PlacesPages: Portland Places: Hoyt Street Yard and the Lovejoy Columns

I originally posted the PORTLAND PLACES: Hoyt Street Yard & Lovejoy Columns page on my old website on May 21, 2008, and last updated it on May 16, 2010.

The subject of this post is something that doesn't even exist anymore, at least not in its original form and location. Only a few traces remain, near, but not in, their original location. Since the subject is something from the past, historical photographs are especially important. This page includes links to pictures from rrpicturearchives.net, RailPictures.Net and Wikipedia.

The Lovejoy ramp was constructed in 1926 & 1927 to carry Lovejoy Street over the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway's Hoyt Street freight yard. Noted bridge engineer Gustav Lindenthal, who was involved in the design of a number of Portland bridges, designed part of the Lovejoy ramp.

Some of the concrete columns of the Lovejoy ramp were decorated with detailed artwork. Though technically graffiti, it was done with much more care then most taggers. The art was the work of Greek immigrant Tom E. Stefopoulos, who worked as a watchman for the SP&S railroad from 1948 to 1952, and painted on the columns during dull moments.

Historical Photos:
Flickr Gallery with 1981 pictures of the Lovejoy Columns
Lovejoy Columns at Portland Building Ads with 1999 vs 2007 pictures

The roundhouse at the Hoyt Street Yard was where the city of Portland's steam locomotive #4449 was restored to operation to pull the American Freedom Train in 1976. The roundhouse was demolished in the 1980s.

Historical Photos:
Locomotive at Hoyt St. Roundhouse, 8/4/71 (rrpicturearchives.net)
Hoyt St. Engine Terminal, 8/4/71 (rrpicturearchives.net)
Hoyt St. Engine Terminal, 8/4/71 (rrpicturearchives.net)
Locomotive at Hoyt St. Roundhouse, 8/72 (rrpicturearchives.net)
Locomotives at Hoyt St. Roundhouse, 7/1973 (RailPictures.Net)
Hoyt St. Roundhouse & Turntable, 4/9/81 (rrpicturearchives.net)
View of Hoyt St. Yard & Lovejoy Viaduct, 6/1/1988 (Wikipedia)
Hoyt St. Engine Terminal, 6/20/1993 (rrpicturearchives.net)
Hoyt St. Engine Terminal, 6/20/1993 (rrpicturearchives.net)

Hoyt Street Yard in 1994

This view shows part of the Hoyt Street Yard from the Lovejoy Ramp in 1994. The locomotives are sitting where the roundhouse once was. The yard closed in 1996, and the turntable was moved to Vancouver, where a pit remained from another turntable that had been removed.

Hoyt Street Yard in 1994
Photo by Fred Anderson

This better picture of the same scene was taken on the same day by Fred Anderson.

Lovejoy Columns on August 19, 2007

The original Lovejoy ramp was demolished in 1999. A total of ten of the columns from the Lovejoy ramp were preserved. These two columns are in the courtyard of the Elizabeth Lofts, on NW 10th Avenue between Everett & Flanders, about 6 blocks south of their original location. These photographs were taken on August 19, 2007.

Lovejoy Columns on August 19, 2007

THE
LOVEJOY
COLUMNS

From 1948 to 1952, Greek immigrant and artist Tom E. Stefopoulos created a series of paintings on the columns of the old Lovejoy Ramp. The two columns in this plaza bear six of Tom's original paintings, which will be restored by a professional conservator in the Spring and Summer of 2006. The photos you see here are full-scale images of the actual paintings underneath.

Prior to being redeveloped, much of what is now called the 'Pearl District' was a rail-yard. This rail-yard, spanned by the Lovejoy Ramp, was where Tom worked as a watchman for the SP&S Railroad. During idle moments Tom created these paintings. As he explained in a 1967 interview, "When trains stop at crossing, waiting for other trains to switch, I climb on top of boxcar next to painting, reach out like this, and paint. Sometimes, when I'm not finished, the train wait a minute- I paint- then climb down and wave her on."

-Next Steps-

As cultural treasures, these painted columns were saved from demolition - and now they need your help. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to aid the restoration effort. Additionally, we are actively seeking photographs of the paintings, especially those dating from 1948 through the 1970s.

For contact information, to donate, or to learn more about the project, visit www.lovejoycolumns.info

Lovejoy Columns on August 19, 2007

The other saved Lovejoy Columns were stored on a vacant lot at the corner of NW 14th Avenue & Savier Street, with no protection from the elements. As of early 2015, they are still there, but the exposure to the weather has washed away most, if not all, of the artwork.

This concludes the original content of my PORTLAND PLACES: Hoyt Street Yard & Lovejoy Columns page. To see additional blog entries about Portland, click on the Portland label.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Portland Places: Hoyt Street Yard and the Lovejoy Columns

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