According to The Oregonian, the S&M Tavern at the northeast corner of SW 1st and Clay had its share of police calls over the years, everything from prohibition-era liquor sales to 1950s assaults and stabbings. It was housed in a uniquely styled, and to my eye very handsome, building. The name on the building is not quite readable in this photo. It, and the Spaulding Building to the north, were demolished as part of Area II of the South Auditorium Urban Renewal District in the late 1960s.
(University of Oregon Libraries)
Tags: 7Up, Coca-Cola, Historic Photo, Portland, postaday2011, S&M, Tavern, Tin Shop
August 3, 2011 at 7:14 am
It appears that one upstairs tenant has a such a successful green thumb it has negated the need for blinds.
A agree with Dan. This is a charmer of a building. It brings to mind some of the establishments that line narrow old London streets.
August 3, 2011 at 7:16 am
Excuse me. “I” agree with Dan. My inner Cartman sometimes makes embarrassing appearances.
August 3, 2011 at 8:15 am
Jim (ahem…Cartman): thank you for the laugh!
August 3, 2011 at 8:16 am
It is a beautiful building. It look like it was in very good condition, too.
The second floor tenant could have been an early urban farmer…Looks like they might have some beans growing there.
August 3, 2011 at 8:47 am
Soooo, the Marriott is there now? http://is.gd/JtIkb1
August 3, 2011 at 3:02 pm
It IS a very handsome building.
August 3, 2011 at 8:10 pm
Think how popular someplace called the S&M Tavern would be today.
August 4, 2011 at 8:31 am
^ laughing at dave’s comment. There’s already a bar called “dirty”
August 4, 2011 at 9:49 am
So many of these places that had the exterior fire escapes seemed to have lost them during remodeling. Does anyone know what they replaced the fire escapes with? They must have done something to keep up with fire codes.
August 4, 2011 at 10:01 am
I have another view of the Spalding Bldg but unfortunately, it does not have a good shot of the bldg next door.
February 3, 2012 at 9:35 am
This was the c1892 Coeur d’Alene building.
In an August 1, 1965 article in The Oregonian describing the urban renewal project that threatened this building, it said, “Some of the buildings, beneath sooty mantles of neglect, are handsome, perhaps architecturally significant. The square-shouldered, red brick Coeur d’Alene Building, at SW 1st and Clay Street is one of these.”
March 16, 2013 at 12:12 pm
Pity we can’t bring this back. A real beauty of a building. Personally I think Portland’s CBD has little charm or character. They stripped away too much. Now we have to protect what’s left. One of my favorites is The Studio Building next to The Guild theater.