This is a beautifully rendered map of Portland by City Surveyor T.M. Hurlburt. It includes color coded references to the composition of many Portland streets. River depths and ferry crossings are also noted.
The “Portland Speed Association Race Tract” off of Union Avenue and Russell Street appears to be for a bicycling club, according to the meager internet references I was able to find. Was this ever built? Does anyone have any information about this track?
(City of Portland Archives)
March 26, 2010 at 7:11 am
When doing demo on a home on Fargo St, near Irving Park, beneath the lath and plaster I found writing on an interior wall stud, presumably the former address for lumber delivery “— Klickitat St.” This map confirms that the portion of Fargo that extends from Union (MLK) to 7th was once, indeed, Klickitat (at the NW corner of the Race Tract). According to Portland Parks and Rec, “Part of the land occupied by Irving Park was the site of the Irvington Racetrack, one of four defunct racetracks now sporting Portland parks.” So it was indeed built, and the NW corner became Irving Park! Seems large for a bicycle track.
March 26, 2010 at 7:22 am
We have a visual! Definitely looks more equestrian than velo.
http://albertastreetstories.tumblr.com/post/395087455/irvington-racetrack-1898
And a written account with regard to its brief utility in the Spanish-American War.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3731/is_199804/ai_n8796271/
http://books.google.com/books?id=b2kdAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA663&lpg=PA663&dq=%22Irvington+Racetrack%22&source=bl&ots=yXN8lZ9a93&sig=Up_bPlB9hhs10XbVjeQeqrR6_q0&hl=en&ei=CM-sS8atF4rWsgOowJ2aDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CDQQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=%22Irvington%20Racetrack%22&f=false
March 26, 2010 at 7:34 am
One last citation about the Race Tract / Irvington Racetrack. 15 years of horse racing ceased when platted in 1907 as Prospect Park. From Portland City Walks:
http://books.google.com/books?id=cSw2FC270nwC&pg=PA58&lpg=PA58&dq=%22Irvington+Racetrack%22&source=bl&ots=GksX4QZ51p&sig=KM3eMSn50n7e28NbrNmDToftr0I&hl=en&ei=CM-sS8atF4rWsgOowJ2aDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=12&ved=0CD0Q6AEwCw#v=onepage&q=%22Irvington%20Racetrack%22&f=false
March 26, 2010 at 8:18 am
Here’s the reference to the Portland Speed Association being a bicycle club. It sure looks more like a horse track though, doesn’t it?
http://fortunaerota.wordpress.com/2008/02/21/talk-at-psu-center-for-transportation-studies-nov-30/
Here’s more about Camp McKinley, sited on the racetrack grounds:
http://fortwiki.com/Camp_McKinley
March 26, 2010 at 10:00 am
And check out the once robust Ross Island. My neighborhood of South Burlingame/Markham isn’t even developed yet.
March 26, 2010 at 3:28 pm
I have always been interested in the interesting aerial view of the section on this map called Ladd’s Addition. What is the story here if you know it?
http://easycaptures.com/fs/uploaded/285/2805601456.jpg
March 26, 2010 at 4:15 pm
William S. Ladd was an early Portland businesman/banker and developer. He owned a great deal of land on the east side and about 20 years after his death his estate developed the 8 acre parcel known as Ladd’s addition as a model community for railroad workers. On a side note is was his carriage house that was moved and restored recently.
http://www.laddcarriagehouse.org/HistoricImages.htm
March 26, 2010 at 8:57 pm
kinda creepy.. the “old cemetery” that borders SW Macadam, Abernathy, Bancroft, and Kelly isn’t around. I-5 plows right through it. and that SW Hood connector to Macadam would be smack dab in the middle of it!
March 26, 2010 at 11:18 pm
A lot of old velodromes were just grass ovals with slight banking, so they might well have had something in the interior of the horse racing track.
May 10, 2010 at 2:45 pm
I have a little more detail on the Irvington track here. It was primarily used for horse-racing, but they held bicycle races there occasionally. I also mention a few other places where they held bicycle races.
I love this map! Thanks for sharing the entirety of it!