Electric Streetcar 1910

Portland, Eugene and Eastern streetcar for the Fairmount Street run, parked at the beginning of the line near the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot on the north end of Willamette Street. This is just prior to the construction of the Oregon Electric Station on the N.E. corner of this intersection. Two crew members pose in foreground. The tower of Shelton-McMurphey residence on a now forested Skinners Butte can be seen in background. The small cast concrete building on the right still stands, though enlarged with a second floor and rear extension it now houses the Jackalope Lounge after being a Chinese Restaurant for many years.

Have A Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Astronomical Observatory

Similar to Villard Hall in its detailing, the observatory was built in 1889 atop Skinners Butte by local builder W. H. Abrams from a design by Portland Architect Warren H. Williams (Who also designed Villard Hall, the second building on the U of O campus). The Observatory cost the University $4782.78. Part of this coast was the $1,000 paid to Dr. T.W. Shelton who originally owned the property the observatory was built on. (A side note: Dr. Shelton at first did not want to sell but changed his mind in September 1888. Perhaps as he needed funds to rebuild his not yet completed mansion on the south side of the Butte after it had been burned nearly to the ground by a disgruntled worker.) Subject to vandalism and handicapped by its distance from the University, the building was abandoned by June 1898. In the early morning hours of May 12, 1905, the Observatory was covertly demolished with several charges of dynamite as it had become a serious liability to the University. If you walk to the view point at the east end of the parking lot atop the butte you can still the foundation of the structure.

Shelton-McMurphy-Johnson House, circa 1895

In a previous post I mentioned the old University of Oregon Observatory that once stood on top of Skinners Butte. This photo of the Shelton-McMurphy-Johnson house from about 1895 shows the observatory perched on the east side of the hill top. Western Oregon with so many cloudy nights was not a good place for an astronomy class so after only a few years, use by the University was discontinued. It was soon thought of as a liability and was finally dynamited early one Sunday morning in 1905. I should note that the staircase seen in this photo leading from the front of the house down to the lower terrace is currently being restored by the City of Eugene. Unlike the original staircase which was off set to the west the new stairs will lead straight down from the original front steps to the porch and extend all the way to the street. Hopefully they will accommodate the remaining grade for the old carriage drive that once passed along the front of the property.

Broadway and Oak looking North 1924

In the November 10th post I posted a view of Broadway at Oak St. looking east. Today's post is a view of the same intersection in 1924 looking north down Oak St. The building on the left is the IOOF (White Temple) Building. Beyond that is the Park blocks, the 1898 Courthouse and finally Skinners Butte.

Hovey Block at 8th and Willamette 1890

This fabulous commercial building was built in 1888 by Albert Hovey on the N.E. corner of 8th and Willamette and was known as the Hovey Block. For many years it housed a Bank on the ground floor and offices of attorney's George Skipworth, Charles Wintermier and George Doris. Other tenants were Isaac Bingham Land Company and J.A. Mauwer Jewelers. The building was razed about 1920 after only standing 30 years. A very ugly parking structure has stood on this spot for the last 30 years. There certainly were a lot more people downtown 120 years ago than there are today.....

Easrly View of Broadway from the Eugene Hotel circa 1925

Here is a great shot of East Broadway from one of the upper floors of the old Eugene Hotel. The minor Building has been completed to the left. The roof of the Quackenbush building is just below it. Evidently the Texaco station on the corner has not been built yet as the lot appears empty. Downtown can be seen in the distance.