The original 1898 Meier & Frank building stands on the corner of SW 5th & Morrison in this photo. The building we know today would not begin construction for another four years. The Olds, Wortman & King building can be seen another block up. In 1910 they would construct the first full-block retail store in Portland (now the Galleria at 10th and Morrison), and Lipman and Wolfe would build on this 5th Avenue site in 1912, now the Hotel Monaco.
(City of Portland Archives)
May 5, 2010 at 2:30 pm
There is a Pacific Coast Biscuit truck in the background (I believe there is another VP post with their HQ building). Their logo appears to be a swastika. As I know this symbol was used for different purposes well before Nazi Germany, it doesn’t really mean anything. It’s just interesting.
May 5, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Very nice! Love the guy on the bike (fixed gear?), the guy with the umbrella, and the little Meier & Frank sign in the lower left. Swastika is interesting …
July 30, 2010 at 7:47 pm
This is such a wonderful website. Thank you for all of your hard work & research. I find it all very fascinating. My grandmother worked at Meier & Frank but I think it was in the 1910′s so it wouldn’t be this building, correct?