Vintage Portland

NE Portland Aerial, 1947

Dan Davis — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:35:20 +0000

This 1947 aerial photo covers a lot of area of Northeast Portland. From Burnside at the bottom, the view stretches out past Alameda Ridge in the distance. There’s some pretty good detail in the foreground, including Buckman Field Park, Benson Polytechnic High, Sullivan’s Gulch and the site of the future Lloyd Center.

(City of Portland Archives)

Filed under: 1940s, Aerial, Northeast

SW Montgomery Dr & Vista, 1932

Dan Davis — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:26:42 +0000

Hard to believe that somebody would build on the the lot on this corner due to the steepness of the slope. It would take almost a half-century but a single family home sits on the SW Montgomery Drive site just below where it meets SW Vista (beyond railing at top). It looks like Montgomery was getting the forms removed from its first paving job.

(City of Portland Archives)

Filed under: 1930s, Montgomery, Southwest, Vista Avenue

219 N Cherry, 1957

Dan Davis — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:18:47 +0000

There’s nothing particularly historic about this photo but it’s a classic mid-century American scene. If these two kids were standing here today, they’d be in their 60s and standing in the Rose Garden/Memorial Coliseum parking lot. Neither Cherry Street, nor Ross Avenue, just a house away to the right, exist today. This home had some nice stained glass and woodworking details to give it a little extra style.

(City of Portland Archives)

Filed under: 1950s, North

NE 13th & Holladay, 1960

Dan Davis — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:24:15 +0000

The biggest change in this scene more than a half century later is that the Max tracks now go east and west on NE Holladay Street. That’s NE 13th Avenue we’re looking north on with the brand-new Lloyd Center in the background.

(City of Portland Archives)

Filed under: 13th Avenue, 1960s, Holladay Street, Northeast

Ladd Block, c1960

Dan Davis — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:24:26 +0000

We’ve seen the 1881 Ladd Block before; this gives a bit of a closer look at this once-fine building in its later years. This view is to the north up SW 1st Avenue from Columbia Street.

(University of Oregon Libraries)

Filed under: 1960s, 1st Avenue, Cast-iron Architecture, Columbia Street, Downtown

SE Union & Hawthorne, 1937

Dan Davis — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:39:59 +0000

This is a quaint and long-gone 1937 landscape looking south on SE Union Avenue. There’s no on-street parking today, and certainly no $1.50-$3.00 weekly housekeeping rooms. However you will pass under the Hawthorne ramp at this intersection today.

(City of Portland Archives)

Filed under: 1930s, Hawthorne Blvd., Southeast, Union Avenue

SW 6th & Alder, 1939

Dan Davis — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:20:36 +0000

It was a wet, dreary day in 1939 the day this photo was taken looking north on 6th Avenue at Alder. The sidewalks seem unusually crowded; lunchtime maybe? That’s the old Oregonian Building on the far left.

(City of Portland Archives)

Filed under: 1930s, 6th Avenue, Alder Street, Downtown

SE Foster Rd & 50th, 1937

Dan Davis — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:24:33 +0000

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)

Filed under: 1930s, Foster Rd., Powell Blvd., Southeast

SW 5th & Washington, 1907

Dan Davis — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:28:52 +0000

Snow, trolley tracks and road apples, plus the occasional car, all presented challenges to pedestrians on SW 5th and Washington in 1907. The 1906 Swetland Building is dead ahead on the southeast corner. We’re looking south here.

(City of Portland Archives)

Filed under: 1900s, 5th Avenue, Downtown, Streetcar, Washington Street

NE Sandy & 72nd, 1940

Dan Davis — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:22:25 +0000

Fairley’s Pharmacy is still on NE Sandy Blvd. at 72nd Avenue more than 70 years after this 1940 photo. Soda fountains were once a staple of American drug stores, and Fairley’s still advertises one on their sign. Is it still in fact there? This photo looks west on Sandy.

(City of Portland Archives)

Filed under: 1940s, Northeast, Sandy Blvd.

SW 4th & Washington, 1946

Dan Davis — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:22:19 +0000

There were some great business signs along SW 4th Avenue north of Washington Street in 1946. “Paradise Inn Chop Suey” is a classic. Except for the block on the immediate left, almost everything we see here is miraculously still standing.

(City of Portland Archives)

Filed under: 1940s, 4th Avenue, Downtown, Washington Street

SE 82nd & Powell, 1937

Dan Davis — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:26:52 +0000

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)

Filed under: 1930s, 82nd Avenue, Powell Blvd., Southeast