Picture #30.
Skidmore Fountain in 1890 - Looking East
Look at picture #30.
Notice the building in the background. Big, massive brick and cast iron building lining first avenue.
This district takes its name from the Skidmore fountain (built in eighteen eighty seven; Classical style)
FOLLOW ALONG WITH PICTURES
See historic Pictures #30, SKIDMORE FOUNTAIN.
PLACARDS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE
This area was the center of downtown Portland when this bronze and granite fountain was placed here.
It is inscribed: "Good Citizens Are the Riches of a City".
The fountain may look ornate, but its purpose was practical: to quench the thirsts of Portlanders, and their animal companions.
A mid-1980s restoration preserved the square and assured a future for the fountain, which is Portland’s oldest piece of public art.
In its early years, people drank from tin cups that hung from the lions' heads at the base of the fountain.
Praised by art critics, one eastern critic quipped in a backhanded compliment, ...it was too good for that provincial little town in the Pacific Northwest".
Named after the pioneer Stephen Skidmore, he was a druggist who arrived in Portland at age 12 in 1850 by covered wagon, and left five thousand dollars in his will, for a fountain to quench the thirst of "horses, men, and dogs". It took $23,000 to build.
Right behind the fountain, on the brick wall, is Ankeny Arcade.
Captain Ankeny, for which the Ankeny Arcade is dedicated, built numerous brick and cast iron buildings.
Beginning in the 1940s, scores of these cast iron structures, in the area, were demolished.
See historic PICTURES, SECTION 30. Skidmore Fountain in 1890 Flood - Looking East towards Front Ave and Ankeny St.
The pictures you see, are some that were demolished.
The second picture, is another view at Front Avenue and Ankeny Street. The building on the far left, is the same as the prior picture looking straight on. As you can see, those buildings are all gone now.
PAUSE, TO SEE PICTURES.
PAUSE.
PAUSE.
Remember, after Soho, New York City, Portland had the highest number of cast iron buildings in the nation.
In order to enhance Skidmore/ Old Town, which was officially designated as a National Historic Landmark District in 1978, and to display cast iron artifacts from the buildings which had been lost, Ankeny arcade was erected in 1978.
Right across the street from the Arcade is the New Market Theater, built by Captain Ankeny in 1872, (High Victorian architecture)
The New Market Theater, is a building modeled after London's Covent Garden.
It's our city's most colorful and venerable landmark, and provided a touch of class, to early Portland.
It remains as a tribute to Ankeny's development prowess.
On the 2nd floor was a plush theater hosting famous performers and dignitaries; while on ground level, produce stalls with marble counters gave the city a 1st rate public market.
NEXT IS FRONT STREET AND WATERFRONT PARK.
With many more.
Does anyone have any questions?
Skidmore Fountain in 1890 - Looking East
Look at picture #30.
Notice the building in the background. Big, massive brick and cast iron building lining first avenue.
This district takes its name from the Skidmore fountain (built in eighteen eighty seven; Classical style)
FOLLOW ALONG WITH PICTURES
See historic Pictures #30, SKIDMORE FOUNTAIN.
PLACARDS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE
This area was the center of downtown Portland when this bronze and granite fountain was placed here.
It is inscribed: "Good Citizens Are the Riches of a City".
The fountain may look ornate, but its purpose was practical: to quench the thirsts of Portlanders, and their animal companions.
A mid-1980s restoration preserved the square and assured a future for the fountain, which is Portland’s oldest piece of public art.
In its early years, people drank from tin cups that hung from the lions' heads at the base of the fountain.
Praised by art critics, one eastern critic quipped in a backhanded compliment, ...it was too good for that provincial little town in the Pacific Northwest".
Named after the pioneer Stephen Skidmore, he was a druggist who arrived in Portland at age 12 in 1850 by covered wagon, and left five thousand dollars in his will, for a fountain to quench the thirst of "horses, men, and dogs". It took $23,000 to build.
Right behind the fountain, on the brick wall, is Ankeny Arcade.
Captain Ankeny, for which the Ankeny Arcade is dedicated, built numerous brick and cast iron buildings.
Beginning in the 1940s, scores of these cast iron structures, in the area, were demolished.
See historic PICTURES, SECTION 30. Skidmore Fountain in 1890 Flood - Looking East towards Front Ave and Ankeny St.
The pictures you see, are some that were demolished.
The second picture, is another view at Front Avenue and Ankeny Street. The building on the far left, is the same as the prior picture looking straight on. As you can see, those buildings are all gone now.
PAUSE, TO SEE PICTURES.
PAUSE.
PAUSE.
Remember, after Soho, New York City, Portland had the highest number of cast iron buildings in the nation.
In order to enhance Skidmore/ Old Town, which was officially designated as a National Historic Landmark District in 1978, and to display cast iron artifacts from the buildings which had been lost, Ankeny arcade was erected in 1978.
Right across the street from the Arcade is the New Market Theater, built by Captain Ankeny in 1872, (High Victorian architecture)
The New Market Theater, is a building modeled after London's Covent Garden.
It's our city's most colorful and venerable landmark, and provided a touch of class, to early Portland.
It remains as a tribute to Ankeny's development prowess.
On the 2nd floor was a plush theater hosting famous performers and dignitaries; while on ground level, produce stalls with marble counters gave the city a 1st rate public market.
NEXT IS FRONT STREET AND WATERFRONT PARK.
With many more.
Does anyone have any questions?
