16 thoughts on “Linnton, 1945”

  1. Wow, what a really terrific photograph! And these men do seem happy, with so many smiles. Thank you for finding and also for posting this! & Keep up the terrific work VP!

  2. American Brakeshoe Iron and Steel Foundry must have been a good employer. Almost everyone is smiling or at least not frowning. Great brotherhood, too.

  7. The Historical Oregonian has an article titled “Good Housing Big Aid to Employer” on April 14, 1918 (p. 23) with information which may corroborate Mimi’s guess. After a subheading: “Relation Real One Between Comfort of Employes [sic] and Industrial Output: FRILLS ARE NOT REQUIRED. Housing Problem in Portland Must be Met and Tenements Ousted for Good, Says President of Builders’ Exchange.”

    “Leaving aside all sentimental consideration, there is no question but that some industrial employers have discovered that there is a close relation between the way their employes are housed and the output of their plants.” After some discussion of the need for “a sanitary and hygienic home for every employe, from the lowest and poorest paid to the highest” the article gives examples of companies providing “good, serviceable and sanitary houses…all fireproof and permanent construction,” including the American Brakeshoe Foundry Company.

    Most of the Oregonian’s other citations led only to stock prices, but the public library’s site:
    https://gallery.multcolib.org/image/american-brakeshoe-iron-and-steel-foundry-employees
    has our photo in their “Our Story: Building Community” section.

  8. There is a listing in The Oregonian (October 22, 1951, p. 23) under Vancouver Marriage Licenses for “Ivy Campbell, 40, 523 N. Knott and Lillian Morris (same address), both of Portland.

  9. People’s stances and body language speak volumes here. Some look friendly, easy-going, outgoing or introverted suspicious. Some are confident others not. I like the stance of the fellow in the middle of the top row wearing the double-breasted pin-stripped suit and a white tee-shirt, smoking a stogie.

    The town of Linnton was platted in 1843 by Peter Burnett (later was the first California Governor) and Morton M. McCarver. The two named the community after US Senator Lewis F Linn who was a big proponent of the settlement of Oregon Country. Linnton had its own post office from 1889-1975.
    Linnton is Oregon’s 3rd wealthiest City despite having a small population of 541 people; its wealth is well hidden.

  11. Very interesting that only 3 men are wearing glasses, and a fourth might be holding a pair. I also noticed an interesting belt buckle on the fellow standing on the far right.

  13. mk, every post here should have a tag saying “view this image in efiles here;” clicking it takes you to a page with information on when it is believed to have been acquired, catalog numbers, and sometimes some notes. most importantly, it usuallys has a field marked ‘container,’ meaning a file or box the original is in. if one is lucky, there are other, related, items in the container, and if REALLY lucky, those other items have been digitized and can be viewed online. In mr. campbell’s case, a photo with his child was already scanned.

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