Crews in 1947 work on the SW Harbor Drive overpass over SW Arthur Street, widening Harbor Dr. and building connections to the Ross Island Bridge. This section of roadway is now SW Naito Parkway and the view is to the southeast. Maybe half of the buildings we see here are still intact.
(City of Portland Archives)
Our last mystery to solve this year is this unidentified building from circa 1944. No location information is given so it could be anywhere in the Portland area (we think). This would appear to be new construction of a public facility; school, library, post office, etc. Any ideas?
Found: Housing Authority of Portland admin building, Columbia Villa
(City of Portland Archives)
Fans of the old Greyhound maintenance garage at SW Water Avenue & Sheridan Street will be saddened to know that it no longer exists. Alert VP reader Ian Fraley alerted me two weeks ago that it was being torn down. By the time I could get down there, only a pile of debris remained. You can see the building in this 1964 aerial photo with a bit of discussion about it in the comments.
2008:
2012:
This 1938 aerial image of downtown shows an artist’s rendering along the west side waterfront. It was probably used as a device to envision placement of Harbor Drive. This particular version left intact the Portland Public Market building on the right.
(City of Portland Archives)
This photo is a bit of a mystery. The record for it says, “Photo is documenting extension of Sandy to SE Belmont.” I don’t know exactly which corner it was but I have a feeling it looks southwest at Burnside and 12th where Sandy will make its diagonal cut. This must have been the golden age of billboards; this one is a beauty!
(City of Portland Archives)
The followup to yesterday’s photo shows the completed work after removal of the westbound rails on SE Hawthorne from 50th. The eastbound rails were probably next to be removed. I’m willing to bet those cobblestones are still under today’s asphalt though.
(City of Portland Archives)
A Works Project Administration crew applies plenty of human muscle to a rail project on SE Hawthorne at 50th avenue in 1936. In the background a bus heads downhill from Mt. Tabor. Did the bus replace the trolley line?
(City of Portland Archives)
Vintage Portland 