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Stumptown Stories (17-January-2012)

January 15, 2012 by Dave Leave a Comment

DioramaThe Stumptown Stories series, geared to everyone who loves this city we live in, takes place most Tuesdays at Jack London bar (basement of the Rialto, SW 4th and Alder). Free to get in, but must be 21 or over – there’s a full bar!

This Tuesday, we’re gearing up for Oregon’s Birthday. Come on down and hear some Kick Ass stories about the state we all love.

And you won’t want to miss the Kick Ass Oregon dioramas!

Doors open at 5pm for this free event (21 and over only). Presentation begins at 7:30pm.

Christmas Weekend Amusements (2011)

December 22, 2011 by Dave Leave a Comment

Spending time with the family around the holidays can be nice, but sometimes you just have to get out of the house. Let me suggest some Holiday activities . . .

Christmas Day

Things To Do in Portland on Christmas Day: My annual post listing the bars, restaurants, stores, and other businesses open on Christmas Day.

All Weekend Including Christmas Day!

Peacock LanePeacock Lane 2011

Peacock Lane officially lights up for the 2011 holiday season on December 15 at 6pm.

Peacock Lane is a narrow residential street one block east of Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard (née 39th Ave) between SE Stark and Belmont. Since the 1920s the residents of this stretch of mostly Tudor style houses have gone a little crazy with the Christmas lights [more]

Winter Wonderland at PIRWinter Wonderland Light Show at PIR 2011

The 19th annual Jubitz Winter Wonderland, the Largest Holiday Light Show West of the Mississippi, takes place through December 25 at the Portland International Raceway (1940 N. Victory Blvd).

“Since 1993, a journey through Winter Wonderland has become a Holiday tradition for many families, friends, and social organizations to celebrate the spirit of the holiday season.” [more]

Friday Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Zoolights!ZooLights 2011

The 2011 ZooLights ignite for the first time on Friday, November 25. The sparkling lights and brilliant hues will be cast each evening (except Christmas Eve and Day) through January 1, 2012.
“More than a million lights transform the Oregon Zoo into a luminous winter wonderland filled with moving sculptures, forests of lighted trees and animal silhouettes.” [more]

Pittock MansionPittock Mansion Holiday Season 2011

Friday-Saturday Closed Christmas Day

Once again Portland’s historic Pittock Mansion is going all out for the holiday season. This year, from November 21 through January 2, the theme is Christmas Around The World.
“Every year, starting more than 40 years ago, dozens of volunteer decorators, designers, and local organizations donate their time and talents to transform Pittock Mansion into a Christmas wonderland for approximately 17,000 delighted visitors during the holiday season.” [more]

And for even more weekend events and activities, check out the Dave Knows Calendar, and visit Around the Sun, Blogging Portland on the Cheap, PDX Pipeline, and Oregon Events at OregonLive.com.

December 21, 1926: Ross Island Bridge Dedicated

December 21, 2011 by Dave Leave a Comment

Photo and caption, Morning Oregonian, 22 December 1926

Portland’s Ross Island Bridge, the only cantilever deck truss bridge in Oregon, opened on December 21, 1926 (Morning Oregonian, 22 December 1926).

Completion of the $2,000,000 Ross Island bridge, latest to span the Willamette river, and one of the most outstanding examples of the cantilever type to be constructed in America, was acknowledged formally yesterday in a fitting dedicatory ceremony.

From the time the vanguard of a parade, which had formed near Portland’s center, appeared over the crest of the bridge, until little Miss Rosina Corbett deftly broke a bottle of Bull Run water against one of the approach pillars, at once christening the bridge and announcing the close of the ceremony, the throng that covered the east approach of the bridge for fully a block attended earnestly the proceeding.

The Ross Island Bridge was designed by Gustav Lindenthal, who also worked on the Burnside and Sellwood bridges. Over 3,700 feet long, the bridge’s 1,819 foot long truss includes a 535 foot main span and 29 approach spans.

December 19, 1910: Hawthorne Bridge Opened to Traffic

December 19, 2011 by Dave Leave a Comment

Morning Oregonian headline and photo, 20 December 1910The Hawthorne Bridge opened to traffic on December 19, 1910 (Morning Oregonian 20 December 1910).

“Let it open.”

In that pert sentence the Hawthorne bridge was accepted for the city by Mayor Simon yesterday after a discussion of minor defects in the machinery of the bridge, which for a time bid fair to delay acceptance of the viaduct for another fortnight. . .

The Mayor, other officials and bridgemen ascended on the lift 160 feet over the level of the river. Engineer Hicks, who will operate the lift for the county, handling the levers. The bridge was then officially accepted, Mayor Simon saying to Engineer Stutsman:

“I now turn this bridge over to you, Mr. Stutsman. You are now in full charge. The bridge is open to traffic.”

The 1,383 foot long Hawthorne Bridge is the oldest vertical lift bridge still operating in the country, and one of Portland’s busiest bridges. 30,000 cars and trucks, and thousands of pedestrians and cyclists cross it each day. Lifts are required approximately 200 times a month. It was designed by the engineering firm Waddell and Harrington and was constructed by the Pennsylvania Steel Co, United Engineering and Construction, and Robert Wakefield.

December 15, 1925: Sellwood Bridge Opens

December 15, 2011 by Dave Leave a Comment

Morning Oregonian headline, 16 December 1925Portland’s Sellwood Bridge first opened to traffic on Tuesday, December 15, 1925 (Morning Oregonian, 16 December 1925).

For 21 years the ferry John F. Caples has done valient service in transporting Portlanders to and from Sellwood, connecting the east and west sides. Now it has been supplanted. During those years Portland has seen the development of the automobile: it has seen a vast increase in motor traffic, bringing with it harassing problems of vehicular control: it has seen a need created for greater ease of trans-river communication.

And so it is that yesterday saw the end of active service at Sellwood for the John F. Caples. In its place now towers the new $500,000 Sellwood bridge, which, at exercises attended by thousands of Portland residents, including hundreds of school children, was officially thrown open to traffic yesterday afternoon.

1,092 feet long and 28 feet wide, the Sellwood Bridge was the first fixed-span bridge on the lower Willamette River and a pioneer in area bridge technology. Gustav Lindenthal, a renowned bridge engineer, designed the bridge, and it was constructed by Portland’s Gilpin Construction Company.

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