Theodore Gegoux  
The West Coast Years
(1910 to 1931)  

Chapter Seventeen - Aurora District   1916 to 1919

"After having looked over thoroughly the material at hand, I am now convinced that I can produce a strong work of art (Birth of Oregon).  Of course the child is named, and that long ago, but it will be many months before it can be born." Theodore Gegoux to George Himes, February 1916

Aurora District   Gegoux delivered, in January 1916, the Portland Mayors portraits to Mr. Himes at the Oregon Historical Society.   Following that in February of 1916, Gegoux established a studio in Aurora, Oregon, which Guy V. Abernethy described in a Portland news article as the old Jette Saloon.  Gegoux was setting out to paint a great historical canvas, which had been first proposed by George Himes of the Oregon Hhistorical Society in 1910.   The Aurora District contains the area known as Champoeg.   Bearing a name that is Native American in origin as opposed to French, Champoeg State Park is located on the East (South) side of the Willamette River approximately 15 miles southwest of Portland.  The name has gone through a variety of spellings and pronunciations since the early 1800's, but a great many people have settled on calling it "Shampooie", and that seems to satisfy most everyone.  The full story behind the park name is too lengthy to explain here.   The history of Oregon did not begin at Champoeg, but that which occurred in 1843 on that relatively small patch of ground on the banks of the "Wallamet River", and an area known as French Prairie, was to have a tremendous far-reaching impact that even the area residents probably did not fully appreciate at the time.  Until that small river front settlement called Champoeg was completely destroyed by a flood in 1861 it was considered by some as a thriving community destined to rival Oregon City as the major business center of the future.  Of course, Portland survived to prove them both wrong. Still, in the minds of many, Champoeg is recognized as the birthplace of Oregon.   Although quite a number of Oregonians know where the park is located, few are aware that a vote taken at this site May 2, 1843 between American settlers and former employees of the Hudson's Bay Company established the first provisional American government on the Pacific Coast.  That action was one of the principal factors which led to Oregon becoming a United States Territory in 1848 and, ultimately, to becoming the Union's 33rd state in 1859.   The Friends of Historic Champoeg, a group of volunteers interested in the preservation and enhancement of the park's unique place in Pacific Northwest history, sponsor a number of events each year, among which are the Indian Summer Folklife Festival in September, a historical pageant performed in the amphitheater during the summer, Pioneer School ( a reenactment of a one-room school house in the early to mid-nineteenth century ), and a special event in early May commemorating that all important vote for an American government.  Anyone who desires to participate or otherwise support these efforts is encouraged to write to Friends of Historic Champoeg, 8239 Champoeg Road NE, St.Paul, Oregon 97137.   "Guy V. Abernethy, who was in town Monday, said in a recent visit he made to Champoeg, he found an artist, Theodore Gegoux, a French Canadian, from New York, at work in the old building at one time occupied by the Adolph Jette saloon, engaged in painting a picture on canvas of the scene of May 2, 1843, when Joe Meek made his now famous call for those who favored "a divide" to step over the line.  The canvas is some seven feet by fourteen, and Mr. Abernethy says the painting is apparently going to be a fine piece of work.  The artist told him that George H. Himes, of the Oregon Historical Society, was giving him valuable assistance in order that it may be historically correct.  The river and plot of ground where the meeting was held is shown, and of course Meek is the central figure, as with raised hand, makes the call for the "divide".  The artist says that when the painting is completed he will consider nothing less than $10,000 for it.  Mr. Abernethy says that with one of the old saloon buildings of Champoeg being used by a famous artist and the other by a religious sect for holding divine services, time works some changes in the historic old town. (1)   (1) Newspaper Article, believed to be the Oregonian, circa 1917.   There Gegoux began drafting sketches for his historical canvas "The Inception of the Birth of Oregon" (80 inches x 130 inches).  This painting was to be his masterpiece, depicting the gathering at Champoeg on May 2, 1843 where the settlers voted to form Oregon's first provisional government.   "Theo came to Oregon because he felt there was material for a great canvas here.  He found it in the historic gathering at Champoeg, where, on May 2, 1843, Oregon was given to the Union by a narrow vote.  In that event, he thought he saw something very close to the heart of Oregon and that which, once painted, would be treasured by the state.  The data was difficult to gather.  It was a big task.  Of the 52 pioneers who voted to swing their homes under the American flag, but one was living.  Even he is dead now.  And of many of the others all trace had disappeared. But he found pictures of close to 28 and rounded out the number with minute descriptions of the remainder.  He had a problem. He wanted to put down the very spirit of that tumultuous meeting in the warehouse near where the Pioneer Memorial now stands.  But he didn't have all the faces.  But he had read the history closely and he recalled that when the vote of "ayes" and "nays" had failed to settle the matter, Joe Meek strode out into the air and called the others after him.  And this movement he decided to paint, the exterior of the warehouse, the open door, Joe Meek, just out, and calling upon his fellows, and the others pouring forth at his call."(2)   (2) The Oregonian - Jay Allen, May 1923   Disaster nearly struck in early 1918, when there was a fire at his studio in Aurora.  Apparently the house in which he had his studio was gutted by fire and Gegoux lost nearly everything.  Fortunately however, his masterpiece was saved. Then in July 1918, Gegoux moved his nearly finished work to Champoeg and took up residence in the Memorial House.  At some point during the spring of 1918, Gegoux's studio, in an old house, was gutted by fire, destroying nearly all of the contents. It is a miracle that the Jette family was able to save the great painting.  Gegoux lost almost all of his supplies and all of the pictures of the founders, on loan from the historical society, were all burned.  The Jette's were able to save several works of art, which without their courageous effort, would have perished in this fire.  Suffice it to say that this was a tragedy for Theo, although the pain was less owing to the great canvas having been saved by Mr. Jette.

