Mission: “COVID-19 No More”

As businesses and organizations across the country grappled with ways to slow the spread of COVID-19, the Oregon Historical Society (OHS) made the difficult but necessary decision to close its museum to the public and pause research services on March 14, 2020, in an effort to support social distancing recommendations. In the weeks leading up to this voluntary closure, a small crew of staff worked tirelessly to keep the building clean and safe for our staff, volunteers, and visitors, amidst this unprecedented pandemic. We are so lucky at OHS to be surrounded by colleagues who, despite these uncertain times, raise our spirits. 

One of OHS’s custodians, David Benge, wrote a poem (that we’ll post below) to assure OHS staff that all would be okay. It’s this kind of optimism and humor that will get us through this period of isolation, as Oregonians heed Governor Kate Brown's March 23, 2020 Executive Order 20-12 to "Stay Home, Save Lives." This is why Dear Oregon will increase its twice-monthly posts to twice a week during this public closure. Readers can expect to see the in-depth posts you’ve come to expect on Tuesdays, followed by lighter posts on Thursdays to bring some levity to your week.

As always, we appreciate your friendship and generosity as we continue our commitment to paying staff salaries and healthcare benefits. And as David shared in a recent email communication to all staff, “Take care everybody! I’m already excited to see your smiling faces back here very, very soon.”

COVID-19 No More

I’m not one to engage in violence
But to keep ya’ll from the ick
You may see me stalk in silence
The Covid for to lick

They say the secret to this is much bleach
No virus can withstand it
So I will hit every place I can reach
Your health and mine demand it

Face masks won’t do the trick they say
But you should wash your fingers
And if you get sick at home please stay
The symptoms tend to linger

So if you see me madly wiping
Please know it’s for your good
I’m not trying to join the scary hyping
Just doing what everyone should

by David Benge