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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
