Here’s a spectacular professional photo of what is probably the grand opening of the Associated service station downtown. This business replaced the Scott Hotel at SW Broadway and W Burnside; our view looks north from Pine Street. This photo comes to us courtesy of VP fan Mike Slama whose friend found a stash of negatives in the old Photo Art lab building. Score!
(Mike Slama)
This is a great Depression-era photo of the area just off the west end of the Ross Island Bridge. Contrary to the marking on this photo, this is not actually Water & Gibbs Streets. The house at far right still stands at Corbett & Grover, putting Water & Gibbs out of frame to the right. I believe this was taken from the sidewalk on Front Ave. just south of Woods Street. Compare with this aerial photo of the same area showing this debris-filled lot at left center. Thanks to VP fan Craig Rowland for passing this on.
(City of Portland Archives)
The tidy Rose Cyclery shop not only sold bicycles, but an array of other goods and services (baby cabs retired?). The store stood on the east side of NE Union, just south of Broadway. The shop next door was a paint store, and the brick building to the right is still standing.
(City of Portland Archives)
The discussion of the CM Forbes home from last week veered over to this home, and generated so many comments, so it’s time to make it an official entry. VP Fan Roxanne grew up only two blocks from this amazing house and remembers it well. It was situated on the northwest corner of NE 15th and Tillamook Street. She believes it was torn down in the 1960s; a nondescript apartment building is on the spot now.
The Jefferson West Apartment building has stood on SW Jefferson between SW 11th and 12th since 1923. I believe it’s been empty for several years as owner Portland Development Commission decides what to do with it, but in 1940 it was a busy center of commerce and entertainment.
(City of Portland Archives)
“They don’t make them like this any more” is certainly true of the C. M. Forbes home. This fantastically ornate home was build circa 1887 on the northwest corner of SW Vista Avenue and Park Place. Date of demolition is unknown but the high-rise now on that property was built in 1960.
This nice old brick trolley car barn is one of two that stood side-by-side between E. Burnside and NE Couch just west of NE 28th Avenue. It’s unknown when the eastern building was torn down but this one is still in use as an office building. They were part of the Portland Traction Company’s car barn and “trackless trolley bus yard” complex. This view is from Burnside looking north.
Vintage Portland 