By Streetcar to St. Johns
February 9, 2013 |
St. Johns was a small town, down-river from Portland, when the Willamette Bridge Railway began building a line to it from Albina in 1889. Soon, small passenger trains pulled by steam locomotives - and later electric trolleys - passed through the forests, farms and wood lots on the way to Ockley Green, Arbor Lodge, Peninsula, Portsmouth and St. Johns.
As the streetcar stimulated demand for real estate, new subdivisions sprung up along its route. St. Johns was now drawn into Portland. The line however never fully lost its character as a connection between two municipalities. In the 1920s development had progressed to the point that a major engineering project, the Greeley Cut-off, was built to get around congestion.
By Streetcar to St. Johns tells the story of the transformation of the semi-rural Peninsula into North Portland, of farm houses, Victorians and bungalow neighborhoods.
A resident of North Portland’s Overlook neighborhood, presenter Dan Haneckow writes about Portland and transportation history. He is also the co-curator of our current exhibit—Streetcars Build a City. |
Website:
www.visitahc.org/content/special-events |
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| Location Information |
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Architectural Heritage Center |
701 SE Grand Ave
Portland, OR 97214 |
| Website:
www.visitahc.org/content/special-events |
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| Contact Information |
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Val Ballestrem |
| Email:
info@visitahc.org |
| Phone:
503-231-7264 |
| Fax:
503-231-7311 |
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