Garbage Haulers
Collecting garbage in the City of Portland was often a family affair, and a Volga German one at that. Although some Italian and Germans operated garbage routes, nearly all of the garbage collection businesses in Portland were operated by families with Volga German ancestry.
The garbage business was unregulated in the late 1800's and early 1900's and it gave the Volga German immigrants, many of whom could not speak English, an opportunity to begin a business with a modest investment. The Volga Germans were accustomed to hard work and long hours and fared well in the competitive garbage hauling business.
The garbage business was unregulated in the late 1800's and early 1900's and it gave the Volga German immigrants, many of whom could not speak English, an opportunity to begin a business with a modest investment. The Volga Germans were accustomed to hard work and long hours and fared well in the competitive garbage hauling business.
Jacob Aschenbrenner with his horses and wagon in 1918. The device in front of the horse shown to the left is called a "Boston backer." The backer was designed to ease the pressure on the horse's neck and back when backing up. Photograph courtesy of Marie Trupp Krieger.
In the early years of settlement, the garbage business was an unregulated free market. Each owner went door to door to persuade the homeowner or business owner to use their service. As a result, numerous companies served the same block. This kept pricing low and competitive tensions between haulers high. The men worked six days a week from dawn to dark.
Collection equipment in the early days included horses, wooden wagons and a strong back. The horses were often grazed in the open field which is now Irving Park and the wagons were stored in a large garages adjacent to the haulers home.
Some of the early Volga German pioneers that settled in Portland, such as John Leel, are listed in the City Directories as "scavengers" as early as 1894. Scavenger was the term used in the 1800's and early 1900's to describe people who collected, hauled away, and resold discarded materials.
Johnny Walker (changed from Wacker), Sr. started hauling trash in a horse-drawn wagon in the early 1900's. He was the first trash hauler in Portland to use a motorized truck, a 1917 Garford. Rather than grow and take on employees, Johnny would sell what work he and his family members could not do themselves. One of his first sales developed into a large corporation named MDC Disposal which later became USA Waste and is now Waste Management Inc.
One of the earliest settlers in Portland, Adam Schwindt, is listed as a scavenger in the 1901 Portland City Directory. Henry Aschenbrenner was in the business by 1910.
in 1907, Glanz Bros. Co. and the John Deines company were started with a one horse and wagon. The Glanz Bros. were considered one of the most progressive operators pioneering the use of elevators on trucks and the drop box system.
The list of "Scavengers" published in the 1918 Portland City Directory shows that nearly all of the garbage haulers at that time were Volga Germans. One of those listed, George Schmeer, had the distinction of being arrested by the Mayor of Portland in 1919, but he ended up having the last laugh.
Acting as “scavengers” the garbagemen found items thrown away by richer folks that could be reused. They called it “skibby”.
Collection equipment in the early days included horses, wooden wagons and a strong back. The horses were often grazed in the open field which is now Irving Park and the wagons were stored in a large garages adjacent to the haulers home.
Some of the early Volga German pioneers that settled in Portland, such as John Leel, are listed in the City Directories as "scavengers" as early as 1894. Scavenger was the term used in the 1800's and early 1900's to describe people who collected, hauled away, and resold discarded materials.
Johnny Walker (changed from Wacker), Sr. started hauling trash in a horse-drawn wagon in the early 1900's. He was the first trash hauler in Portland to use a motorized truck, a 1917 Garford. Rather than grow and take on employees, Johnny would sell what work he and his family members could not do themselves. One of his first sales developed into a large corporation named MDC Disposal which later became USA Waste and is now Waste Management Inc.
One of the earliest settlers in Portland, Adam Schwindt, is listed as a scavenger in the 1901 Portland City Directory. Henry Aschenbrenner was in the business by 1910.
in 1907, Glanz Bros. Co. and the John Deines company were started with a one horse and wagon. The Glanz Bros. were considered one of the most progressive operators pioneering the use of elevators on trucks and the drop box system.
The list of "Scavengers" published in the 1918 Portland City Directory shows that nearly all of the garbage haulers at that time were Volga Germans. One of those listed, George Schmeer, had the distinction of being arrested by the Mayor of Portland in 1919, but he ended up having the last laugh.
