VP fan Scott Blyth sent in this great photo of Portland’s 1919 Armistice Day parade. “My paternal grandfather Reginald Arthur Blyth was heading up the Canadian contingent and is marching with his officer’s cane directed towards the ground.” The parade is heading east on SW Alder at Park Avenue; both the 1908 Cornelius Hotel and the 1912 Woodlark Building in the background are still there. Thanks again, Scott!
Update: This is actually the Rose Festival Military and Naval Parade, held on June 12, 1919. See the comments for more information.
(Scott Blyth)
Vintage Portland 
In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…” http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp
Fantastic event! Fine photo of it, too.
Notice the man watching from the small ledge on the building on the right. Maybe he crawled out from a nearby window? What a great crowd of people. It’s amazing that my generation really doesn’t know much about this part of history.
An special image for sure. Just spent 5 minutes scanning over every part of it. Thanks.
Is that Paris Hat M’F’G? Interesting how they separated abbreviations with apostrophes.
What about the soul above the Paris hat sign?! Seems nobody was afraid of heights back in them days!
Well… it’s not perfect but would you say this is more visually pleasing?
Something about the crowd that got me thinking, looks like Rose Festival time again.
“Today’s Festival Events”
“2:30 P. M. -Grand military and naval parade; presentation of medals by city of Portland to returned soldiers and marines who march in parade. Route of military parade” … “The parade will form on Fourteenth street; proceed to Morrison street; east on Morrison to Tenth street; north on Tenth to Alder street; east on Alder to Broadway; north on Broadway to Pine; …”
Morning Oregonian, page 1, Thursday, June 12, 1919
There is a full page of military parade photos in the June 13th paper, looks like a match, except a different part of the parade, Photo 4: Returned Canadian soldiers, who went through some of the hardest fighting, march with American Allies in victory parade.
Note the old Canadian flag being carried. The modern maple leaf flag wasn’t adopted until the 60’s.
oldoregon is absolutely correct. This is not the Armistice Day Parade, but rather the Rose Festival Military and Naval Parade, held on June 12, 1919. This photo was run in The Oregonian on the following day, June 13, and is an almost exact match for our featured photo.
“Returned Canadian soldiers, who went through some of the hardest fighting, march with American allies in victory parade.”
It can’t be the Rose festival, I don’t see any tents, chairs, or duct tape
I guess you don’t need any tents, chairs or duct tape when you can just perch your babies on the edge of a second floor window for a better view. Check out the third window from the right on the Cornelius Hotel.
I saw the kids sitting on the window sill. There seems to be a lot of people on top of buildings and on ledges and such. I guess that was half of the excitement, of a parade.
I’m with ya, NativePDX. I wasn’t being critical of your viewpoint. Rather, just commenting on changing times.
This cant be Rose Festival, it isn’t raining!!! LOL
I see a grand total of two (2) gentlemen without hats.
Here’s today!
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=portland+oregon&hl=en&ll=45.520295,-122.680116&spn=0.001091,0.001742&hnear=Portland,+Multnomah,+Oregon&gl=us&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=45.520263,-122.680255&panoid=2eadNfBtNzha2a7xF_oW5g&cbp=12,318.62,,0,1.83
haha, what’s up with the shirtless dude in the street view pic? Does he not realize he isn’t in Gresham? :-p