Portland Street Names – October 12, 1921 – Everett

The ceremonies celebrating the consolidation of Portland, East Portland, and Albina, were extensive and magnificent. One feature was a parade of the state national guard, civic departments, clubs and fraternal organizations. In those days a parade was a bigger event than it is now when it combats for public notice a far more intensive and complex scheme of life.

Besides the parade there was little else worthy of notice in Portland that day. The procession was led by Colonel Edward Everett, still lving and at that time colonel of the 3d Oregon infantry regiment, which he had organized. The route was through the principal streets of Portland and across the river to East Portland and Albina. It was a tour of inspection of the new city as well as a parade.

Shortly afterward the streets letters in alphabetical order were renamed for pioneers and prominent citizens. “A” becoming Ankeny, “B” for Burnside, and so on. Colonel Everett modestly says the naming committee had a difficult time with “E” street, there being no pioneer of sufficient prominence, and with a name beginning with “E”; so, he says, after much search they gave up and named the street for him. He never received an official notification of the honor.

Colonel Everett was born in Boston in 1856 and in 1877 went to San Francisco. In 1883 he came to Portland on a visit and liked the city so much he decided to stay. In the early years of his residence he was prominent in a variety of ways, chiefly through his national guard activities. Apathy toward politics and public duties caused him to decline a number of tendered offices.

In 1888 the insurance firm known as Everett & Co. was organized by him and still exists under his direction. Before that he had been a broker. Colonel Everett, although not in the best of health, is still actively engaged in the insurance business, and is at his office frequently.