Today’s Mystery Location is one of the few cast-iron success stories in Portland. This building was constructed in 1871 but by 1967, the time of this photo, it had fallen into obvious disrepair. This one escaped the wrecking ball and it’s now nicely restored somewhere in downtown Portland. Not much to go on here so you’ll need to arm yourself with building details to get this one. Happy hunting!
(University of Oregon Libraries)
West Burnside was once home to many Portland auto dealers. This 1937 photo, looking west from 10th Avenue, shows why.
(City of Portland Archives)
Before Cole McElroy’s Spanish Ballroom was built on the lot north of Portland City Hall (see yesterday’s post), a group of ramshackle homes and businesses covered the block. Probably not many people outside of the residents mourned the loss of these structures. McElroy’s would rise where the boarding house is at the upper right.
(City of Portland Archives)
One gets the feeling that a lot of city business was discussed over lunch at Cole McElroy’s Spanish Ball Room, across the street from Portland City Hall (just off camera to the left). This 1980 invitation (which used a 1940 image) was made up referring to McElroy’s as “City Hall Annex #1” and giving people a chance to enjoy the establishment one last time. It was soon demolished to make way for the Michael Graves-designed Portland Building.
(City of Portland Archives)
The Boston Packing Co. was once situated on the improbably small triangular block bounded by SW 3rd Avenue and Ash and Ankeny Streets. The Multnomah Hotel is just off camera to the left. This building can be seen in the distance in this previous Vintage Portland post. The Union Gas station visible in the distance can also be seen in this post.
(City of Portland Archives)
NW 19th Avenue was a two way street in 1952 when this picture was taken. It’s one way (toward us) now, so you can be excused if you don’t recognize the building on the far corner from this perspective. The 1915 Royal Arms condo building, an apartment building at the time, would be over your left shoulder as you pass it going south.
(City of Portland Archives)
Joseph Wood Hill built the four story Hill Military Academy on NW Marshall Street in 1900. In the 1930s, the academy constructed 13 concrete buildings on the north side of Rocky Butte (the military-style buildings can still be seen on the City Bible Church campus). The structure on NW Marshall was finally condemned as a nuisance in 1943 and demolished. The Marshall Street Professional Building and a parking lot replaced the academy.
(City of Portland Archives)
Vintage Portland 