January 5 - History Pubs are back at the Axe and Fiddle in Downtown Cottage Grove! Come down Jan 10th from 5-7pm and hear Steve Williamson tell about the Ping Yang School bombings. Ping Yang was a small school in Mohawk, Oregon. The school was bombed three times between 1895 and 1901. No one was ever arrested. Williamson will tell who he believes was behind the bombings and who stood up to oppose them. It’s an exciting story of Oregon history.  

Why was a rural Oregon school named “Ping Yang”, an Asian name? The answer was a mix of racial, religious and social tensions that exploded in the small, rapidly growing community. Enjoy this true story while enjoying great food and beverages! The History Pub is sponsored by the Cottage Grove Downtown Association, the Partners in History and the Axe and Fiddle. 

Steve Williamson is best known as our communities' Opal Whiteley historian. But, for twenty years he has chaired the Heritage Exhibit for the annual Oregon Asian Celebration in Eugene. Working as a "gandy dancer" during college made him appreciate the hard labor that Asian road and railroad workers contributed. In addition to being on the Heritage Committee of the Asian Celebration, Steve serves on the boards of the Cottage Grove Historical Society and the Singing Creek Educational Center. You can also read his stories of Asian immigrants at www.asianoregon.org