Acting as “scavengers” the garbagemen found items thrown away by richer folks that could be reused. They called it “skibby”.
Portland City Directory 1918 showing the list of "Scavengers". The vast majority of these businesses were owned by Volga Germans.
Around 1921, the first trucks with spoked wheels and solid rubber tires were purchased to make the work more efficient. Philip Leichner was the first garbageman in Portland to own a truck with a steel box. Leichner went on to establish the Vancouver Sanitary Service.
One of the first garbage tricks with spoked wheels, solid rubber tires and a steel box. John Giebelhouse stands to the far left and Philip Leichner to the right. Photograph courtesy of Marie Trupp Krieger.
The garbage haulers took great pride in forming their own union, Local 220, in late 1920. The newly formed local, representing about 75 drivers, was part of the Joint Council of Teamsters No. 37. The Teamsters Local No. 162 website states:
"The camaraderie and brotherhood among these early sanitary drivers is legendary - they were a rough bunch."
In those early days after the garbage truck drivers first formed an association they held their first meetings in the basement of various member's houses and wrote their minutes in German. One of their very first achievements was to buy chairs, which were shifted from basement to basement each year. As the industry grew with the addition of new members, the meeting locations changed and for many years were held at the old Steuben Hall on Williams Avenue and Ivy Street.
In later years, many of the Volga German "G-Men" gathered regularly at the home of Henry "Dixie" Wunsch to socialize, have a drink and share stories. Summer picnics were held in local area parks and were always fun-filled events.
While the garbage haulers had their rough side, they also had soft hearts. Most could be found in church on Sunday mornings and they generously supported the needs of their congregations. They were also strong supporters of the Volga Relief Society in the early 1920s, providing aid to family and friends suffering from a severe famine in Russia.
Many of Portland's finest homes and parks sit atop landfills that were "scientifically" designed by the City of Portland's bureau of refuse disposal. In their own way, the Volga German garbagemen did their part to aide in the sculpting and development of the city.
The earliest dump sites were located outside the city limits. In 1884, the "scavengers" went on strike protesting the long hauling distances. A dumpsite was established near Guild's Lake which was located on the northern edge of the city at that time. There were no improved roads leading to the site, making it difficult for garbage haulers to access, especially during Portland’s rainy season. In 1888, the city hired a contractor to build a garbage incinerator (also called a crematory) on the western shore of Guild’s Lake near the existing garbage dump. At this time, the city began collecting a licensing fee to use the dumpsite. The incinerator was completed in 1889, but was soon deemed a failure as unburned garbage piled up. Several other incinerators were constructed in the late 1800's, but they all suffered from mechanical problems and were shut down. In December 1889, the Oregonian published an article which asked a recurring question in Portland, "What shall we do with our garbage?"
Depleted gravel pits located at NE 33rd and Fremont (1923), between NE 37th and 38th and Klickitat and Siskiyou Streets, and south of the Rose City Golf Course at 65th and Tillamook, were put to use as dumpsites. Next came the Penn Street gulch which provided roadway access to the new Swan Island Airport. A small sand pit in St. Johns was also filled with garbage as was a small gulch at Alberta and Greeley. Another gravel pit was filled at Alberta and 39th followed by a gulch on Interstate Avenue in an area that is now Overlook Park. The Oregon Journal claimed that garbage hauler Ludwig Deines did as much as any man to make Overlook Park a reality. A large landfill at East 90th was filled and closed in 1946.
In later years, many of the Volga German "G-Men" gathered regularly at the home of Henry "Dixie" Wunsch to socialize, have a drink and share stories. Summer picnics were held in local area parks and were always fun-filled events.
While the garbage haulers had their rough side, they also had soft hearts. Most could be found in church on Sunday mornings and they generously supported the needs of their congregations. They were also strong supporters of the Volga Relief Society in the early 1920s, providing aid to family and friends suffering from a severe famine in Russia.
Many of Portland's finest homes and parks sit atop landfills that were "scientifically" designed by the City of Portland's bureau of refuse disposal. In their own way, the Volga German garbagemen did their part to aide in the sculpting and development of the city.
