our two founding fathers, Asa Lovejoy and Francis Pettygrove. Hold on, "founding fathers"? More like "dudes who showed up and decided to build a town." But hey, gotta start somewhere, right?
Anyway, these two fellas hailed from vastly different corners of the US of A. Lovejoy, a proper Bostonian through and through, probably yearned for those crisp autumn walks and clam chowder on every corner. Pettygrove, on the other hand, brought a touch of Maine to the table (lobster rolls not included).
Tip: Don’t skip the details — they matter.
The Plot Thickens (or Should We Say, Thins?)
So, here's the dilemma: how do you name a town when the founders can't agree? A fistfight? Name-calling? A dramatic poetry slam? Nope! These guys, ever the resourceful Yankees, decided to settle it the American way: with a good old-fashioned coin toss.
Tip: Stop when you find something useful.
Heads for Boston, tails for... well, you get the picture. Can you imagine the suspense? The coin spinning through the air, glinting in the weak frontier sun? (Okay, it was probably more like a muddy puddle, but let's have some dramatic flair here, people!)
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And the Winner Is...
In a victory that would forever alter the breakfast pastry landscape of the Pacific Northwest, Francis Pettygrove and his lucky coin emerged victorious. Portland, Maine, it seems, had a distant cousin waiting to be born.
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Just think, folks, if that coin had landed differently, we might be chowing down on Fenway Franks instead of Voodoo Doughnuts. We could be sipping on Dunkin' Donuts coffee instead of locally roasted Stumptown. The world, as we know it, could have been a very different place.
Phew! A Rose by Any Other Name...
QuickTip: Read step by step, not all at once.
So next time you're strolling through Powell's City of Books or sipping a microbrew at a local pub, raise a glass (or a pint) to that fateful coin toss. Because let's be honest, Portland just sounds way cooler than "New Boston."
FAQs
- How to impress your friends with useless Portland trivia? Whip out this story about the coin toss! Bonus points for dramatic re-enactment.
- How to avoid a disagreement over naming something? Coin toss, always coin toss. (Unless it's your firstborn child, then maybe a different approach is recommended.)
- How to tell if someone is from Boston? They'll probably try to convince you that Portland should have been named after their fair city. Don't worry, a friendly debate is perfectly acceptable.
- How to make the perfect cup of coffee (Portland-style)? Strong, locally roasted beans, brewed slow and steady. Just don't expect any Dunkin' Donuts around here.
- How to find the lucky Portland Penny? Head down to the Oregon Historical Society Museum. They've got it on display, a tiny testament to the day fate (and a coin) decided the name of a city.
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