Yamhill Historic District
(When we turn on 2nd avenue, it goes for just 2 blocks, so look NOW)
The city of Portland grew up with profits from salmon, wheat and timber during the gold rush era, and the city flourished right here in the oldest part of town, the Yamhill District.
In spite of streets that were deep mud in the winter and deep dust in summer, Portland began to grow rapidly because it was a trade center and grew to 90,000 people by the year 1900.
6 of the reasons it grew so fast and became a major trade center was:
The Portland harbor was an exciting place to be---the sights, the sounds, the mystique of ships and sailors from faraway places.
GREAT FIRE OF '73
The city experienced catastrophe when 22 sq blocks here was destroyed or heavily damaged by The Great Fire of eighteen seventy three; many believed started by anti Chinese arsonists.
Civic leaders subsequently decided to rebuild only with cast iron, brick, and stone.
There is only one structure still standing from before the fire {Northrup and Blossom-Fitch Building—"Paddy's Irish Bar"; 65 SW YAMHILL ST (from eighteen fifty eight). Let me know if you would like to see this only survivor of the fire, the oldest building in this district.
17 of the buildings built after the fire remain, primarily in the Italianate style, erected between eighteen seventy eight and eighteen eighty seven, and defines the character of the district.
NEXT IS THE WALDO BLOCK
(When we turn on 2nd avenue, it goes for just 2 blocks, so look NOW)
The city of Portland grew up with profits from salmon, wheat and timber during the gold rush era, and the city flourished right here in the oldest part of town, the Yamhill District.
In spite of streets that were deep mud in the winter and deep dust in summer, Portland began to grow rapidly because it was a trade center and grew to 90,000 people by the year 1900.
6 of the reasons it grew so fast and became a major trade center was:
- It was selected as the West Coast terminal for The Petonia, the U.S. mail steamer.
- The salmon & lumber industries
- The 1st transcontinental railroad in 1883, linking Portland with the East Coast.
- Became a major trade center because of its proximity to Railroads and Rivers.
- After the Gold Rush of '49, it became a boomtown, carrying wheat and other commodities to and from California and other ports around the globe. At that time, Portland had the longest wheat terminal in the world, and currently the largest on the west coast. Millions of bushels of wheat. Amazing but true!
- A few years after that, cargo carrying international shipping lines found Portland 97 miles up river, opening up a full spectrum of international trade that funneled itself through Portland.
The Portland harbor was an exciting place to be---the sights, the sounds, the mystique of ships and sailors from faraway places.
GREAT FIRE OF '73
The city experienced catastrophe when 22 sq blocks here was destroyed or heavily damaged by The Great Fire of eighteen seventy three; many believed started by anti Chinese arsonists.
Civic leaders subsequently decided to rebuild only with cast iron, brick, and stone.
There is only one structure still standing from before the fire {Northrup and Blossom-Fitch Building—"Paddy's Irish Bar"; 65 SW YAMHILL ST (from eighteen fifty eight). Let me know if you would like to see this only survivor of the fire, the oldest building in this district.
17 of the buildings built after the fire remain, primarily in the Italianate style, erected between eighteen seventy eight and eighteen eighty seven, and defines the character of the district.
NEXT IS THE WALDO BLOCK
