Great photo but it looks like the image is flipped. The gatehouse, which still exists today on 60th and Division, should be in the lower left of the photo instead of the lower right.
How strange how everything was built backwards then.
There are actually a lot more related items than are listed above; perhaps the blog isn’t allowed to list more than three. One that is specific to Reservoir 2, with people and animals featured, and with a lot of interesting comments made by VP readers in 2021 is:
When this photo of reservoir # 2 at SE 60th & Division was printed the negative was flipped so this photo is a reverse image of what the true orientation is The building in the bottom right corner was built in 1910 and is on the Northwest corner of this intersection.
It appears this image is flopped; it is a mirror image of reality.
After trying to figure out where this pic is situated, I believe the image has been flipped left to right. The gatehouse needs to be in the lower left and then Division and the curvy road into the park at the top appear in their proper perspective.
looks like the picture is reversed.
The aerial photo of Mt Tabor reservoir 2 is flipped
The 1894 stone “gatehouse” on the corner of SE 60th & Division (2370 SE 60th) was converted to residence which is shown having 1,026 sq. ft. with 1 bedroom & 1 bath and a driveway for off street parking on SE 60th. When it was converted I don’t know.
Don’t know if they still do it but before COVID cars were banned on Wednesdays so people could walk and bike etc.
Is it just me or has it been already established that today’s image is Flipped and that everything seems to be built backwards in a reversed sort of way.. it seems to be a mirror image of reality in a reversed sort of way. It’s “As If” the Mt. Tabor reservoir has been “flipped” or even maybe “flopped” in some sort of way.. with some left handed driving in there too. Wasn’t there any right handed driver’s in those days.?. 😃
In the upper right you can see the corner of Portland Reservoir 6 further west on SE 60th. Most of the homes along adjacent SE Stevens remain, including the steep roofed home next to the ‘S’ curve. It appears today’s Mt. Tabor Community Garden along SE Lincoln has long been an agricultural tract. Meanwhile, the farm in the upper left of today’s photo is long gone, replaced by a city operations and maintenance yard. (That little white farmhouse must be giving other houses chimney envy!) Reservoir 2 is also gone, replaced by assisted living apartments along SE Division. The large building bottom center remains; Pizzicato is a current tenant. The building Dennis mentions is Rain Or Shine Coffee. And thanks for the link Liz C, certainly a great photo…I wonder what year the oxen trough was removed. And, if you look close in today’s photo you can see a person walking to and seemingly about to enter the 1894 gatehouse, now a residence approximately worth half a million dollars.
For a little historical context, this 1920 photo was taken when…
The Columbia Scenic Highway was nearing completion. Our adventurous 16th governor and early example of the “Oregon Way”, Ben Olcott, denounced the KKK and insured our highways will have protected buffers of forest. And Beatrice Cannady is completing her law degree at Lewis & Clark College.
I don’t see this as being backwards. The stone building in the lower right corner is at the corner of 60th and Division. I’ve lived in the area since late 70’s and frequently rode my bike up around Tabor park A LOT when I was in my 20-30’s. I remember the park very well and probably walked over every inch of it. I worked weekends and would frequently go up to the park on my days off and would have the whole place to myself.
Thank you for catching my mistake. The photo has been flipped and the catalog is updated.
The little “chimney envy” house still exists and originally was the head house for the boiler to heat the adjacent city parks greenhouses which also still exist. All of the surrounding planted areas were for growing plant material for Portland Parks.
The column of water jetting up from reservoir #2 does not compare to Salmon Street Springs in Portland or the fountains at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, but to residents of Portland in 1894 it was a wonderment.
Oregonian 12/18/1894 — A Fine Column of Water — The jet of water from the standpipe at reservoir No. 2, on Section Line road ( SE Division today) near the base of Mount Tabor, which is six inches in diameter and rises 110 feet in the air, attracted much attention Sunday. Those who did not know the cause of this magnificent fountain imagined that the Bull Run pipe line had burst. The beautiful spectacle attracted a large crowd from the country around the reservoir, who watched the huge column as it waved about in the breeze, and threw out huge masses of silvery spray which fell into the reservoir with the sound like “the voice of merry water”. When the works are in operation, this splendid fountain will be playing much of the time. Possibly there is nowhere in the Northwest country another six inch stream of water rising 110 feet into the air.
For what it’s worth, I think this picture might be backwards. It looks like SE 60th and Division, but the reservoir is on the wrong side. The building across the street is still there, the house next to it too (and matches the image). Perhaps the plate was printed upside-down. Also, 1920? The cars look a lot newer than that. My guess would be 1930s/40s.
Nice info John! I stand corrected, the chimney house survives, albeit a more humble chimney. And now that the photo isn’t backwards, all of my previous comments are. Lol
Was SE 60th Ave only curved to the right onto SE Division St.
