Wait who is trying to shut down Besaw’s? Petition to Shut Besaw’s Saloon!
Yes 3,144 Portlander’s signed a petition to close Besaw’s in May 1905. Voters wanted all bars closed that were near the 1905 Fair Grounds. It was this movement that led to prohibition. This fun fact was more relevant when there was a fight to save the building.
1880 According to Portland Maps the building on the northwest corner of N.W. 23rd Ave. and Savier St. was built.
1903 Besaw/ The Oaks (Saloon) 755 North Savier (this is now part of Tavern and Pool northeast corner of N.W. 23rd Ave. and Savier St.
1904 – Besaw & Liberty (George Besaw Jr. and Patrick Liberty) 761 Savier (saloon)
1905 – Besaw & Liberty (George Besaw Jr. and Patrick Liberty) 761 Savier (saloon) 765 Savier (restaurant)
1906-9 Besaw & Liberty (George Besaw Jr. and Patrick Liberty) 761 (saloon) Savier 761.5 (restaurant)
1910 Besaw & Liberty 761 Savier
1911-15 Besaw & Liberty (George D. Besaw & Medrick Liberty) 761 Savier (alteration permit in 1912)
1916 –closed/vacant
1917-18 – Besaw & Liberty Soft Drinks 761 Savier
…
1921-22 – Besaws (Confectionary)
1925-1930 – Solo Club Restaurant
1931-1933 – George Besaw Jr. Restaurant
1932 – Building permit for a card room approved
- 1967-1972 Besaw’s Restaurant 2301 NW Savier St. Clyde Besaw
1973- 1987 Vacant
1988-May 2015 Besaw’s Café 2301 Savier
Jan. 2016 Besaw’s restaurant managed by Cana Flug reopens at NW 21st and Raleigh
Jan. 2017 CE John demolishes historic structure at NW23rd and Savier
National Impacting Events
Lewis & Clark Centennial 1905
Oregon Prohibition Period 1914 -1933
National Prohibition 1919-1933
Great Depression 1929
Polk Research
1901-02 none white or restaurants or saloons
1903- Saloon Besaw George 755 Savier
1904- Besaw & Liberty 761 Savier saloon
George Besaw and Patrick Liberty
1905 Besaw & Liberty 761 Savior saloon
Besaw and Liberty rest. 765 Savier saloon 761 Savier
1906 Besaw George (Besaw & Liberty) re. 761.5 Savier
Besaw & Liberty (saloon 761)
1907-08 saloon Besaw & Liberty 761 Savier (no rest)
1909 Besaw George (Besaw & Liberty) rest 761.5 Savier
Besaw and liberty saloon 761 Savier
1910 – none rs. None rest. Saloon Besaw & Liberty 761 Savier
1911 –Besaw George D b. 761.5 Savier
Besaw Geo E (Besaw & Liberty) h. 761.5 Savier
Besaw & Liberty (Geo E Bewsaw Medrick Liberty saloon 761 Savier
1912-Besaw & Liberty 761 Savier
1913- Besaw Geo lab b 366 21st N
Besaw Geo D (Besaw & Liberty) h 366 21st N
Besaw & Liberty (Geo D Besaw Medrick Liberty) saloon 761 savier
1914 Besaw Geo D (Emma) (Besaw & Liberty) h. 366 21st N
Besaw & Liberty (Geo D. Besaw Merdrick Liberty) Saloon 761 Savier
Liberty, Medrick (Olive) h 815 Savier
1915 – Bewsaw Geo D (Emma F) (Besaw & Liberty) h. 366 22nd N
Besaw & Liberty saloon 761 Savier
[Oregon Prohibition starts 4 years earlier than national both last until 1933]
1916 – Besaw Geo D (Emma F) h 366 21st n
No Saloon
No Rest
No Soft Drink
1917
No Saloon
No Rest
Besaw & Liberty Soft Drinks 761 Savier
Besaw still at 366 21st n
1918
Besaw & Liberty Soft Drinks 761 Savier (366 N 21st)
1919 (no directory that year)
1920 –No listing soft drinks
Liberty Merdrick (Olive) carmn h 815 Savier
1921-22
no rest
no soft drink
Besaw Geo (Emma) conf 761 Savior Home 366 21st N
(Stands for Confectioners-Retail)
1923
Besaw Geo soft drinks 761 Savior
1924
Besaw Geo (Emma) soft drinks 761 Savier h 366 21st n
(Liberty Medrick wife Olive lives at 732 Thurman)
1925
Besaw-Geo (Emma- Solo Club Restr ) h 366 21st n
Liberty Medrick (Olive) 732 Thurman
Solo Club Restaurant 761 Savier
1926
No Besaw
Solo Club Restaurant 761 Savier
1927
Solo Club Restaurant 761 Savier
Besaw Clyde C r 366 21st N
-Geo (Emma F) Solo Club Restr h 366 21st N
1928
Besaw Clyde C. opr E E Daily r366 21st n
Geo D (Emma F.; Solo Club Restr) h 366 21st N
Solo Club Rest 761 Savier
1929
Besaw Clyde C opr EE Daily r 366 [31] N
Geo D (Emma S) (Solo Club Restr) h 366 21st n
Solo Club Restaurant 761 Savier
1930
Besaw Clyde C serviceman EE Daily r 366 N 21st
Besaw Geo (Emma) Solo Club h. 366 21st
No Solo Club in rest
1931
Besaw Geo (Emma) restr 761 Savier h 366 21st n
Besaw Geo 761 Savier {under Restaurants}
1932
Besaw Geo (Emma) rest 761 Savier h 366 21st n
1933
Besaw Clyde C (June) cook
Geo D (Emma) restr 761 Savier h 366 21st n
Besaw 761 Savier
1934
1966
no directory published
1971
Besaw Clyde (Irene) (Besaw’s Restaurant) SW 6790 Canby
Besaw’s Restaurant 2301 NW Savier St.
1972
Besaw’s Restaurant 2301 NW Savier St.
Owned by Clyde and Mrs. Irene Besaw
1973
Chester Besaw mech Columbia Body & Equip h 1715 NW 23rd Ave
No other Besaw last names in phonebook
No rest listing
1974
no Besaw
1975
(reverse directory) 2301 Vacant
1979
(reverse directory) 2301 Vacant
1983
No rest. Besaw
1984
Library does not have
1985
No last names Besaw
No rest.
1987
(reverse directory) 2301 NW Savior St. No Return
1988 library does not have
1989
Besaw’s Café [& Beesaw’s Café]2301 Savier