Aerial view of St. Johns North Precinct and the east side of the St. Johns Bridge, 1976. This building was built as the City Hall for St. Johns and also housed the local volunteer fire department. St. Johns was annexed into Portland in 1915. The building then became home to the Police Bureau’s North Precinct and the Fire Bureau’s Engine Company 32.
City of Portland Archives, Oregon, Aerial view of St Johns North Precinct, 2012-005, 1976.
Vintage Portland 
I have a couple of questions for anyone familiar with the history of the buildings in St. Johns, What is that wooden structure at the northeast end of the bridge and secondly is that building with arched windows a Carnegie Library further shown northeast in the picture?
It was a Post office.
The oil stains in every empty parking spot, as well as the liquid running from the gas pump out of the police precinct parking lot and into the street are telling. Stormwater runoff back then must have been incredibly polluted.
Cubilist is correct, the building with the arched windows was the post office. St. Johns DOES have a gorgeous Carnegie Library, though. It’s across the street from the James John Elementary School on Charleston.
I’m not sure what the wooden structure was. Possibly a granary?
Melissa Brown. Comment on oil stains in parking lot.
Portland Police Department has purchased FORD vehicles for decades. Enough said !
Portland Police cars in the photo are Plymouths in the lot and Chevrolets in the street. Was Plymouths in the late 1960’s.
That street going down hill is Burlington. Lived in an apt. at the corner of Burlington and Willamette in early 80’s. Walked up to Fred Bauer Chevrolet in 85 and bought a new S-10 Pick up. I have a plate over a hundred years old showing the building in question when it was the city hall.
Not only the oil-stained parking areas, but look at the travel lanes on the bridge approach. Amazingly leaky and polluting engines back then. Imagine the run-off. If there was one positive thing about the rise of Japanese in the auto industry, it was the persistent emphasis on quality, longevity and efficiency. I think the average car on the road today is what, 15 years old? Back then I bet it was 6.
Oil drips, That’s for sure, It was just an accepted thing those days.
I would not tolerate it & spent allot of time keeping my engines sealed up.
I don’t miss that nor the smell of a rich burning engine.
Cars quality is lightyears ahead from 40 years ago.
Walk through a Fred Meyer parking lot in the early morning before it opens. The oil puddles and stains are just as bad. Or look in the parking lot of a convenience store and you better watch where you walk – oil drippings are all over.
The wooden structure at the end of the bridge was an apartment complex.
Notice the swimming pool with a plastic dome over it.