PORTLAND, OREGON: THEN AND NOW

PATREON: / exploreoregon
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INSTAGRAM: / pdxfilmexplorer
I am back with a fresh installment of Portland: Then and Now... as promised. This particular edition takes places over two days (and thus is in two different parts of town). The first part takes place mostly in the Kerns neighborhood before ending in the Hollywood District. In the second portion I begin on the northern end of Sellwood and travel through the Brooklyn neighborhood and end on the edge of the Hosford-Abernathy neighborhood. One part northeast Portland and one part southeast Portland.
I visit a lot of spots, do a bundle of comparisons and, of course, interject my own thoughts and historical tidbits in between. Hope you all are continuing to enjoy these as they are a nice counterbalance to my documentary films.
NOTE: Due to two of my clips having issues the video is a little glitchy between 49:38 and 52:26 but I kept them in anyway as it's more me telling a story rather than showing things of significance.

[@more_on_nick]

@3:55 skateboarders likely poured that concrete so the wall could be turned into a skatespot. Anyone ever been down to Burnside skatepark under the bridge at SE 2nd?

[@xGthomasGx]

My thought exactly. Thats exactly how Burnside was created. A few skaters and a few bags of concrete.

[@rljpdx]

yeah its an industrial area now and the skatepark is just a dilapidated cleared out area. It used to be completely fenced around but it's been years since I've been on that side of town. I currently live in Portland, Oregon and these are great remembrances. Not being a Portland native, but having lived here the last 20 years I appreciate this video and all the great stuff it portrays. Portland has gone downhill since the turn of the millennium and it's no longer the weird fun city it used to be. Now it's just people struggling for something to do. Sad really.

[@larryjex6485]

40 years ago, I used to walk that very route up Sandy Blvd to my job in the Hollywood District. This brings back a lot of memories.

[@Latushka]

Ive been a delivery driver in Portland for 10 years and have lived here for 30 years. Its cool to learn about all the history around here. Keep it up.

[@SisterSherryDoingStuff]

23:08 I'm so glad they preserved the old Hollywood theater. I've been one time - and I can't remember what I saw. It's just a really cool icon.

[@WestCoastBuilder]

Definitely appreciate these videos so I can find cool history when creating my recreations of Portland series. Keep them coming Steve, love the work you do to keep Portland history alive!

[@deanrivera8016]

Man all that brings back so many memories of my time that I lived in Portland for 33 years Great video Steve !!!

[@carrieharris9479]

Hi Steve - I appreciate all your hardwork and research of Portland "Then and Now". I grew up here and I remember alot of the changes that took place. Keep up the good work. Thanks - CH

[@eblackadder3]

Then and Now segments are definitely my favorite. I'd love to see one on Northwest 23rd Avenue and the site of the 1905 Lewis & Clark exposition. 40 years ago, I lived on Northwest 22 and Wilson in a Victorian style house built around 1900. The house is still there, one of the few remaining, most of that neighborhood was demolished when US 30 was extended off the Fremont Bridge in the late 1980s. I'd love to find an old picture of the house. Thanks for all your research and work!

[@ericnelson3820]

This area was my 90's stomping ground. Pounded many a beer at the Yukon and loved La Carretta. Great memories and fantastic video.

[@n.ciebevilaqua3603]

I just found a couple of your videos in the last few days. I was at Reed from 1979-1985 (I took a year or two off :) ), and I haven't been back to Portland since, even though I LOVED it and still miss it. One day I'll get back there. But anyway, so far I haven't recognized most of the places you've featured--it's been a LONG time (I've been trying to remember stuff like which bridge we used to take downtown, and the name of the big street that led to it--there was a great deli there) and I think you've been doing neighborhoods where I didn't spend time back then. Of course, I recognize the mountain in the background in many of your images! But thanks for bringing back my memories of Portland, and I'm looking forward to seeing more.

[@Randicles]

Just wanted to say that I love your videos ! With me being a local now for the last 10 years , the videos really help to give me a glimpse into the past . I'm a big history guy so these videos really help to see what used to go where , I'm always curious about stuff

[@lisaknieriem5852]

Native Portlander here. Really good video. I really love the history and old photos. I miss old Portland immensely!!! 👋😎💚

[@SisterSherryDoingStuff]

18:21 I remember the 7-UP sign.

[@SisterSherryDoingStuff]

8:46 I've always loved that building across the street. For as long as I can remember - that lower corner spot was a vintage/second hand furniture store. It's been years since it's been occupied. Not sure if the apartments above are still in use. I always was curious about them.

