Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-400 N775AS is pictured here at a gate at the Portland International Airport in Portland, Oregon, on November 28, 2006. The airport opened in 1936, replacing the small Swan Island Municipal Airport. The airport is owned and operated by the Port of Portland.
The Oregonian Printing Press Building on February 27, 2010
Across SW 18th Avenue from Providence Park is The Oregonian's Printing Press Building.
The Oregonian Printing Press Building on February 27, 2010
In July 2015, The Oregonian announced it would shut down its printing press to contract with an outside printer, and the building would be sold.
This concludes the original content of my PORTLAND PLACES: PGE Park page. To see additional blog entries about Portland, click on the Portland label.
2000 SW Morrison Street
Stadium Branch – U.S. National Bank on February 15, 2010
Across SW 20th Avenue from Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, is the Stadium Branch of the United States National Bank in a classic bank building.
Continue to The Oregonian Printing Press Building…
1849 SW Salmon Street
Multnomah Athletic Club on February 27, 2010
The Multnomah Athletic Club is a private not-for-profit athletic club located in Portland, Oregon, next to Providence Park, with their building overlooking the field. These are views of the entrance on Salmon Street.
Multnomah Athletic Club on February 27, 2010
The Multnomah Athletic Club was founded in 1893 as the Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club, and has been located in this location since 1912, though the original building has been replaced. The name was changed to Multnomah Athletic Club in 1936.
Multnomah Athletic Club on February 27, 2010
The Multnomah Athletic Club built the adjacent Multnomah Stadium (now Providence Park) in 1926, and sold it to the City of Portland in 1966. There is still a view of the stadium field from the club’s building.
Continue to Stadium Branch - United States National Bank…
I originally posted the PORTLAND PLACES: PGE Park page on my old website on March 17, 2010.
PGE Park on February 27, 2010
PGE Park, now called Providence Park, is a historic sports stadium in Southwest Portland. It was best known for being the home field of Portland's various baseball teams over the years, and as of 2011 is now a Major League Soccer stadium. Research sources for this page include PdxHistory.com and Wikipedia.
PGE Park on February 27, 2010
In 1845, pioneer Daniel H. Lownsdale established a tannery on this site. By 1893, the tannery was long gone and this property was a piece of pastureland called Tanner Creek Gulch, and in that year the Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club leased the land for use as an athletic field called Multnomah Field. A grandstand was built in the northwest corner and a training house was built in the southwest corner. Multnomah Field hosted all kinds of sports, including baseball, football, track & field, bicycle racing and cricket. A major league baseball exhibition game was played here in 1895. The Portland Giants (later the Beavers) played here in 1905 while the Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition forced them from their Vaughn Street Stadium. President William Howard Taft visited Multnomah Field in 1909, and President Warren G. Harding came in 1923 to a crowd of 25,000-30,000 people.
PGE Park on February 27, 2010
In 1925, the Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club started construction of the 28,000-seat Multnomah Stadium, designed by A.E. Doyle. The original design was for a full-horseshoe shaped stadium, but the club didn't own the property along 18th Avenue, so the east grandstand wasn't built. Multnomah Stadium was completed in 1926 and dedicated on October 9 at a football game between the University of Washington and the University of Oregon attended by 24,000 spectators. The stadium didn't have a permanent tenant however, as the Portland Beavers continued to play at their Vaughn Street Stadium.
PGE Park on February 27, 2010
In 1933, dog racing came to Multnomah Stadium, and the Multnomah Kennel Club was the stadium's only major tenant through 1955. In 1956, the Portland Beavers moved to Multnomah Stadium when their Vaughn Street Stadium was condemned. The grass from Vaughn Street was moved to Multnomah Stadium.
PGE Park on February 27, 2010
In 1966, the Multnomah Athletic Club sold the stadium to the city of Portland, and it was renamed Civic Stadium. In 1969, Civic Stadium became the first outdoor baseball field to install artificial turf.
PGE Park on February 27, 2010
The AAA Beavers moved to Spokane in 1973, and Civic Stadium was renovated with a new roof and hosted the single-A Portland Mavericks through 1977. A new AAA Beavers team was formed in 1978 and remained through 1993 when the team moved to Salt Lake City.
PGE Park on February 27, 2010
In 1995, the single-A Rockies moved from Bend to Portland, and remained until the AAA Albuquerque Dukes moved to Portland in 2001 and became the Portland Beavers. For the arrival of the new team, Civic Stadium underwent a major renovation in 2001, and was renamed PGE Park when Portland General Electric bought the naming rights.
