Centennial Mills

Warehouse C, 1940

Originally built on this site as Crown Mills, The Centennial Mills complex was begun in 1910. Buildings were added over the years and Warehouse C, built in 1940, was the last to be constucted. Warehouse C was rammed by the grain ship Aegean Mariner in 1965, just about where the left half of the sign sits. The sign probably dates to then, as significant dock and building repairs were needed.

This can best be seen from the Willamette River between the Broadway and Fremont Bridges.

2009:

Sewickly's Home Plate Details

Someone recently attempted a "restoration" of the address at Sewickly's Home Plate/Sewickly Addition. It was an unfortunate attempt, in my opinion. The quicky stencil-and-spray-can job covered up what was probably a hand painted job from decades ago. The building itself dates to 1922.

See for yourself at SE 49th and Hawthorne.

2009:

Dewar's Update

Last December I posted photos of three new "old" Dewar's Scotch Whisky ads in three locations around town. Apparently that ad campaign is over because the three signs are now completely gone. Put these in the Extinct pile.

West Burnside at SW 3rd:
SW 3rd and Ankeny, behind Dante's:
SE 49th and Hawthorne, at Mt. Tabor Legacy:

Truck Entrance

Building, 1923

Coming on the heels of last week's indoor, auto-themed signs at Powell's, here's another nice one back over in the CEID. I happened to be driving by the Knight Toolworks basement entrance while the roll-up door was open and spied this old "TRUCK ENTRANCE" painted on the overhead beam. Notice the creative "CLERANCE" spelling.

Your timing will have to be right to see this. It's on the corner of SE 3rd and Main.

2009:

Powell's Update

Powell's Books, 1918

After some damage repair to the roof at Powell's City of Books exposed some old signs on a couple roof beams (noted here and here), they've finally completed work. Fortunately, they've left the signs, dating to when this housed a car dealership, intact. The "Parts Dept." sign even has a nifty little finger pointing downward.

Powell's City of Books is at NW 10th and Burnside. The beams are in the Blue Room and if you stand on the stairs between the Blue and Yellow Rooms you can see both signs.

2009:

Crane Display Room

The Crane Building, 1909

I first covered the Crane Building and its external sign almost two years ago. This recently found beauty is a remnant of when the Crane Company manufactured railing, piping and plumbing fixtures. You can see it inside the Lizard Lounge clothing/art/music store on the building's first floor at NW 14th and Irving.

2009:

Tool Shed

Building, 1949

This unique sign is painted on the roof, rather than the wall. Now home to Ted's Tool Shed, it once advertised, "???IN BOYS' TOOL SHED." It's in the process of being roofed over and will disappear forever one of these days.

See it at SE 88th and Powell while you still can.

2009:

Green Dragon

Followers of this website know that I occasionally throw in a modern building sign, straying far from the site's "ghost sign" origins. I do it here simply because this is a pretty neat sign, covering a large portion of the building. The building in this case is an old quonset hut. Now part of the Green Dragon Bistro & Brewpub, this building's previous incarnation sported its own unique hand-painted QHUT sign (bottom) which still stands.

Stop by SE 9th and Belmont and hoist a brew for your troubles.

2009:

Samtrak

This was a pleasant little hand-painted surprise I found across the street from the Oaks Park entrance. Samtrak was a small tourist railroad that ran between OMSI and SE Spokane Street near the Sellwood Bridge with this stop at Oaks Park. The train ran between 1993 and 2001. Here's more information about it.

Next time you go to Oaks Park, take a look to your right as you turn into the main entrance to the parking lot.

2009: