N. Broadway looking east to Larrabee seemed like a thriving, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood center in 1937. You can even see the subway entrances that would allow walkers to cross under the busy streets. Everything on the right is now part of the Memorial Coliseum/Rose Center complex. See another view of this intersection looking south on this previous VP post.
(City of Portland Archives)
Tags: Chevrolet Billboard, Coca-Cola, Gevurtz Furniture, Heinle's Good Eats, Historic Photo, Oregon, Portland, Printing, Richfield
January 16, 2012 at 4:16 pm
Who knows what the “L” sign is under the 99W highway sign?
January 16, 2012 at 4:53 pm
Elliott, I was just about to ask that question as well…I looked it up. It appears they were directional signs for US routes. Instead of arrows to tell people which route to go, they used “L” or “R” (source: http://www.us-highways.com/ussign.htm). If you look at the photo, 99W turns left at the intersection.
January 19, 2012 at 11:50 am
It makes me sad to see that what we know as the Rose Quarter used to actually be a neighborhood.
January 19, 2012 at 5:25 pm
So prior to Interstate Ave, 99W went across the Broadway Bridge and then up the Williams/Vancouver couplet? Or just Vancouver I guess.