PGE Park on February 27, 2010
PGE Park was renovated into a dedicated soccer stadium for the Portland Timbers Major League Soccer team for their 2011 season. This forced the Beavers to find a new field and the team moved to Tucson, Arizona, becoming the Tucson Padres, however the Portland State University and Central Catholic High School football teams are still able to use the stadium. The renovation coincided with a change in naming rights in 2011, with the stadium’s name being changed to Jeld-Wen Field. In 2014, the naming rights were sold to Providence Health & Services and the stadium was renamed Providence Park.
PGE Park Scoreboard on February 27, 2010
This manually-operated scoreboard was installed at PGE Park during the 2001 renovation. It featured a bell that was rung for home runs.
Facing the Crowd by Michael Stutz on February 27, 2010
These large faces outside the entrances to the stadium are an art installation called Facing the Crowd by Michael Stutz, placed in 2001 as part of the renovation. They are part of the City of Portland Public Art Collection and are maintained by the Regional Arts & Culture Council.
Facing the Crowd by Michael Stutz on February 27, 2010
According to plaques that accompany them, "Facing the Crowd's dynamic presence becomes a celebration of joy and playfulness. My hope is that these giant totems engage the spectator with their simple and universal theme of maintaining humor in the midst of chaotic urban world."
PGE Park on February 27, 2010
PGE Park hosted the 2009 Triple-A All-Star Game, presented by Cricket Wireless.
Multnomah Athletic Club
Stadium Branch - United States National Bank
The Oregonian Printing Press Building
Related Links:
Providence Park
Portland Baseball at PdxHistory.com
Continue to Multnomah Athletic Club…
I originally posted the PORTLAND PLACES: Portland Firefighters Park page on my old website on March 17, 2010.
Portland Firefighters Park on February 27, 2010
Portland Firefighters Park is almost hidden in plain sight, along West Burnside just a block from Providence Park.
Portland Firefighters Memorial on February 27, 2010
The park is a memorial to the Portland firefighters who gave their lives in the line of duty.
Portland Firefighters Memorial on February 27, 2010
The Firefighters Memorial in the park is named in honor of Portland Fire Chief David Campbell, who died in the line of duty on June 26, 1911 after serving as Fire Chief for 18 years.
Portland Firefighters Memorial on February 27, 2010
Campbell and his men had responded to a fire at Union Oil in southeast Portland. As they fought the fire, Campbell observed that the building was weakening. He ordered a retreat and entered the burning building himself to make sure all his men were clear, and as he did so an explosion caused a wall to collapse on top of him, killing him instantly.
Portland Firefighters Memorial on February 27, 2010
The land for the memorial was donated to the City of Portland in 1918 by Katherine A. Daly, specifically as a place to honor Chief Campbell. However, it was not until 1927 that the memorial fountain was finally designed, by Paul Cret of Philadelphia with Ernest F. Tucker as a Portland representative, and construction began.
Portland Firefighters Memorial on February 27, 2010
The memorial is constructed of Caen stone, a light colored, easily worked limestone imported from France and used between the 11th and 19th centuries for many significant European buildings, including Canterbury Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace.
Portland Firefighters Memorial on February 27, 2010
The monument was dedicated by Mayor George L. Baker on June 26, 1928 who at the time declared: "It is a memorial for all the Portland firemen who give their lives in the line of duty. I pledge that their names will be enshrined on plaques."
Portland Firefighters Park on February 27, 2010
Over the years that followed, the streets surrounding the triangular plot of land were widened so that by the 1960s, the memorial was tightly surrounded by city streets.
Portland Firefighters Memorial on February 27, 2010
In 1963 and 1964, the streets were altered to make room for a small park to surround the memorial, created by the Portland Junior Chamber of Commerce with assistance from the Oregon Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and local businesses and labor unions.
Portland Firefighters Memorial on February 27, 2010
Every year on June 26th, a service is held at the memorial in honor of Chief David Campbell and all Portland firefighters who died in the line of duty, and awards are given to current firefighters who have acted with extraordinary bravery. If the memorial is up to date, Portland hasn't lost a firefighter in the line of duty since 1977.
Portland Firefighters Memorial Detail on February 27, 2010
The Portland Firefighters Memorial features some detailed architectural elements.
