10 thoughts on “Portland Woolen Mills, circa 1911”
The St. Johns Review is the oldest continuously published community newspaper in Portland. The community, like the City of Portland itself, grew rapidly in 1906 after the Lewis and Clark Exposition, but it soon settled down to a more gradual and orderly growth pattern.
The Portland Woolen Mills, which was burned out of it’s Sellwood location, re-established itself in St. Johns in 1904 on property furnished by the city council. It was the largest mill west of Cleveland and added a stabilizing influence to the community. It never shut down once during the Depression and there were no layoffs. From: Positive Spin website, includes photos of town’s namesake James John (1809-1886).
James “Jimmy” John was 36 years old when in the winter of 1845-1846 he moved from Linnton to an area across the Willamette River, a few miles upstream, known as the Peninsula. In 1852 he plotted St. Johns on the Willamette, a small 4 block by 2 1/2 tract of property following the waterfront . From that small beginning two additions were to follow as the years went by. John sold off some of his plots of land to others, onto which small houses were built.
John in his later years was not generally well-liked and had few friends. As time went on John became more of a recluse. Keeping to himself and adopting a hermits lifestyle.
John did leave behind a few diaries but most of what is known about him was gathered when he was in his 70’s. By then there was evidence he was becoming senile.
He loved children. He loved being around them and to talk with them, but he didn’t tell them his stories. He had so many stories he could have shared.
Whether by intention or accident John didn’t help historians piece his life together. He was a man of mystery. He didn’t talk about himself. He rarely left his own property. When he died at age 77 people didn’t know what to make of the old geezer. A ragged man with a dwarfish stature and a large head.
All John wanted to talk about was the future, not the past. He spoke of a great city on the Willamette. And he didn’t mean Portland or Canby.
As easy as it was for him to get along with children he had difficulty communicating with adults. He had difficulty expressing his forward-thinking ideas with them. This in spite of being quite humorous and very literate. At the time of his death he had an extensive library. No one seems to know what ever became of it. Read more on this fellow below, it gets better.
I like the couple moseying home after attending church services.
Looks like a nice day.
The Portland Woolen Mills was located in the area of where Cathedral Park is now.
I assume those large wooden structures in the background were part of a ship building facility.
This is actually North of Cathedral Park and some of the buildings still exist. The main central brick structure is home to Urban German Wursthaus.
The bones of the old Portland Woolen Mill in St. Johns still remain, and are part of a mixed use complex called Cathedral Park Place @6635 N Baltimore.
Excerpt from Bureau of Development services appeal by the property owner in 2019.
Cathedral Park Place is a multi-use complex of buildings located in an EG1 zone in St. Johns. It houses tenant spaces which include office, artist studios, warehouse, wholesale sales and light manufacturing. Some of the original buildings on the site, built in 1904 for the Portland Woolen Mill, still stand with brick walls, arched windows and large span heavy timbers. Added onto over the years to meet the needs of the mill and later occupants. …….
I worked in the Portland Woolen Mills 1950 & 1951. I worked in many different departments. My brother in law (whose dad also worked there) chauffeured Mr. Carter who owned the mill. When I was a kid we sledded down that hill in winter time. Steep, to say the least.
THAT COUPLE IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER LOOK TO BE RIGHT NEXT TO A FIRE HYDRANT
I believe this image in todays post is reversed.
Check image posted as : The exterior of the Portland Woolen Mills factory in St. Johns, circa 1913.
POSTED ON NOVEMBER 18, 2022 BY VINTAGE PORTLAND
Vintage Portland 
The St. Johns Review is the oldest continuously published community newspaper in Portland. The community, like the City of Portland itself, grew rapidly in 1906 after the Lewis and Clark Exposition, but it soon settled down to a more gradual and orderly growth pattern.
The Portland Woolen Mills, which was burned out of it’s Sellwood location, re-established itself in St. Johns in 1904 on property furnished by the city council. It was the largest mill west of Cleveland and added a stabilizing influence to the community. It never shut down once during the Depression and there were no layoffs. From: Positive Spin website, includes photos of town’s namesake James John (1809-1886).
James “Jimmy” John was 36 years old when in the winter of 1845-1846 he moved from Linnton to an area across the Willamette River, a few miles upstream, known as the Peninsula. In 1852 he plotted St. Johns on the Willamette, a small 4 block by 2 1/2 tract of property following the waterfront . From that small beginning two additions were to follow as the years went by. John sold off some of his plots of land to others, onto which small houses were built.
John in his later years was not generally well-liked and had few friends. As time went on John became more of a recluse. Keeping to himself and adopting a hermits lifestyle.
John did leave behind a few diaries but most of what is known about him was gathered when he was in his 70’s. By then there was evidence he was becoming senile.
He loved children. He loved being around them and to talk with them, but he didn’t tell them his stories. He had so many stories he could have shared.
Whether by intention or accident John didn’t help historians piece his life together. He was a man of mystery. He didn’t talk about himself. He rarely left his own property. When he died at age 77 people didn’t know what to make of the old geezer. A ragged man with a dwarfish stature and a large head.
All John wanted to talk about was the future, not the past. He spoke of a great city on the Willamette. And he didn’t mean Portland or Canby.
As easy as it was for him to get along with children he had difficulty communicating with adults. He had difficulty expressing his forward-thinking ideas with them. This in spite of being quite humorous and very literate. At the time of his death he had an extensive library. No one seems to know what ever became of it. Read more on this fellow below, it gets better.
https://www.positivespin.us/NL3.htm
I like the couple moseying home after attending church services.
Looks like a nice day.
The Portland Woolen Mills was located in the area of where Cathedral Park is now.
I assume those large wooden structures in the background were part of a ship building facility.
This is actually North of Cathedral Park and some of the buildings still exist. The main central brick structure is home to Urban German Wursthaus.
The bones of the old Portland Woolen Mill in St. Johns still remain, and are part of a mixed use complex called Cathedral Park Place @6635 N Baltimore.
Excerpt from Bureau of Development services appeal by the property owner in 2019.
Cathedral Park Place is a multi-use complex of buildings located in an EG1 zone in St. Johns. It houses tenant spaces which include office, artist studios, warehouse, wholesale sales and light manufacturing. Some of the original buildings on the site, built in 1904 for the Portland Woolen Mill, still stand with brick walls, arched windows and large span heavy timbers. Added onto over the years to meet the needs of the mill and later occupants. …….
I worked in the Portland Woolen Mills 1950 & 1951. I worked in many different departments. My brother in law (whose dad also worked there) chauffeured Mr. Carter who owned the mill. When I was a kid we sledded down that hill in winter time. Steep, to say the least.
THAT COUPLE IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER LOOK TO BE RIGHT NEXT TO A FIRE HYDRANT
I believe this image in todays post is reversed.
Check image posted as : The exterior of the Portland Woolen Mills factory in St. Johns, circa 1913.
POSTED ON NOVEMBER 18, 2022 BY VINTAGE PORTLAND
or 👇🏻
https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/55b65871e4b0c3dfa57f6c1f/1563314881849-CIKOWK64N7IS2RDJUYXA/Woolen+Mills+from+Baltimore+and+Decatur.jpg?format=1500w
can we see the same location today !!
Ha! It is reversed! Unless the sun came up in the north…
Also, no comments on the foreground building with elaborate porch trim? Was that the cafeteria?