History never stops, so it’s time again for The Quest Continues. Thanks for joining me, your host and fellow Oregon Black Pionerd, Mariah, for the most recent BHQ update. Keep reading for a recap of our last episode, updates connected to earlier investigations, and a peek at what’s to come!
Black History Quest: Who was Cleo Kelly, and how did prohibition shape her life in Central Oregon?
https://www.youtube.com/live/eu_tW6ZM69U
For Women’s History Month, we partnered with LeeAnn O’Neill, principal for Allyship in Action. LeeAnn has been working with Deschutes Historical Museum to rediscover stories about communities of color in Central Oregon. Their executive director suggested an investigation into a newspaper clipping about a Black woman in Bend whose home was raided 50 times in a year during Prohibition.
LeeAnn did a deep dive into Cleo Kelly’s story, tracing it from Tennessee to the Pacific Northwest. Cleo owned a home in Bend on Arizona Ave, in a part of town colloquially known as Whiskey Flats, as a lot of alcohol was sold and consumed there during prohibition. She operated a home-based boarding and laundry service, achieving financial independence but also inviting drama into her home.
In July of 1923, a tenant of hers was caught up in a brawl, leading Cleo to become a witness in the trial. This may have put a target on her back; though Cleo took advantage of the fact that women during prohibition were often less scrutinized by law enforcement than men, she would soon become subject to raids and arrests.
She sought out family and the local Black community wherever she lived along the West Coast. She may have found trouble, but she was not afraid to make a deal with the Bend chief of police or escape when the opportunity arose.
This BHQ episode didn’t discover that Cleo was a bootlegger, but her story offers a glimpse into the realities facing Black women during that era.
In the episode, LeeAnn mentioned an idea for future research:
A Neighborhood Connection
One of Cleo Kelly’s neighbors on Arizona Ave was Ed Simmons, a founding member of the Bend Colored Men’s Business Club. Before this investigation, LeeAnn had already helped uncover more about that story, which you can find here.
The Research Never Stops
If you watched this episode, you may have noticed a shoutout to a previous History Investigator, Brad Lemmon. Brad helped support research into John A. Brown for episode 5, which we eventually incorporated into a Snap Shot and included in our Staking Their Claim online exhibit. Brad is a voracious researcher, and in addition to helping LeeAnn with the research for our most recent episode, he has continued to research Henry Hawkins, so we’ll hopefully have more to share about this central Oregon homesteader in the future. Stay tuned!
Up Next
Our next episode is almost here! This May, we’re partnering with professional historian Milo Reed to take a look at the legacy of the Sunflower Camp along Oregon’s coast.
Stream Milo’s episode live on Wednesday, May 27th at 7:00 PM on Facebook or YouTube to learn more!
Join us!
Do you have any insights to share about the stories featured on BHQ? We would love to hear from you! Please don’t hesitate to reach out and help uncover more of Oregon’s Black history.
Interested in becoming a future history investigator? Send an email to hello@oregonblackpioneers.org!
Can’t get enough? Check out all of our previous episodes of Black History Quest on YouTube.
Signing off,