Portland Firefighters Memorial Detail on February 27, 2010
Perhaps most impressive details are the green men sculpted into the corner pedestals.
Portland Firefighters Memorial Detail on February 27, 2010
There are two basic styles of green man used here: three of each style.
Portland Firefighters Memorial Detail on February 27, 2010
There seem to be slight differences between the three of each style, but this could just be the result of over 80 years of weathering of the soft limestone.
Portland Firefighters Memorial Detail on February 27, 2010
Portland Firefighters Memorial Detail on February 27, 2010
Portland Firefighters Memorial Lantern on February 27, 2010
On top of each of the two pedestals with the green men is a large decorative bronze lantern.
Portland Firefighters Memorial Lantern on February 27, 2010
Portland Firefighters Memorial Lantern on February 27, 2010
Portland Firefighters Memorial Detail on February 27, 2010
Here are some more examples of the decorative architectural elements sculpted into the memorial's limestone.
Portland Firefighters Memorial Detail on February 27, 2010
David Campbell Bronze Relief on February 27, 2010
The main feature of the memorial is a bronze bas-relief of David Campbell above the fountain, sculpted by University of Oregon artist Avard Fairbanks in 1927.
Around the base of the fountain are the names and dates of service of the 36 members of the Portland Fire Department who gave their lives in the performance of their duty. They are listed here in the same order they are in at the memorial.
| F. WAGNER 1885-1890 F. McCORMICK 1910-1919 W. WILBUR 1917-1926 E. GUSTAFSON 1915-1916 F. PLATT 1914-1937 V. SPENCER 1951-1966 | T. O'KEEFE 1884-1891 K. GUNSTER 1913-1921 C. RYAN 1924-1928 H. JOSEPHSON 1927-1928 E. BRADFORD 1913-1945 J. L. DEVANEY 1949-1977 | J. HEWSTON 1883-1892 O. LEHMAN 1910-1921 W. McCREERY 1928-1928 F. KEARNEY 1925-1934 A. BERG 1919-1948 J. REED -1881 |
| T. GRENFELL 1883-1896 | D. CAMPBELL 1881-1911 | W. HIGDON 1911-1912 |
The Messenger Fire Bell on February 27, 2010
A relatively recent addition to Portland Firefighters Park is Portland's old fire bell, which was placed here in June of 2000.
The Messenger Fire Bell on February 27, 2010
Ordered after the great fire of 1873 nearly destroyed Portland's entire west side, the 4,200-pound silver & bronze bell was cast by the Meneely Bell Foundery of West Troy, New York in 1874.
The Messenger Fire Bell on February 27, 2010
It was originally installed at the top of a 70-foot tower behind Vigilance Hook & Ladder Company #1 at Fourth and Yamhill and could be heard as far away as Oregon City.
The Messenger Fire Bell on February 27, 2010
At that time, even horse-drawn fire engines were still in the future, and the volunteer firefighters ran to fires on foot, carrying their equipment and pulling the steam-powered fire engines by hand.
The Messenger Fire Bell on February 27, 2010
Installation of a telegraph system with alarm boxes began in 1875, and in 1913 the fire bell was retired.
The Messenger Fire Bell on February 27, 2010
The bell was displayed at special events for a few years before being put into storage, where it remained until being placed here.
Bell Tower Plaque on February 27, 2010
Because of its location, the current firefighters memorial is inadequate to host large crowds for events like the annual commemoration of David Campbell's heroic death. Thus, a new, larger memorial is planned for construction on the east side of the Willamette River near the Hawthorne Bridge, with a dedication originally planned for the 100th anniversary of Campbell's death on June 26, 2011, but not yet built. This existing historic memorial will remain, although the bell may be moved to the new memorial. Therefore, here is the text of the plaque on the current "bell tower" which may or may not be moved with the bell.
We want to give special thanks to the following
organizations and individuals for the construction
of this great Bell Tower.
| Portland Firefighters Association | Mutual Material |
David Campbell Memorial Association
President Peter Linsky
Secretary-Treasurer Chief Robert Wall
Trustees: Betty Hedberg, Worth Caldwell, Jim Hebe and
Firefighter Paul Corah
June 2000
Related Links:
Portland Firefighters Memorial
Portland Fire & Rescue
This concludes the original content of my PORTLAND PLACES: Portland Firefighters Park page. To see additional blog entries about Portland, click on the Portland label.