Vintage Portland 
Great photo but it looks like the image is flipped. The gatehouse, which still exists today on 60th and Division, should be in the lower left of the photo instead of the lower right.
How strange how everything was built backwards then.
Lefthand driving too !
Here’s a few pictures from early ’70s.
https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.or0238.photos/?sp=9&st=image
There are actually a lot more related items than are listed above; perhaps the blog isn’t allowed to list more than three. One that is specific to Reservoir 2, with people and animals featured, and with a lot of interesting comments made by VP readers in 2021 is:
When this photo of reservoir # 2 at SE 60th & Division was printed the negative was flipped so this photo is a reverse image of what the true orientation is The building in the bottom right corner was built in 1910 and is on the Northwest corner of this intersection.
It appears this image is flopped; it is a mirror image of reality.
After trying to figure out where this pic is situated, I believe the image has been flipped left to right. The gatehouse needs to be in the lower left and then Division and the curvy road into the park at the top appear in their proper perspective.
looks like the picture is reversed.
The aerial photo of Mt Tabor reservoir 2 is flipped
The 1894 stone “gatehouse” on the corner of SE 60th & Division (2370 SE 60th) was converted to residence which is shown having 1,026 sq. ft. with 1 bedroom & 1 bath and a driveway for off street parking on SE 60th. When it was converted I don’t know.
Don’t know if they still do it but before COVID cars were banned on Wednesdays so people could walk and bike etc.
Is it just me or has it been already established that today’s image is Flipped and that everything seems to be built backwards in a reversed sort of way.. it seems to be a mirror image of reality in a reversed sort of way. It’s “As If” the Mt. Tabor reservoir has been “flipped” or even maybe “flopped” in some sort of way.. with some left handed driving in there too. Wasn’t there any right handed driver’s in those days.?. 😃
In the upper right you can see the corner of Portland Reservoir 6 further west on SE 60th. Most of the homes along adjacent SE Stevens remain, including the steep roofed home next to the ‘S’ curve. It appears today’s Mt. Tabor Community Garden along SE Lincoln has long been an agricultural tract. Meanwhile, the farm in the upper left of today’s photo is long gone, replaced by a city operations and maintenance yard. (That little white farmhouse must be giving other houses chimney envy!) Reservoir 2 is also gone, replaced by assisted living apartments along SE Division. The large building bottom center remains; Pizzicato is a current tenant. The building Dennis mentions is Rain Or Shine Coffee. And thanks for the link Liz C, certainly a great photo…I wonder what year the oxen trough was removed. And, if you look close in today’s photo you can see a person walking to and seemingly about to enter the 1894 gatehouse, now a residence approximately worth half a million dollars.
For a little historical context, this 1920 photo was taken when…
The Columbia Scenic Highway was nearing completion. Our adventurous 16th governor and early example of the “Oregon Way”, Ben Olcott, denounced the KKK and insured our highways will have protected buffers of forest. And Beatrice Cannady is completing her law degree at Lewis & Clark College.
I don’t see this as being backwards. The stone building in the lower right corner is at the corner of 60th and Division. I’ve lived in the area since late 70’s and frequently rode my bike up around Tabor park A LOT when I was in my 20-30’s. I remember the park very well and probably walked over every inch of it. I worked weekends and would frequently go up to the park on my days off and would have the whole place to myself.
Thank you for catching my mistake. The photo has been flipped and the catalog is updated.
The little “chimney envy” house still exists and originally was the head house for the boiler to heat the adjacent city parks greenhouses which also still exist. All of the surrounding planted areas were for growing plant material for Portland Parks.
The column of water jetting up from reservoir #2 does not compare to Salmon Street Springs in Portland or the fountains at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, but to residents of Portland in 1894 it was a wonderment.
Oregonian 12/18/1894 — A Fine Column of Water — The jet of water from the standpipe at reservoir No. 2, on Section Line road ( SE Division today) near the base of Mount Tabor, which is six inches in diameter and rises 110 feet in the air, attracted much attention Sunday. Those who did not know the cause of this magnificent fountain imagined that the Bull Run pipe line had burst. The beautiful spectacle attracted a large crowd from the country around the reservoir, who watched the huge column as it waved about in the breeze, and threw out huge masses of silvery spray which fell into the reservoir with the sound like “the voice of merry water”. When the works are in operation, this splendid fountain will be playing much of the time. Possibly there is nowhere in the Northwest country another six inch stream of water rising 110 feet into the air.
For what it’s worth, I think this picture might be backwards. It looks like SE 60th and Division, but the reservoir is on the wrong side. The building across the street is still there, the house next to it too (and matches the image). Perhaps the plate was printed upside-down. Also, 1920? The cars look a lot newer than that. My guess would be 1930s/40s.
Nice info John! I stand corrected, the chimney house survives, albeit a more humble chimney. And now that the photo isn’t backwards, all of my previous comments are. Lol
Was SE 60th Ave only curved to the right onto SE Division St.