What’s in a name?

When Louis Southworth was told he could not attend the local Baptist church if he continued to play his fiddle, he said: “Was brought up a Baptist. But the brethren would not stand my fiddle, which was about all of the company I had much of the time. So, I told them to keep me in the church with my fiddle if they could, but to turn me out if they must, for I could not think of parting with the fiddle. I reckon my name isn’t written in their books here anymore; but I somehow hope it’s written in the big book up yonder, where they aren’t so particular about fiddles.”

By Gretchen Ammerman

Oregon Coast TODAY

Every February since 1976, Black History Month has been a time to reflect on the contributions of African Americans and recognize their central role in US history.

It is an apt time to focus on a historically significant name that was almost lost to the coast until Waldport native Jesse Dolin learned the story.

Darkey Creek and Darkey Creek Road in Waldport were named after Louis Southworth, based on, as history tells, his nickname. The names were changed in 1999 as part of a process to remove derogatory terms from area landmarks. The creek is now Southworth Creek and the road, which went through Southworth’s old homestead, is now Forest Road 3489.

“I grew up across the street from Darkey Creek Road and I always assumed it was because salmon turn dark when they return from the ocean,” Dolin said. “When I heard about the name change and why it was happening, I grew interested in learning more about the story. After finding out how much he contributed to the area, I thought, ‘We need to honor this person.’”

The more he learned about Louis, the more impassioned Dolin, who works as the Central Coast destination coordinator for the Oregon Coast Visitors Association, became.

“It’s a story that deserves to be told,” he said. “I was kind of embarrassed to have not known it. One of the things that’s so impressive about his story is that he was embraced in the community during a very difficult time in state history.”

Some of the Oregon history that Dolin learned when he began to do more research includes the Oregon Black Exclusion law, adopted in 1844 by the Provisional Government.

The law mandated that black people trying to settle in Oregon would be publicly whipped with 39 lashes, repeated every six months until they left. Though no documented records of official whippings exist, the message was clear. The Oregon Constitution, passed in 1859, contained an exclusion clause that made it illegal for African Americans to live in Oregon. The clause was not repealed until 1926.

“This was a racist state,” Dolin said. “There’s a reason there are so few people of color here.”

Louis was brought to Oregon a slave.

Though slavery was not technically legal in the state, his owner, James Southworth, petitioned successfully to have Louis still considered as “his property.” Louis eventually persuaded his master to let him go to the gold fields in California and Nevada where, in a little under a year, he made $300 mining and earned more by entertaining people in the camps with his fiddle. At 28, he bought his freedom for $1,000, found work as a blacksmith, learned to read and write and married.

In 1879, Louis began homesteading about five miles east of Waldport with his wife and adopted son.

He ferried cargo and passengers across Alsea Bay and grew hay. On election day in 1880, when a fierce southwest storm raised whitecaps on the bay, Louis rigged two oil drums to his boat for buoyancy and rowed across to the polling place. He was the only man in Waldport to vote that day.

Serving for a time as chair of the school board, Louis donated land for a local schoolhouse. And he continued to entertain with his fiddle.

“This isn’t just a story about a black man being embraced by the white community,” Dolin said. “It’s also about what this place was and the people who helped make it what it is today.”

The idea of memorializing Louis began to grow when Highway 34 was designated a scenic byway and part of the project was an audio guide.

“I was asked to be a part of the team to figure out which stories to tell,” Dolin said, “and I wanted to include the story of Louis, but there was no physical thing to reference.”

The plan, which includes partnerships with Oregon Black Pioneers and the City of Waldport, is now to build “Louis Southworth Memorial Park” at a city-owned site where Waldport High School used to be.

“There is poetry about the fact that he donated land for the first schoolhouse in Waldport to have this memorial on the former school grounds,” Dolin said. “We are also partnering with bronze artist Pete Helzer to potentially create a sculpture.”

Helzer has sculptures all over the state including two in Eugene, “The Storyteller,” a memorial to Ken Kesey in Broadway Plaza and the Rosa Parks sculpture in Rosa Parks Plaza.

“Part of my passion is that I want to create a space for people to learn about the life of this man, but also to reflect and to give pause about this part of the state’s history,” Dolin said, adding: “Even if we can’t get this funded right now, I want to keep this dream alive.”

For more information or to help make the project happen, email Dolin at ddcentral@thepeoplescoast.com.