News Article - Oregonian, May 3, 1901     Champoeg Monument Unveiling

News Article - Sunday Oregonian, May 8, 1910     Subject for a great historical painting .. Himes.

Letter - Gegoux to Himes, February 12, 1916       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Work begins on the Birth of Oregon

Letter - Gegoux to Himes, February 15, 1916       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Receipt for five dollars loaned by Judge D'Arcy.

Letter - Himes to Gegoux, February 18, 1916       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Five (5) confirmed names of attendees at the May 2, 1843 meeting.

Oregon Historical Society, March, 1917   Champoeg Memorial Building Founded

Contract (part A) - between Gegoux and Himes, August 18, 1917       Portable Document Format (PDF)       Contract (part B) - between Gegoux and Himes, August 18, 1917       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Terms and conditions for the sale of the Mayors Portraits - $100 dollars each.

Equipment List - July 24, 1918     List of Supplies issued to Gegoux for his Caretaker Duties at Champoeg Park

Letter - Gegoux to Himes, August 20, 1918       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Annouces readiness to accept visitors to see the Birth of Oregon .. mentions the Himes crayons .. and picking strawberries

Letter - Gegoux to Himes, September 10, 1918       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Shoes were two small .. saw your comments about the painting .. do not reproduce it; people would not travel to see the original.

Letter - Himes to Gegoux, September 10, 1918   Sent five (5) dollars .. and regards

Letter - Gegoux to Himes, September 14, 1918       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Thanks for fiver .. no progress on painting write up.

Letter - Gegoux to Himes, September 18, 1918       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Regards .. and painting write up.

Letter - Gegoux to Abernethy, September 29, 1918       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Thanks for gift .. rowed the river to Newberg.

Letter - Gegoux to Moshberger, December 16, 1918   About the Moshberger portrait

Letter - Gegoux to Himes, August 5, 1919       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Crayon portraits of Geo. Himes' parents completed

Letter - Himes to Gegoux, August 6, 1919   Payment for crayon portraits of Geo. Himes' parents

Letter - Gegoux to Himes, August 8, 1919       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Gegoux wants to repay the five dollars from Judge D'Arcy .. and a statement of what Himes owes him.

Receipt - Gegoux to Himes, August 8, 1919       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Acknowledging payment for crayon portraits of Himes' parents.

Letter - Himes to Gegoux, August 21, 1919   Five (5) dollars acknowledged .. and regards

Receipt - Gegoux to Himes, August 21, 1919       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Receipt of cash advanced ..

Letter - Gegoux to Himes, September 2, 1919       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Requests statement of indebtedness ..

Letter - Gegoux to Himes, December 21, 1919       Portable Document Format (PDF)         Cold weather ruins vegetables .. wants to sale the Birth of Oregon ..

Letter - Himes to Gegoux, December 24, 1919   Merry Christmas .. interest in the Birth of Oregon .. pioneer Christmas Eve story of the Himes children .. painting request ..

Letter - Gegoux to Moshbergers, February 28, 1920   Baby chicks .. and child's portrait

Founders Day Flyer, May, 1920   Introduction to the Birth of Oregon ..