In Wisdom's Footsteps

1961 Northwest Glisan Street,Portland OR 97209

30 July, 2021

Description

This is a fundraiser for Bethel Economic Development Corporation. We will walk from the location of the site of Mr. Joseph Anderson & Sarah This is a fundraiser for Bethel Economic Development Corporation.  We will walk from the location of the site of Mr. Joseph Anderson & Sarah Wisdom's home (no longer standing) to his former job site at the customhouse and the site of Bethel AME Church (a former Japanese Mission where Bethel AME members worshipped until 1916 when the congregation moved to North Larrabee).  We will also walk to the Golden West Hotel and discuss the segregation and the Public Accommodation Act of 1953.  The Wisdoms were former slaves. Mr. Wisdom was a Trustee of Bethel AME Church.   Sarah Wisdom passed July 29, 1910 at their home on Glisan Street.  She was born a slave out side of Washington D.C. in 1824 and when she ran away she stopped going by Ellen Lowe and made it to Oregon in 1864 (Thirteenth Amendment 1965).  Her first husband was Andrew Johnson and she went by Sarah Frances Johnson.  Her first husbanded died in a horse accident.  Her second husband Joseph (Joe) Anderson Wisdom was born a slave in Kentucky on June 8, 1848.  In 1889 he might have been part of the small group of people who met in Philip Jenkin’s home and organized Bethel AME Church. Lead Tour Guide Tanya Lyn March has a PhD in Urban Studies from PSU and a Masters in Historic Preservation from Columbia University. She loves Slabtown.