The earliest dump sites were located outside the city limits. In 1884, the "scavengers" went on strike protesting the long hauling distances. A dumpsite was established near Guild's Lake which was located on the northern edge of the city at that time. There were no improved roads leading to the site, making it difficult for garbage haulers to access, especially during Portland’s rainy season. In 1888, the city hired a contractor to build a garbage incinerator (also called a crematory) on the western shore of Guild’s Lake near the existing garbage dump. At this time, the city began collecting a licensing fee to use the dumpsite. The incinerator was completed in 1889, but was soon deemed a failure as unburned garbage piled up. Several other incinerators were constructed in the late 1800's, but they all suffered from mechanical problems and were shut down. In December 1889, the Oregonian published an article which asked a recurring question in Portland, "What shall we do with our garbage?"
Depleted gravel pits located at NE 33rd and Fremont (1923), between NE 37th and 38th and Klickitat and Siskiyou Streets, and south of the Rose City Golf Course at 65th and Tillamook, were put to use as dumpsites. Next came the Penn Street gulch which provided roadway access to the new Swan Island Airport. A small sand pit in St. Johns was also filled with garbage as was a small gulch at Alberta and Greeley. Another gravel pit was filled at Alberta and 39th followed by a gulch on Interstate Avenue in an area that is now Overlook Park. The Oregon Journal claimed that garbage hauler Ludwig Deines did as much as any man to make Overlook Park a reality. A large landfill at East 90th was filled and closed in 1946.
Guilds Lake garbage incinerator, circa 1920. Source: City of Portland (OR) Archives, Guilds Lake incinerator, image 2012-30.
In 1932, the city returned to incinerator technology as the solution to Portland's garbage disposal problems. A large incinerator was built in St. Johns (at 9360 Swift Blvd. between the Columbia Slough and Smith and Bybee Lakes) adjacent to a 296 acre dumping ground. The haulers were required by the city to wash their trucks after dropping each load. After nearly 60 years of use, the St. Johns landfill was closed by Metro in 1990. Chimney Park now occupies the site of the incinerator, acquiring its name from the incinerator's chimney which has since been removed for safety reasons.
The City of Portland built this incinerator facility on N. Columbia Blvd. in 1932. Air quality standards forced its closure in 1970 and the building became the Archives and Records Center for the City of Portland in the 1980s. The Archives and Records Center was later moved to a climate-controlled facility on the Portland State University campus but this building still remains in North Portland. This site is now called Chimney Park although ironically, the chimney was removed in 1990. This view looks west with N. Columbia Blvd. on the right. Vintage Portland website May 30, 2012. Photo source: City of Portland Archives.
The incinerator on N. Columbia Blvd. Photo source: City of Portland Archives, A2001-062.13.
Some of the garbagemen were known to stop for a drink at the Blow Fly Inn after the end of a long work day. The Blow Fly was located on Swift Avenue (now Columbia Blvd.) between the St. Johns Landfill and the City of Portland incinerator.
My name is Nicholas Harry Hohnstein. My father, Nicholas Hohnstein was in the garbage business until about 1945. We lived at 6522 N. Kerby Avenue.
I remember going to John Deines' house when I was very young. My father always referred to his truck as the "Sugar Wagon" and the men would always stop at the Blow Fly Inn which was located near the city dump for a beer at the end of the day.
The Blow Fly Inn was located at 9101 N Swift Blvd. in 1942 (now Columbia Blvd.) located near the St Johns Landfill and just across the street from a City of Portland incinerator. This image is from July 16, 1942. City of Portland Archives image A2009-009.3554.
In winter months, the garbage haulers frequently came to the rescue of the city by helping to dispose of tons of accumulated snow that brought Portland to a halt.
Garbage haulers dispose of accumulated snow into the Willamette River in January 1937. Courtesy of Marie Trupp Krieger.
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Dumping snow at foot of SW Washington Street as part of the snow removal operations, 1952. Source: City of Portland (OR) Archives, A2001-007.580.
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The garbage business was featured on the front page of the Oregonian in October 1938 when Ed Weber innocently hauled away a valuable piece of radium.
