There is a lot of good detail to pick out of this 1937 photo, especially if you’re an automobile fan. This view looks northwest on Foster where it curves to meet 50th Avenue at Powell Blvd. Fast food restaurants dominate most of the intersection today.
(City of Portland Archives)
We might as well finish this intersection since we’ve looked at two other corners this week and this one in 2010. Today we’re looking from west-to-east on SE Powell Blvd. at 82nd Avenue.
(City of Portland Archives)
Yesterday’s discussion raised the possibility that the Anderson’s Food Market building still stands. This photo, taken on the same day (if the Meadow-Land delivery truck is any indication) shows the same intersection looking west. Anderson’s is definitely on the northwest corner, roughly where the KFC/A&W sits today.
(City of Portland Archives)
It appears the Anderson’s Food Market staff is cleaning sidewalks and stocking produce for another business day at SE 82nd & Powell in 1939 1937. Parking a delivery truck at the curb in those days didn’t seem to be a traffic problem like it would today. We’re looking south on 82nd here.
NOTE: Other photos of this area indicate this dates to 1937, not 1939.
(City of Portland Archives)
This image is labeled as looking south on SE 52nd Avenue towards Powell Blvd. Can anyone confirm that? The area between Powell and Foster in the photo looks like it’s awfully build up for the way it is today.
(City of Portland Archives)
The Lents Primary School looked brand new in 1957 and street crews were painting the crosswalks in preparation for the 1957 school year. The building is currently the Traffic Systems Services Unit (TSSU) of the Oregon Department of Transportation, and looks much as it did 55 years ago. It is just south of Powell on SE 92nd Avenue.
(City of Portland Archives)
Before SE Powell was excavated to pass under 17th Avenue, the two streets, and railroad tracks, met at the same grade. This 1954 photos shows that intersection looking north on 17th. This aerial view from 1965 puts the intersection into perspective.
(City of Portland Archives)
