Comments on: Westside Seawall Construction, 1928

By: Ian Fraley

Ian Fraley — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 00:09:24 +0000

I always look forward to waterfront photos from this era. With the installation of it’s new seawall, it seems like Portland was in the last stages of it’s transition from the gritty port town it had been, to the cosmopolitan city it was to become. It’s also fascinating to realize, as Rod briefly pointed out, that the backs of those elegant Front street cast iron buildings actually ran down to the waters edge, and sometimes well below water line, and with the docks removed we see a raw and unrefined side of Portland that I find immensely appealing

By: Dan Davis

Dan Davis — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 20:17:35 +0000

This actually gets you closer to the same spot.
http://goo.gl/maps/oR5OG

Also, here is an aerial view of the finished seawall. Ash Street is where the boats are tied up on the left. The intact warehouse that’s parallel to the water is visible in both images.
http://vintageportland.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/westside-waterfront-1928/

By: rod taylor

rod taylor — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 18:20:55 +0000

Great stuff here. The underbelly exposed. The below grade door ways here originally provided convenient merchant access to the riverfront and the earlier wharves. True they could be turned to sinister and nefarious uses, crimping, smuggling and skulduggery but that was not their intent when they were put in place. Note the several saw logs that became sinkers and are hauled out and awaiting disposal. There are many of these sinkers still lurking on the bottom, perfectly sound old growth. Several outfits are making a good living salvaging these logs today. Interesting most of these logs are branded and their owners can i believe still assert ownership.

Interesting addition to the other fine photos previously posted here documenting this project. Thank you

By: Don

Don — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 17:10:40 +0000

This isn’t exact, but as close as I could get to the same view today: http://goo.gl/maps/ESbdI