Wiley Griffon

Wiley Griffon (HM24SE)

Location: Eugene, OR 97403 Lane County
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Country: United States of America
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N 44° 1.925', W 123° 4.446'

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Inscription

1867 - 6/26/1913

Once described as "Eugene's pioneer colored citizen", and "one of the most industrious colored men in Eugene", Wiley Griffon was well known on the streets of Eugene. A tram operator, he drove the city's "horse" drawn trolleys. These trolleys preceded what eventually became Lane Transit District today. The fare was 5 cents and children were described as saving their pennies to ride with Mr. Griffon who would give them hard candy, stories, and sometimes a free ride home. His carriage carried many Eugene citizens to their final rest here in this cemetery.

Mr. Griffon was neither the first or only African-American in Eugene. He was the first one mentioned by name as being a resident. Despite exclusion laws in effect at the time forbidding the presence of non-white American citizens in Oregon and Eugene, Mr. Griffon and others came to live here.

Mr. Griffon owned a home overlooking the Millrace on the site of what is now EWEB's employee parking lot. He was employed variously, as a janitor for the university dormitory, a waiter on railroad dining cars, and a porter at the Elks Club when he died. In one obituary he was fondly remembered for having a ready smile, a kind word, being a devout and devoted Christian, and a man who was not known to drink, or use profanity. Another obituary indicates some of what he must have



endured to live and make a home here. It is to that spirit of endurance this historical monument is dedicated.
Details
HM NumberHM24SE
Tags
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Placed ByLane Community College Black Student Union, Erik & Ann Muller, Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB), Lane ESD Teaching American History, the Eugene Human Rights Commission, Lane County Human Rights and Affirmative Action Advisory Committee, Adrian & Khaliyah Rodriguez, Cheri Turpin & Mark Harris: I, Too Am Eugene: A Multicultural History Project
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Saturday, January 20th, 2018 at 7:05am PST -08:00
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Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)10T E 494062 N 4875438
Decimal Degrees44.03208333, -123.07410000
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 44° 1.925', W 123° 4.446'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds44° 1' 55.5" N, 123° 4' 26.76" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)541
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 1244-1270 E 25th Ave, Eugene OR 97403, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

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