The VP community is still seeking the locations of last week’s store photos. The post has generated record numbers of comments and the conversation is still ongoing. I’m confident that someone will find answers eventually.
This week’s may be just as difficult. There isn’t much to go on except the end of a brick apartment building, circa 1930. There are some distinctive decorative details that might help someone zero in on this, if it’s still standing.
Found: 2151 NW Johnson St.
(City of Portland Archives)
Tags: Apartment Building, Oregon, Portland, Unknown Location
June 20, 2012 at 6:24 am
Blackstone apartments 1831 SW Park? N
o time to check google street view.
June 20, 2012 at 6:27 am
No clue, but I do like those decorative details. I look forward to the comments.
June 20, 2012 at 7:02 am
There is an apartment building in inner NE Portland somewhere around Broadway and Weidler between 6th and 15th that may be a match. Will have to look further.
June 20, 2012 at 7:56 am
Does kinda look like the Blackstone. Now I want to know!
June 20, 2012 at 8:16 am
Unfortunately I don’t think it’s the Blackstone. Too short for one thing and the detail at the top and around the windows is wrong. Here’s a photo of the Blackstone.
June 20, 2012 at 9:36 am
I immediately thought of NW 19th…Hoyt…Irving…or very close by…the combination of brick apartments and single dwelling homes was a common thing in that area…but one could also say the same of SE Belmont in the lower teens and/or SE Morrison. This should be fun!
June 20, 2012 at 9:43 am
That diamond pattern in the brick across the top could help narrow it down perhaps?
June 20, 2012 at 10:08 am
This building is across the street from Engine 13 Fire House on Weidler in NE PDX
June 20, 2012 at 10:54 am
@ Mary-K: Somewhat similar but definitely not the same building. Detail around the windows and at the top is wrong here too. Also the photo above would have to be the opposite side facing the alley but if you look at that side it’s mostly solid wall.
June 20, 2012 at 10:55 am
The Blackstone, the Manhattan on NW 22nd, and the Morland on Weidler were all built in 1931 and have very prominent concrete Egyptian-guy friezes above the entrance and along the top floor. I believe there is at least one more around town, also in Northeast. However, our mystery building is definitely none of these.
June 20, 2012 at 12:04 pm
This building is older than than the late 1920s Egyptian motif apartments that are around town. I’m thinking its from the 1910s, possibly something that was in old South Portland.
June 20, 2012 at 11:17 pm
When I first looked at this photo it looked very familiar! My Dad worked at the Firehouse at Lloyd center for years! It does look like the appts. on the side street next to the station where the garage door is for the shop! We would go see him and park on the road right along there.
June 21, 2012 at 10:31 am
NE corner of NW 17th and NW Lovejoy?
June 21, 2012 at 3:36 pm
No roof is all wrong.
June 21, 2012 at 4:38 pm
Inner SE Hawthorne or SE Belmont maybe
June 22, 2012 at 6:13 pm
Mike, I have been thinking the same thing. I feel like I’ve seen this building, and I walk Belmont from 39th to the river all the time. When I went looking yesterday, though, I couldn’t find it. I’ll have to check Hawthorne another time.
June 22, 2012 at 7:05 pm
Looks like it’s on a bit of a hill. Slopes down from left to right. Also interesting brick pattern on the top. Similar, but not the same, as Union Arms Apartments 131 NE MLK.
June 22, 2012 at 8:36 pm
Tally ho! We found it! I’m Jerilyn, Dan Davis’ wife. We had dinner this evening at our favorite restaurant (Casa Del Matador on NW 23rd and Quimby). Afterward, as we were heading south on 21st, Dan said, “Let’s drive around and see if we can find that apartment.” He’s always felt that it was in NW. I said, “Sure! Let’s do it!” A few blocks later at 21st and Kearney we spotted a building that was nearly identical. It gave us a jolt of optimism. I said, “I’ll bet the one we want is on a side street very close to here.” Dan drove one more block south on 21st and then turned right on Johnson. Half a block later, there it was. 2151 NW Johnson. You should have seen the happy dance Dan did behind the steering wheel of his truck! We found a place to park and walked back to take a photo. The fire escape has been painted black. The house next door is gone and the trees have grown up. But there it was, the elusive Marcela Apartments, built in 1926. Whoo hoo! http://vintageportland.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/marcella-apartments.jpg
June 22, 2012 at 9:45 pm
That is awesome! Way to go!
June 23, 2012 at 1:18 am
There is no doubt. It is the same building. Good work you two.
June 23, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Brilliant! Thanks…
June 27, 2012 at 12:58 pm
Great Job!
June 30, 2012 at 9:10 pm
I thought this one was a lost cause! Amazing
August 1, 2012 at 9:48 am
there might be an apt like this near old Washington high school. Maybe on stark st. or not 14th but the other side. I think it may be 12th.
August 1, 2012 at 9:50 am
Then again. Could be one near 60th and Belmont or even one near Laurelhurst park.
February 11, 2013 at 7:22 pm
I Googled the address and searched on the map section. On the Google map (web address below) you can take the little man right down to street level and you will see it right in fron of you.
Here’s the web address below..
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=2155+NW+Johnson+St,+Portland,+OR&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x549509f099fcd15f:0x12f12ee44b6401cc,2155+NW+Johnson+St,+Portland,+OR+97210&gl=us&ei=X60ZUbarGeOXiAL9yYHYDQ&ved=0CC4Q8gEwAA