The Gresham Bed Races!

Jon and Cheryl's frame holds this rolling "bed" together.
Here we see Sadie, Sophie, Duncan and Cammie after they came in second place in the race!.

The annual Gresham Bed Races were held recently up in Gresham, Oregon.  They are a fund-raising event for the Mount Hood Community College.  Most of the competitors are local businesses and restaurants who are all owned by local families who have been in Gresham for generations.

However, the folks on Victoria Avenue have traditionally competed for the fun of it, and get all the neighbors involved.  I think that's such a great idea.

I also love the bright colors!  It sounds like the kids had a lot of fun.  Last year they got a plaque for best bed and costumes, so they put forth their best efforts to do it again this year.

My friend Desiree supplied these wonderful pictures of the races, as well as some photos of the historical buildings of the older part of Gresham where she lives.

This Victorian Church dates back to the early days of the last century
It's no longer used as a church.

According to Desiree, Gresham was an old timber and farming community.  This whole area expanded in the late 1800s after the railroad came in.  The first settlers to the Willamette Valley, west of here, came in covered wagons along the old Oregon Trail.

She further writes, "I love the architecture!  Our little historic downtown is still very Victorian and filled with wonderful small businesses and sidewalk cafes."

Gresham is located in Multnomah County, Oriegon, in the western United States, immediately east of Portland.  It was named after the American Civil War General and Postmaster General, Walter Quinton Gresham.  It's currently the fourth largest city in Oregon.

The original Gresham Library, built in 1910

The beautiful Gresham Library, shown above, now houses the Gresham Museum and Historical Society.

The Black-Eyed Susans are still coming on strong.
Desiree says their blooms herald the end of summer.

Regarding the Black-Eyed Susans (above), Desiree writes, "When they bloom you know it's the end of summer!  We begin to look forward to the shorter days, earlier sunsets and cooling weather when they arrive.  They are part of my annual time clock!"

Back to the races:

The races in action!

This (above) was the kids' final heat off the starting line on the green light.  Here we see the Victoria Avenue kids racing against the martial arts school, who were all boys twice their age and size.  Those plucky little girls still managed to come in second over all, earning medals and a plaque!

You go, girls!

Sounds like it was a lot of fun.  Again, a big hearty thank-you to Desiree for sharing this very colorful event - and a little bit of her hometown - with all of us.