In July 1941, members of the sanitary truck drivers union volunteered (at no cost to the federal government) to collect all the garbage left behind by a 6,500 troop military encampment at the Swan Island Airport.
During the Vanport Flood in 1948, the garbage haulers were among the first responders to help people in need. Upon receiving notification about the rising waters in Vanport, many of the men drove their trucks from Albina to the flood zone. The men opened the back and side gates of the specially made boxes of their trucks and hauled everything from people to household goods out to higher ground. According to Harold Kammerzell, the St. John's landfill was closed during the flood and a temporary site was opened around NE 135th and Halsey.
In July 1941, members of the sanitary truck drivers union volunteered (at no cost to the federal government) to collect all the garbage left behind by a 6,500 troop military encampment at the Swan Island Airport.
During the Vanport Flood in 1948, the garbage haulers were among the first responders to help people in need. Upon receiving notification about the rising waters in Vanport, many of the men drove their trucks from Albina to the flood zone. The men opened the back and side gates of the specially made boxes of their trucks and hauled everything from people to household goods out to higher ground. According to Harold Kammerzell, the St. John's landfill was closed during the flood and a temporary site was opened around NE 135th and Halsey.
Aerial of Vanport, the Union Stockyards, and the Exposition Center during the Vanport Flood. Today marks the 70th anniversary of the flood that took place on Memorial Day weekend 1948. Source: Vintage Portland website May 30, 2018. Image source: City of Portland Archives.
Many of the family founded business continued to expand as Portland grew. Sons were brought into existing businesses or started their own companies. As of the mid-1950s, there were around 250 companies operating in Portland. While most haulers operated in the greater Portland metropolitan area, including the downtown commercial districts, men like Bud Walker, Henry Schaefer and George Lehl set up businesses in towns on the Oregon coast and as far south as Eugene-Springfield. Ezra and Fred Koch established a collection business in McMinnville. Art Rossman began operations in Lake Oswego and George Rossman owned a landfill near Oregon City. Art and Don Schauermann established themselves in Forest Grove. Ben Koch and Al Usinger established collection routes in The Dalles. Ed Brandt setup collection services in Monmouth. The Maiers went to Hillsboro and Bill Schmitt moved to Salem. Others set up successful businesses in Washington, Idaho and California. Philip Hohnstein left Portland for southern California; Henry Koch, Peter Koch, and Ray Schauermann started businesses in Kennewick; Walter Pauley in Pullman and Jim Hinkle in Ellensburg. The Leichners expanded into Vancouver and John Urbach was successful in Idaho Falls. Arne Markstaller set up a business in Moscow, Idaho and John Miller established routes in Prosser, Idaho.
The unregulated nature of the garbage hauling business created closer scrutiny beginning in late 1940s with concerns about it being a "closed corporation of employers and the union." In the mid-1950's the City Club of Portland formed a committee to study the method of garbage collection and disposal in Portland. The committee's 63 page report raised concerns about the monopolistic nature of the garbage haulers in Portland. However, the report contained only three recommendations and one of them was to preserve the existing system.
More controversy struck the industry in the spring of 1963 when the Teamsters announced a 25 cent per can increase (on a base of $1.50 per can per week) for most residential and commercial customers. The complaints were directed to City Hall, although the City Council did not formally approve rates at that time. Some independent (non-union) operators chose not to increase rates and allegedly met with hostility from the union operators. A truck owned by the independent Lehl Sanitary Co. was burned and the owner claimed he was being harassed by the union. John H. Deines, secretary of Local 220, made no comment about the truck burning, but did say, "We've got 400 members and who knows how each one of them feels about it." At this time there were about 30 to 40 companies operating 228 licensed trucks in Portland. Despite the controversy, City Commissioner William A. Bowes called Portland a "paradise" compared to other cities in garbage collection services and said the homeowners pay one of the lowest rates in the country for comparable cities. Bowes remarked, "Here you not only don't have to separate it, but they even come to your backyard and pick it up."
In 1987, Portland began requiring all garbage and recycling companies to offer recycling service to their customers. Consolidation in the industry began and by 1989 there were 112 companies operating in Portland.
