author
Simon Benson
1851–1942
An immigrant lumberman who helped shape Portland, he turned business success into lasting public gifts, from the famous Benson Bubblers to support for schools, parks, and roads.
1 Audiobook
Third biennial report of the Oregon State Highway Commission : covering the period December 1st, 1916 to November 30th, 1918
by Simon Benson, R. A. (Robert Asbury) Booth, Herbert Nunn, W. L. Thompson
About the author
Born in Norway in 1851, Simon Benson came to the United States as a teenager and eventually built a fortune in the timber business in Oregon. He became known in Portland not just as a successful businessman, but as an innovator in logging and shipping at a time when the region’s lumber industry was rapidly growing.
Benson is especially remembered for the way he used his wealth in public life. He backed major civic projects, supported Benson Polytechnic School, and donated the bronze drinking fountains that Portlanders still know as the Benson Bubblers. He also contributed land and support connected with some of the Columbia Gorge’s best-known scenic places.
He died in 1942, but his name remains woven into Portland history through its landmarks, schools, and public spaces. His story is one of reinvention, hard work, and a strong belief that prosperity should leave something useful behind for everyone.