The Matchcover Storyteller

The name Henry Thiele would appear to be a name one should know in the culinary history of Portland, Oregon.  He was a chef of such accomplishment that he even captivated the taste buds of the legendary James Beard in his youth.

Thiele was born in 1882 in Hanover, Germany, emigrating to the U.S. in 1904.  He found work and gained his experience in New York City and elsewhere before landing in Portland, Oregon in 1914 with his 23wife Margaret.  Thiele worked several kitchens before planning his own restaurant.    Sadly, his wife died in 1930 in the midst of all that.    Still, the restaurant called “Henry Thiele’s” opened in 1932.  —  it had seating for 150 and parking for 100 automobiles.   The European-style eatery has been called “an immediate success”.

He hired Margaret MacDonald from the Imperial Hotel; they were a strong team and were married in 1943.

 Henry Thiele died in 1952.  His wife continued the restaurant till it closed in 1990, still at the same original location you see on the matchcover.   Today, the site is Thiele Square, 23,000 sq. ft. of retail ad parking space.

 I know of at least 4 different matchbooks or covers for Henry Thieles, including a 21-strike full book Feature that a website wants to sell for $183.00!!  On mine, the cover notes “since 1908”  —  that’s the year of his first marriage, but I can find no relationship to any culinary work in Portland until at least 1914.