Manufacturer: Shenango China
User: Oregon Inn, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Pattern name: Pink Willow border
Date of plate: Circa 1947-1954

Oct. 10, 1947, Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

July 10, 1964, Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

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Notes: Located at 3404 W. North Avenue in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the first ad found for the Oregon Inn, a Chinese-American restaurant, ran in the Oct. 10, 1947, issue of the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle: "Completely Remodeled … West Side's Newest and Cosiest Chinese Restaurant."

From September 1950 to September 1954, ads ran in the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle for the Oregon Inn using the same clip art, but the language changed from the first "Completely Remodeled" to, in September 1953, "Beautiful – Ultra-Modern Air Conditioned."

After a period of some nine years with no ads found, from February 1963 to July 10, 1964, seemingly weekly ads began running for the "New Oregon Inn" in issues of the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle at the same address, with the addition of "Sam Yee 'Your Friendly Host.'"

The plate's backstamp seems to fall within a 1947-1954 date range, and that is coincidentally when the Oregon Inn seems to have been in business without the addition of "New" Oregon Inn. It is not known if the restaurant was still in business between those nine years when no ads could be found.

The plate, on Shenango's IncaWare tan body, has a border of the Willow pattern in pink. In the well are Chinese symbols and to their right, a line drawing of ouroboros, a dragon swallowing its tail, which is a symbol in Chinese culture of Yin and Yang: the unity of opposites. Fitted within the circle formed by ouroboros is the name in an all-caps bamboo font: Oregon Inn.

Contributors:
Ebay seller, Duo of Great Discoveries: plate photos
Cardcow: postcard
Ebay seller Kassidy's Vintage Matchbooks: matchbook