CFI Update

Almost a year ago I posted this CFI - Commercial Furnishings Inc. sign that I guessed dated to the 1970s. That sign is now gone, covered by this plastic ad for Chinese sports brand Li Ning Company. CFI goes extinct at NW 10th and Hoyt.

2009:

Kelly's Olympian Update

Page & Son Apartments, 1909

Curious timing on my part. I featured this grand, but new, sign in just my last post. I drove by it over the weekend and discovered it's gone. This one goes in the Extinct pile.

2009:

Kelly's Olympian

Page & Son Apartments, 1909

Following on the heels of the previous not-so-old sign is this decidedly new sign. I include it here just because I like it. It's hard to miss heading out East Burnside at NE 7th Ave.

2008:

American

Building, 1907

On the south side of the building featured last time is this sign. While not especially old, it's a striking image and really makes the building stand out in the neighborhood. See it at NE 6th and Couch.

2008:

H.S. Gile Grocery Co.

Building, 1907

H.S. GILE GROCERY CO.
WHOLESALE GROCERS
This nice old sign can be seen from the corner of NE 6th and Davis.

2008:

Vivian Apts.

Building, 1911

CLEAN MODERN REASONABLE

The Vivian Apts. building has seen better days, and so has the sign. It was painted over another sign, unreadable now, but another is visible to the right, "MODERN 2 ROOM APARTMENTS."

The building is at NE MLK Blvd and Couch but you can see the sign from Grand Ave.

2008:

Tires & Batteries

Garage, 1929

This fine old brick garage at NW 18th & Irving still shows a glimpse of its previous life from decades ago.

2009:

Oregon Macaroni Mfg. Co.

Building, 1911

This is a nice old sign, obviously quite weathered over the years but still very readable. You can see this fine ghost sign at NE 8th and Davis.

2008:

C&J Steel and Salvage

Building, 1950

This old mid-century concrete garage and its sign have taken a lot of abuse over the decades. It's probably seldom seen since it's in the far reaches of industrial northwest Portland. See it for yourself at NW 21st and York.

2009:

Free Information Center

Drivers probably saw this sign coming down the old Harbor Drive (now Tom McCall Waterfront Park) in the 1950s, directing city visitors to the John Yeon-designed Portland Visitors Information Center. It's now on a barn in Corbett, just east of Portland. Thanks to Jim for the photo donation!



Circa 1949:
OHS photo file 1871, digital no. bb005748

Unknown Update

I featured this old sign in January 2008. At the time, I could make out only the top of it from several blocks away. Recently I was able to get this better view of it from the penthouse apartment in the 937 Condominium Building. Unfortunately I'm still unable to ready what it says, other than ending in "Company."

The building is on NW Everett between 6th and Broadway. My vantage point is high above NW 9th and Glisan.

2009:

Gray-McLean Co. Update

Two years ago I showed this sign from street level, both in 1996 and in 2007 photos. I recently got a chance to see it from one of the Block 90 Condominiums and was able to see much more detail. Turns out "Gray-McLean Co." is actually "Gray McLean & Percy."

I also discovered that the Gray McLean & Percy sign was painted over an even older sign:
MONOPOLE
CANNED
AND GLASS FOODS
2009:
1921 advertisement:
Circa 1910:

Advertising Ephemera Collection - Database #A0530
Emergence of Advertising On-Line Project
John W. Hartman Center for Sales, Advertising & Marketing History
Duke University Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library
http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/eaa/

Automotive Equipment & Tires

While on the 2009 Street of Dreams tour of the 937 Condominiums in the Pearl District, I was able to get a picture of this sign which is only partially visible from the street. The "CERTAIN-TEED PRODUCTS" (reviewed here) has always been easily visible but from the 16th floor I got a full-on view of:
COMPANY
AUTOMOTIVE EQUIPMENT
& TIRES
The first photo is a closeup of the automotive sign, the second is a wider angle shot of the entire wall. The building is on NW 10th between Flanders and Glisan.

2009:

Details

These small signs are remnants of the Pearl District's industrial past when NW 13th Ave. had railroad tracks running down it to service the loading docks on both sides of the street.

Oregon Transfer Company Building, Warehouse No. 1, NW 13th at Glisan, 2009:

Prael, Hegele Building, NW 13th between Hoyt and Irving, 2009:

Dale Building, NW 13th between Flanders and Glisan, 2009:

Commission Merchants

Railway Building, 1872
Scottish Bank Building, 1876

This beautiful sign is inside the Scottish Bank Building and is painted on the adjacent Railway Building looking north.

COMMISSION MERCHANTS
STAPLE GROCERIES AND PRODUCE
FOREIGN & DOMESTIC
The two buildings were lovingly refurbished by the Leuthold family in 1993. Thanks to Jerry Ketel for sending this photo.

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: