Another excellent D.E. Keasey real estate illustration from 1909. This is a beautiful, very accurate representation looking northeast over Portland Heights. The fine detail even shows the Council Crest streetcar on Vista Avenue at upper right.
(The Oregonian, from University of Oregon Libraries)
The immense Forestry Building is shown in 1905 during the Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition, for which it was built. This view is likely due west; stand at the driveway to Old Forestry Commons on NW Upshur Street to be in roughly the same spot today.
(City of Portland Archives)
Now known as the Grove Hotel, the Hotel Philip is shown here in 1927. Located on West Burnside between 4th and 5th Avenues, the building was originally about twice as deep before the Burnside widening project scaled back its south face to accommodate the street.
(City of Portland Archives)
A fantastic aerial photo from circa 1938 showing old South Portland, from today’s Riverplace area and PSU campus through Duniway Park and the Veteran’s Hospital in the distance. The large industrial complex at lower center is the old Smith & Watson Iron Works, makers of cast iron architectural pieces for many of Portland’s early commercial buildings, as well as fire hydrants that can be found today.
(City of Portland Archives)
This 1949 photo of street deterioration on N. Greeley Avenue at Buffalo Street was probably documentation for city work crews or engineers. The street has been repaired, in case you were wondering. This view is south on Greeley.
(City of Portland Archives)
Industrial smoke was apparently a sign of a strong and vibrant city a century ago. Real estate man R.L. Cate certainly played up what we’d consider pollution today in his richly illustrated ad, calling particular attention to timber, hops and wool.
(University of Oregon Libraries)
The 1870 Corbett Building was the first fully cast-iron fronted building in the city. It was also the only building to have its cast-iron pieces come from Baltimore, shipped around Cape Horn. Demolished two years after this photo, it was on SW 1st Avenue between Alder and Washington.
(University of Oregon Libraries)
Vintage Portland 