[@ernestlee2796]

I grew up on 32nd and Hawthorne. I went to sunnyside elementary in 84

[@carlbeamon1343]

Awesome video of PDX, I use to live in Portland from ‘96-2007 and it was great looking at the SE area of the city. Along 58:28 with Powell, Sandy and you having the old photos to compare was great. You were close to an old friends home around 33 SE. Thanks so much! 💙👏🏾

[@LesStephens-xe6qp]

Once again a great show. I get stressed when you say pictures from the 50's and 60's are old but you are right. I didn't think it was old when I was growing up.

[@StevetheAmateurHistorian]

In all fairness my dad was born in the 50s and my mom in the 60s so I think I just have a predisposition to thinking the 50s and 60s are “old”.

[@flemishbun]

thanks for lining up the images i love looking at how areas developed

[@kitschmygrits4836]

Steve I am so glad to see how much your channel has grown but I am not surprised. You sure have been consistent and I'm glad your hard work is paying off. Your content is really great.

[@rudecrudefood7244]

Great video. Grew up all over this part of town. Yukon shuffleboard in the 70’s. Outstanding

[@heatherabusneineh6281]

Love this! I grew up near 18th and Fremont in the 70s-80s, but I spent most of my free time in Hollywood district. My husband and I met at the YMCA on 39th.

[@RosannJasso-ku1vx]

Steve, as a new Oregonian and lover of history you are giving me great story’s! I’ve been visiting many towns new to me, plus Portland and thanks for showing me parts I probably would never see. From CG Oregon.

[@StevetheAmateurHistorian]

Thank you so much! I’m definitely planning on doing a lot more of these.

[@ashtenarnold5924]

I found this channel for your Kelly Butte video and I’m hooked, awesome content man! Keep it up, I love local history so much and you do an amazing job of keeping your videos entertaining, funny, and super educational. This is awesome!

[@StevetheAmateurHistorian]

Thank you so much! I love doing it so there should be a lot more videos to come.

[@frederickbooth7970]

Really enjoy your before & after pictures. You clearly try hard to line up the views well. As born & raised in Portland 68 year old man, in my younger days my family spent a lot of time going to specialty stores located in the Hollywood district looking for shoes that would fit my extra wide but small feet. We went to the Alex Volchuck`s boot & shoe shop on Sandy located on the south side of the street. Also there used to be a 7- UP bottling plant on the north side of Sandy around the mid-30s streets. My elementary school had a field trip there where we saw the glass bottles washed & refilled after being checked for defects.

[@user-xc5qo6yo6w]

The building at 24 and sandy was replaced in the 60 with timberline dodge and when the dodge dealership closed that building was converted to what you see now

[@michellelangdon5134]

I'm so glad they only altered the milk building instead of completely demolishing it. I bet people drive by there all the time and wonder why it's shaped the way it is. It's a shame modern architecture is so non-descript now. Great video Steve!

[@rickdetroye7918]

Sandy Blvd was Oregon Hwy 30. Steigerwald is pronounced, st-eye-grr-waald. Steigerwald National Wildlife Refuge, located just east of Washougal, WA on Hwy 14, is named after the dairy farm which was once located there.

[@zooropa84]

It's fascinating how in most before and after pictures, there seems to be more trees and plants. Seems to me Portland has become greener over the years.

[@secard4202]

My tavorite part is when you got the wrong spot, but then went through the process of figuring out where it actually was and showed us. Just like I do when hunting on google earth for old photo modern locations. Really neat to see.

[@casketeir]

3:33 Once Apon A Time - Portland had a casket culture back in the day. They ended around the 2000's, the Mom & Pop shops in Portland and local areas used to number 6 or 7 throughout the 20th century.

[@jenmccullough9686]

This is an awesome post! Subscribed!

[@amyluxner2347]

This is great ! Alot of time ,effort, smarts...you've put in ! Great job ..keep it up 😊 thks again

[@hunglo666]

how awesome was that , i used to live off Knight st..thanks for opening my eyes to the local history in my neighborhood

[@Gildacapra]

You're in my neighborhood! I'm at Dear Sandy all the time -its just to the right of the open building at 9:20. I think it just cleared out in the last 3-4 months, but I don't think it's in immediate danger of being torn down. Love Hollywood Theatre as well. Not sure if you mention it, but they just did a ton of restoration work on the front of the building

[@cmcbarnett]

Jump back to time… Thank you so much for this video. I love all the work that you put into it. My old stomping grounds and can familiarize allot of it. Thank you.

[@hraven7799]

Wonderful video, Steve! Thank you for caring about history. You made me laugh several times too! Thank you for the humor; especially when you were walking around the corner and didn’t know what you would find. I think the blue on that building is called Williamsburg blue.

