The campus at Portland State College (now University) has undergone many changes over the decades. Vehicular traffic was still allowed on SW Park, now a pedestrian mall. Many buildings have either been replaced or drastically transformed; the Smith Memorial Student Union is now twice as tall as it was in 1959. This view looks north on SW Park from Harrison.
(City of Portland Archives)
Tags: Lincoln Hall, Parking Meters, Portland, PSC, PSU
June 7, 2012 at 8:19 am
The ” beginning ” of City of Portland greed !!! The meters were installed and patrolled all by a three-wheeled motorcycle with uniformed police officer ; his other ” specialty ” was issuing jay-walking tickets for students crossing mid-block between old State Hall and then Old Main …. choice for jay-walking was pay a fine or attend a traffic school film on ” Walking Safely ” which was held one
night a week …… always a ” great ” place to gather and visit with other miscreant PSC students !!! The city had an on going ” battle ” with unknowns who almost weekly painted cross walk lines between the buildings that required city crews to come and remove with blow torches. This photo had to be taken in the Fall as during Rose Festival week the carnival rides, etc. were set-up in these blocks as well ; just a ” great ” experience when taking a Spring Term Final !!!
June 7, 2012 at 10:07 pm
interesting that if this photo was from 1959, there isn’t a single late 50′s car in the picture!
June 7, 2012 at 11:02 pm
Interesting history about the jay walking, Bud.
It must have been the precursor to the barricading
of the streets by the students ten years later.
June 7, 2012 at 11:31 pm
A Chevy, a customized Chevy, and a Borg-Ward?
June 8, 2012 at 6:32 am
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lnbYoAP–7k/RzJ2L6o-NtI/AAAAAAAAA90/VBMZEuUqdZg/s1600-h/PSU+1972.JPG
A picture of the pedestrian mall in the Spring of 72. It was being constructed my first term there in the Autumn of 72.
June 8, 2012 at 8:05 am
As for cars; these were all students so the pictured were pretty nice compared to those, such as my 1936 Chrysler coupe, were parked for free down on the streets of So. Portland that became the So. Auditorium Urban Renewal or above S.W. 10th off Montgomery … note the 5th car back is a white ’59 Volvo so it must have been a Prof. or other non-student who could afford a newer car after the Full load $72.00 tuition & fees per term !!! …… Someday when touring the PSU campus stand at the SW corner of the “old ” College Center ( now Smith ) and sight due North and checkout the almost 3′ overhang of the top two floors compared to the original two stories !! ……. Portland State’s own ” House of Mystery ” !!!
June 9, 2012 at 1:27 pm
good eye, Bud, I don’t think I would have noticed the Volvo if it weren’t pointed out! and yeah, it makes sense that since those were students cars, there wouldn’t be many newer ones.
July 13, 2012 at 8:08 am
there is a 56 Cad there and remember most these are students so who could afford a newer car.