Thanksgiving in Beaverton, 1950s – A long tradition of celebrating thanks

Thanksgiving Day traces its origins to 1621 when English colonists and Wampanoag Confederacy shared a feast to celebrate the harvest and give thanks for the blessings of the past year. President Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation in 1863 declaring Thanksgiving an official national holiday to be celebrated in November to signal unity and alleviate the nation’s anguish over the Civil War.

Restaurant dining for the big day in Washington County in 1950 was unusual. All newspaper articles and ads mentioned only home-prepared or public turkey dinners, often served at bazaars held by fraternal and women’s social organizations or by church congregations gathered for the holiday event. While local customs and traditions may have varied, families gathered around the dining room table generally preferred a traditional Thanksgiving menu: roast turkey, stuffing, giblet gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potato or green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, celery, buttered peas, olives, hot rolls, and pecan, mincemeat, or pumpkin pie (Can’t forget the Jello-o salad!).

The federal minimum hourly wage in 1950 was 75 cents, about $10.00 in 2025 By then, World War II wage and price controls as well as rationing had been lifted. War time shortages were in the past. Beaverton’s 2,572 residents reaped the benefits of the post-war significant economic boom and increase in consumer spending.

Miller’s Market in the Cady Building (Farmington and Watson) urged housewives to order their U S Grade No. 1 turkey a few days before Thanksgiving and purchase chrysanthemums for table décor. Thrifty Market at the corner of Broadway St. and Hall Avenue reminded customers that all the fixings were available in the store. Tom turkeys were 41 cents a pound ($5.51 in 2025), hens were 52 cents a pound; cranberry sauce, 10 cents a can (or fresh, 19 cents a pound); bulk mincemeat, 25 cents a pound; potatoes, 45 cents for 10 pounds; pumpkin, 3 cans for 25 cents; ½ gallon of wine, $1.49. A box of Royal Anne Cherries at Benson’s City Market at Broadway and East Streets was 69 cents. A can of crab was the same price. Apples were 24 cents for 2 pounds.

For loved ones who couldn’t travel for family gatherings, a telephone conversation was as much a part of the day as turkey. Expecting a large number of local and long-distance callers and busy lines, West Coast Telephone Company asked customers to place their calls early and respect party line cooperation.

It was also a time of generosity and communal giving. The spirit of sharing was clear as charitable and civic organizations and churches worked together to collect cash, food, and clothing for the destitute in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. They responded to emergency appeals from United Nations Forces for winter clothing and bedding for troops that had been sent to South Korea at the onset of the 1950-1953 Korean War.

College students came home. Out of town family and friends visited. Leftovers were consumed. Topping off the week was the annual football game between Oregon State College and the University of Oregon. Oregon State won 14-2. New traditions and activities emerge, but the legacy of coming together in gratitude that began over 400 years ago continues.

By Ann Koppy, local historian.