It looks like it was an overcast day when this photo was taken. The fellow in the bed of the truck in the process of sliding a plank down off the stack looks to have been interrupted with a question of some sort, by the boss in the white hat. I wonder if the customer in the white chinos was a regular customer.
Those Chevrolet 1-Ton Panel trucks (w/ window vents) were the top sellers in their day. The parked car next to the truck with its driver’s side window rolled down is a 1948 Buick Super 4-door sedan.
It would be interesting to know the history of this structure when it was built and for what original purpose; I see a set of sliding doors at the far end which I’m assuming once ran the entire length of the structure. The building has no rain gutters and it appears here to be in fairly feeble shape.
I forgot to mention the small wooden dog house-like structure at the end. I see lumber stacked behind it, perhaps this was to hold bits of wood that people could take for firewood. Or perhaps it was a dog house, so the owner could bring his dog to work rather than leave him at home…who knows?
Here’s the shot we’ve seen before from the same intersection. Was the Village Smithy in the same building? Across the street?
@igor, Given the fire hydrant location the Village Smithy was across 75th from today’s photo. The brick multiplexes built on both corners were built the same year and use the same construction.
The “dog house” looks similar to the drop boxes that the Oregon Journal used to drop off bundles of newspapers for delivery. The paperboys would get their bundle, roll the papers, and take off on their bikes for their afternoon paper routes.
By the way, the Multnomah County Library now has digitized copies of the Oregon Journal from 1902 to 1982 on their website.
wploulorenziprince, the car in the photo is a 1942 Buick. Not a 1947.
1/2 ton, note lack of floating rear axle.
also, it is a Suburban, not a panel
Merlin, thanks for the correction. Buick really stayed with this general style for lotta years, didn’t they?
Mike Stern, I appreciate your detailed knowledge. I just enjoy looking these cars up online, but my ability to differentiate 1/2-ton from 1-ton models is quite limited, but growing, thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I had no idea that the Chevy Suburban model went back so far, wow. It’s funny, but if I had to pick a car I absolutely detest/despise it’s the Suburban; as I’ve noticed that the drivers of this car seem to display a, “I own the road, get out of my way” attitude. I also don’t like following behind them because they block too much of my view of the road. Huge, jacked-up pickups aren’t my favorite either.
What would the view have been looking north at that time? This is pre-Banfield so I’m guessing just a bunch of nothing and the railroad? Or was there more of an access to the other side of what would become I-84?
Vintage Portland 
Wood.
The only thing left is the manhole cover and some curbing. The brick four-plex was built in 1957.
We have been here before.
https://efiles.portlandoregon.gov/Record/13330988/File/Document
It looks like it was an overcast day when this photo was taken. The fellow in the bed of the truck in the process of sliding a plank down off the stack looks to have been interrupted with a question of some sort, by the boss in the white hat. I wonder if the customer in the white chinos was a regular customer.
Those Chevrolet 1-Ton Panel trucks (w/ window vents) were the top sellers in their day. The parked car next to the truck with its driver’s side window rolled down is a 1948 Buick Super 4-door sedan.
It would be interesting to know the history of this structure when it was built and for what original purpose; I see a set of sliding doors at the far end which I’m assuming once ran the entire length of the structure. The building has no rain gutters and it appears here to be in fairly feeble shape.
I forgot to mention the small wooden dog house-like structure at the end. I see lumber stacked behind it, perhaps this was to hold bits of wood that people could take for firewood. Or perhaps it was a dog house, so the owner could bring his dog to work rather than leave him at home…who knows?
Here’s the shot we’ve seen before from the same intersection. Was the Village Smithy in the same building? Across the street?
@igor, Given the fire hydrant location the Village Smithy was across 75th from today’s photo. The brick multiplexes built on both corners were built the same year and use the same construction.
The “dog house” looks similar to the drop boxes that the Oregon Journal used to drop off bundles of newspapers for delivery. The paperboys would get their bundle, roll the papers, and take off on their bikes for their afternoon paper routes.
By the way, the Multnomah County Library now has digitized copies of the Oregon Journal from 1902 to 1982 on their website.
wploulorenziprince, the car in the photo is a 1942 Buick. Not a 1947.
1/2 ton, note lack of floating rear axle.
also, it is a Suburban, not a panel
Merlin, thanks for the correction. Buick really stayed with this general style for lotta years, didn’t they?
Mike Stern, I appreciate your detailed knowledge. I just enjoy looking these cars up online, but my ability to differentiate 1/2-ton from 1-ton models is quite limited, but growing, thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I had no idea that the Chevy Suburban model went back so far, wow. It’s funny, but if I had to pick a car I absolutely detest/despise it’s the Suburban; as I’ve noticed that the drivers of this car seem to display a, “I own the road, get out of my way” attitude. I also don’t like following behind them because they block too much of my view of the road. Huge, jacked-up pickups aren’t my favorite either.
What would the view have been looking north at that time? This is pre-Banfield so I’m guessing just a bunch of nothing and the railroad? Or was there more of an access to the other side of what would become I-84?