[@erok268]

ive literally climbed onto a train in downtown on naito, to get to work. i was riding a biketown bike and was late and this train was so slow. i abandoned the bike, hopped on the train crossed to other side and hopped off within a 60ft distance as it was going.

[@mendicantvagabond]

Hello been watching you for a long time now my wife Hillary and I have enjoyed many of your videos. Ahh Sellwood takes us back. You should do a video on my secret hood aka Montivilla 😮

[@user-ez4ok8gk6m]

Your work is always awesome!

[@donbolin3450]

Aquamarine. Great video, Youngblood.

[@misspgy]

This is interesting . I have wishful thinking about moving to somewhere in the Washington area or Oregon area . I miss going on vacations but my son has been posting some cool videos because he is a truck driver with his Go Pro mounted in the truck window so he told me to check out the video on you Tube . So glad I found this video too . Very good information . Before and after .

[@SisterSherryDoingStuff]

I was hoping you had an image of the Aladdin Theater - I'd love to know more about it. I find it to be my favorite music venue in Portland. Thank you for this. I really enjoy your videos. Sorry for all the comments. 🙂

[@ams8376]

I pray portland gets back to the way it was my family and I visited twice every summer and we miss it terribly. It just got to unsafe and trashed .praying it cleans up ❤🙏🏻absolutely love portland !

[@ams8376]

Love your video !❤

[@SisterSherryDoingStuff]

55:35 I'm honestly surprised that there aren't a lot of mishaps with the train and people or folks on bikes at that intersection.

[@jwaller132]

Have you done a video about the area around SE Foster road and SE 67th? It looks like it was a town of it's own many years ago.

[@TheKeeperMadz]

Thanks Steve much appreciated.

[@SisterSherryDoingStuff]

39:54 I remember the Mexican restaurant - and the Rose Manor Inn - The Rose Manor in turned into a real haven for criminal activity - and I'm not sorry it's gone.

[@Duc_Klackalack]

Oh man, at 19:23 I'm thinking; don't turn down the old Hollywood liquor store alleyway! Then you got detoured and went right through it! In 1991 a former classmate murder his girlfriend in that alley. Cut her throat. The sight always triggers the horror of that.. good lord 🙏 Regardless this is such a good Then/Now video. Love your channel!

[@amyluxner2347]

Wonderful ! ... thankyou ...nice you did the walking 😂

[@jewelsbreakstherules6132]

You missed the old trolly depo that was right there on powel and 13th I believe across the street from am pm gas station

[@NeopolitianNPLTN]

I was wondering when you were going to mention that Mexican restaurant. I LOVE LOVE LOVE when they keep the old signage! Just leave it…

[@MichaelChavezsf]

Ahh the brown building with graffiti, we’re off to an excellent start 🍿

[@victorialinhart4604]

The big pink tower of power... Lol

[@jewelsbreakstherules6132]

Also have you ever thought of doing some history in Eugene most people don't no there was a trolly here also

[@calamityjade3075]

Foster Rd similar to Sandy tho much smaller scale. Runs diagonally. Is Foster an old trail as well?

[@StevetheAmateurHistorian]

I’m actually not sure. I want to say Foster Road was more deliberate but I actually should look into that some more. I’ve wanted to do a video about Sandy Blvd History and Foster Road could be a side project to that.

[@calamityjade3075]

@@StevetheAmateurHistorian Foster heading East goes right into what used to be Lent's Junction- a little train stop and I think a post office. It was considered it's own little town at one time.

[@moonbeam7702]

I would like to see a video of Beaverton: then and now 🙂 (it’ll probably never happen, of course, but a person can wish)

[@secard4202]

The "land was poking out like that" for skateboarding.

[@gthisiseasy]

Nah BMX

[@StevetheAmateurHistorian]

Makes a lot of sense. Even with that blind corner just down the street I get the feeling not a lot of cars go through there.

[@johncoghlan4150]

i was told sandy was a cow trail

[@d.bcooper7819]

24th and Sandy was leveled at least 20years ago.

[@flossygalloway5967]

What happened in the yr 1111

[@TheKeeperMadz]

Bliss a new video

[@AdamM19866]

3:50. Skaters put those in to skate on

[@user-ln8tq6us9b]

“wooded off”? boarded up is the usual term

[@moonbeam7702]

“There’s always tomorrow”? Don’t talk like that - you have a lot of life left to live 🙂

[@brelyre3221]

How do you not walk by someone they got to talk to you guess I look like information booth do more natives in Portland and go SE there's guy got give his opinion walks his dog thinks he's big deal 😅

[@Audience_Productions]

doin the lords work!