In 1992, Portland adopted a franchise system for the residential collection sector. The franchise system was proposed for the commercial sector as well, but the business community expressed a strong desire to retain a free market system. The Residential Franchise Agreement, still in place today, assigned Portland garbage and recycling companies serving residential customers to specific areas of the city. When this system first started, there were 69 residential garbage and recycling companies. By 2013, there were only 18 franchised residential collection companies in the city of Portland, many still owned by Volga German families.
No matter how bad business gets for others, the garbage haulers have a standard joke. For them, "business is always picking up." That's fortunate for all of us.
The unregulated nature of the garbage hauling business created closer scrutiny beginning in late 1940s with concerns about it being a "closed corporation of employers and the union." In the mid-1950's the City Club of Portland formed a committee to study the method of garbage collection and disposal in Portland. The committee's 63 page report raised concerns about the monopolistic nature of the garbage haulers in Portland. However, the report contained only three recommendations and one of them was to preserve the existing system.
More controversy struck the industry in the spring of 1963 when the Teamsters announced a 25 cent per can increase (on a base of $1.50 per can per week) for most residential and commercial customers. The complaints were directed to City Hall, although the City Council did not formally approve rates at that time. Some independent (non-union) operators chose not to increase rates and allegedly met with hostility from the union operators. A truck owned by the independent Lehl Sanitary Co. was burned and the owner claimed he was being harassed by the union. John H. Deines, secretary of Local 220, made no comment about the truck burning, but did say, "We've got 400 members and who knows how each one of them feels about it." At this time there were about 30 to 40 companies operating 228 licensed trucks in Portland. Despite the controversy, City Commissioner William A. Bowes called Portland a "paradise" compared to other cities in garbage collection services and said the homeowners pay one of the lowest rates in the country for comparable cities. Bowes remarked, "Here you not only don't have to separate it, but they even come to your backyard and pick it up."
In 1987, Portland began requiring all garbage and recycling companies to offer recycling service to their customers. Consolidation in the industry began and by 1989 there were 112 companies operating in Portland.
In 1992, Portland adopted a franchise system for the residential collection sector. The franchise system was proposed for the commercial sector as well, but the business community expressed a strong desire to retain a free market system. The Residential Franchise Agreement, still in place today, assigned Portland garbage and recycling companies serving residential customers to specific areas of the city. When this system first started, there were 69 residential garbage and recycling companies. By 2013, there were only 18 franchised residential collection companies in the city of Portland, many still owned by Volga German families.
No matter how bad business gets for others, the garbage haulers have a standard joke. For them, "business is always picking up." That's fortunate for all of us.
A line of Volga German garbage haulers in Portland. The companies represented include John Walker and Son, Deines and Son and Henry Hohnstein & Christian Dick. Photograph courtesy of Marie Krieger. Caption information provided by Georgia Conway.
Listed below are current (updated January 2017) garbage hauling companies in the Portland area that were established by Volga German families:
Alberta Sanitary Service
Gresham Sanitary Service
Mel Deines Sanitary Service
Dan Walker Disposal
Deines Brothers Sanitary Service (now Hoodview Disposal & Recycling)
John P. Lehl (now Waste Management of Oregon)
Oak Grove Disposal (now Waste Management of Oregon)
P. Deines Sanitary Service
Gaylen Kiltow Sanitary Service
Rossman Sanitary Service (now Republic Services)
Borgens Disposal
Lehl Disposal
Miller's Sanitary
Mohr Refuse
Montavilla Sanitary Service
John G. Scheideman
Troudt Brothers Sanitary
Wacker Sanitary
Walker Garbage Service
Weber Disposal
Weitzel & Son Refuse
Fred Wunsch Sanitary Service
Victor Yuckert
Gresham Sanitary Service
Mel Deines Sanitary Service
Dan Walker Disposal
Deines Brothers Sanitary Service (now Hoodview Disposal & Recycling)
John P. Lehl (now Waste Management of Oregon)
Oak Grove Disposal (now Waste Management of Oregon)
P. Deines Sanitary Service
Gaylen Kiltow Sanitary Service
Rossman Sanitary Service (now Republic Services)
Borgens Disposal
Lehl Disposal
Miller's Sanitary
Mohr Refuse
Montavilla Sanitary Service
John G. Scheideman
Troudt Brothers Sanitary
Wacker Sanitary
Walker Garbage Service
Weber Disposal
Weitzel & Son Refuse
Fred Wunsch Sanitary Service
Victor Yuckert
Photo Gallery
Sources
"U.S. Camp Garbage Removal Donated." The Oregonian [Portland} 14 July 1941: 9. Print.
