Of all the most immediately identifiable sections of Portland’s central core area, this stretch of SW Morrison Street between 6th and 5th Avenues would be near the top of the list. This 1949 view shows the Meier & Frank building on the left with the fence and lawn of Pioneer Courthouse on the right. The next block holds the Kress department store on the left and the Corbett Building with the 5th & Morrison Fred Meyer on the right. Are those Valentine’s hearts in the M&F windows?
(City of Portland Archives)
Tags: Historic Photo, Oregon, Pioneer Post Office, Portland, Valentine's Day
March 20, 2012 at 7:00 am
Thanks for this very interesting photo.
What building was it taken from?
March 20, 2012 at 7:51 am
My Dad worked in the Corbett building for many years, so I spent a lot of time there. I was also there when they blew the building up and was very grateful for not being on the down wind side. It didn’t occur to me at the time, that there would be that much dust.
Saved by dumb luck, again!
March 20, 2012 at 8:08 am
I don’t think this is 1949. The third car in, on the Pioneer courthouse side of the street is a 1950 or 51 Studebaker.
March 20, 2012 at 9:36 am
I also believe this was taken in the 1950s because the streetcar tracks for the Mt. Tabor line were still present in 1949.
March 20, 2012 at 10:59 am
Glad to see this site still going. I haven’t been around here for maybe a year and a half or so now, and I’ve just moved back east to Philadelphia this week, but every time I want to check out some classic Portland I know where to go now! Please keep it up. Thanks!
March 20, 2012 at 11:06 am
You can just barely see the 5th and Morrison Fred Meyer store on the right.
March 20, 2012 at 12:15 pm
@Bill: The photo must have been taken from the old Portland Hotel. The Portland Hotel was demolished shortly after it closed in August of 1951.
Here is a view of the hotel in 1897 looking directly back in the opposite direction of the photo above (i.e. taken from where the Meier & Frank Building would eventually be built). I’d guess it was taken from the 3rd floor window visible on the right corner of the hotel.
http://vintageportland.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/the-portland-hotel-1897/
March 20, 2012 at 12:52 pm
@ oldwxwatcher: Here’s another photo of SW Morrison dated 1949 which does indeed show the tracks and it shows that Morrison was still a two-way street in 1949:
http://vintageportland.wordpress.com/2010/09/10/sw-5th-morrison-1949/
Assuming the date of the linked photo is correct, then it would seem that the photo above would have to be at least 1950 but no later than 1951 given the Portland Hotel vantage point.
March 20, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Newer than 49. I see a 50 Buick.
March 20, 2012 at 9:06 pm
I see at least 3 50′ fords, a 50′ dodge panel, a 51 stude and i’d almost bet the farm that’s a 50 olds 88 conv. blocking the crosswalk
March 20, 2012 at 9:14 pm
I remember that corner well… Christmas 1972… I was 16… A man in a new 73 Monte Carlo asked me if I needed a ride…I did not.
March 24, 2012 at 11:57 pm
The guy in the 88 is either talking to a friend or getting a ‘talking to’ for blocking the sidewalk.
March 24, 2012 at 11:58 pm
*crosswalk
March 25, 2012 at 8:32 am
@Tad: Heh
Hey you! Why I aughta…
March 28, 2012 at 9:10 am
I wish someone would buy the rights to the M & F name back frm Macys and restart once again. I am still very sore about the acquisition.