Did you know that half of our Mt. Scott-Arleta neighborhood name comes from Harvey Scott, an early settler and influential figure with The Oregonian newspaper? The peak Mt. Scott is located nearby in Clackamas County which is named after Harvey Scott. While he played a significant role in our local history, it’s a controversial history with lasting impacts.
A recent series of articles by The Oregonian show that Harvey Scott, alongside Henry Pittock, published content that was overtly racist and “made Oregon a more hostile place for people of color.”
Pacific University of Oregon renamed a hall that was previously named after Harvey Scott. Additionally, a statue of Scott, created by a Ku Klux Klan member, was knocked down at Mt. Tabor during the racial justice protests of 2020.
This raises an important question for everyone in the neighborhood: What does it mean for our neighborhood to have its namesake come from someone with such a controversial past? We encourage you to consider this and review the articles. Be warned, it is not light reading.
Does knowing this history change your view of Mt. Scott-Arleta as a welcoming community? We are eager to hear about your thoughts on addressing our neighborhood’s history.