Hoover, Helen. "Where Does Your Garbage Go?" The Sunday Oregonian [Portland] 26 Jan. 1947: 4. Print.
"Park Story Began With Garbage Man." Oregon Journal [Portland] 31 Jan. 1977: 13. Print.
Tripp, Julie. "Cleaning Up Portland." The Oregonian [Portland] 26 Dec. 2005: n. pag. Print.
"Portland of Years Past - 50 Years Ago: 1949." The Oregonian [Portland] 17 Jun. 1999. Print.
"Garbage, Garbage, Garbage... System Handles Tons Daily." The Sunday Oregonian [Portland] 13 Jan. 1963. 47. Print.
"Private Enterprise Stirs Fuss Among Garbage Collectors." The Sunday Oregonian [Portland] 5 May 1963; 14 Print.
Hunter, Bob. "George Frank: Two Companies, Many Friends." Tigard Times [Tigard, Oregon] 25 Aug. 1981: 5A. Print.
Garbage Collection and Disposal in Portland. Publication. Portland, Oregon: City Club of Portland, 1955. Print.
Kammerzell, Harold. Oral interviews.
Kirkpatrick, Allison. "As Great a Nuisance as Garbage Itself". Oregon Historical Society Quarterly, Winter 2022.
Krieger, Marie. Oral interviews.
Schleining, Jerry. Oral interviews.
Koch, Norman. Emails dated December 8, 2015 and January 21, 2016.
Wunsch, Dixie. Oral interviews.
History of Portland's Garbage and Recycling System - City of Portland website (May 2015)
History of City Sanitary Service - City Sanitary website (May 2015)
Mill, Pennee. Email dated 12 Jan 2018 regarding Philip Leichner and the Vancouver Sanitary Service.
Hoover, Helen. "Where Does Your Garbage Go?" The Sunday Oregonian [Portland] 26 Jan. 1947: 4. Print.
"Park Story Began With Garbage Man." Oregon Journal [Portland] 31 Jan. 1977: 13. Print.
Tripp, Julie. "Cleaning Up Portland." The Oregonian [Portland] 26 Dec. 2005: n. pag. Print.
"Portland of Years Past - 50 Years Ago: 1949." The Oregonian [Portland] 17 Jun. 1999. Print.
"Garbage, Garbage, Garbage... System Handles Tons Daily." The Sunday Oregonian [Portland] 13 Jan. 1963. 47. Print.
"Private Enterprise Stirs Fuss Among Garbage Collectors." The Sunday Oregonian [Portland] 5 May 1963; 14 Print.
Hunter, Bob. "George Frank: Two Companies, Many Friends." Tigard Times [Tigard, Oregon] 25 Aug. 1981: 5A. Print.
Garbage Collection and Disposal in Portland. Publication. Portland, Oregon: City Club of Portland, 1955. Print.
Kammerzell, Harold. Oral interviews.
Kirkpatrick, Allison. "As Great a Nuisance as Garbage Itself". Oregon Historical Society Quarterly, Winter 2022.
Krieger, Marie. Oral interviews.
Schleining, Jerry. Oral interviews.
Koch, Norman. Emails dated December 8, 2015 and January 21, 2016.
Wunsch, Dixie. Oral interviews.
History of Portland's Garbage and Recycling System - City of Portland website (May 2015)
History of City Sanitary Service - City Sanitary website (May 2015)
Mill, Pennee. Email dated 12 Jan 2018 regarding Philip Leichner and the Vancouver Sanitary Service.
Last updated June 8, 2023