Historic Portland Discussion

[mainejeff]

Not sure what the light post and car have to do with the original photo with the woman on top of the garage? The round bulbs were along the sidewalks of Spring Street and the taller four disc lamps were in the center median. This photo is prior to construction starting on the Civic Center in 1975.
Good job knowing that ZZ Top was the first rock concert at the arena. We can compromise and date the original photo between 1974 and 1977 seeing her head and sweater may be blocking some vital clues.

View attachment 69713

Are all off those trees still there or did they get torn out or destroyed by snow plows?

 

[Portlander]

Looks like they are thriving and with the removal of the center median several years ago the trees down the center are no longer with us.

 

[Portlander]

This photograph was taken just after the opening of the 12 story Chapman Building which was the new home of the Chapman National Bank along with an indoor retail arcade in 1924. Casco Bank & Trust eventually moved their headquarters into the tower and remained until One Monument Square became their new address in 1970 with The Portland Savings Bank taking over the vacated Casco Bank space. Two additional floors (13 and 14) and a mechanical level that supported the time and temperature sign were built on the top of the structure in 1963 with "THE BANK" advertisement flashing high above downtown Portland for many years.

Photo credit: Paul J. Ledman

 

[mainejeff]

Now those are wires that I wouldn't mind!

 

[markhb]

I don't think I've ever seen a pic with that vertical sign for the theater, that's awesome!

I have seen at least one pic with "CASCO" crammed onto the T&T sign; my earliest memories of it are of it having only three phases with "PSB" as the branding, before they introduced the "The Bank" branding. And to be super nerdy and detailed, one of the transitions when they first went to that latter brand was abrupt; instead of the lights all turning off and then coming on in the new configuration, they just changed all at once. It may have been the switch between THE and BANK, but I'm not sure.

And of course, right now so many lights are out on the thing it's hard to discern any words at all.

 

[TC_zoid]

1924 had some serious vertical going on. I had not realized that the Fidelity Trust building had been the tallest building in New England when it was built in 1910, and so for 5 more years it was. It's time for Portland to get taller (again).

 

[Portlander]

For the record with no disrespect to TC, Boston's 13 story Ames Building (1889) @ 190' was the tallest in New England not counting church steeples, city hall spires and capitol domes and the 12 story Union Trust Building (1902) @ 157' in Providence was second. The Fidelity Building @ 134' was the tallest north of Boston until the Eastland Hotel (1927) was completed @ 168' and then was surpassed by Franklin Towers (1969) @ 175'.

The Fidelity actually eclipsed the newer Chapman Building (1924) in roofline height by a few feet due to the gothic architectural corners even though it had one less floor. The claim that it was once the tallest in New England is pure folklore that was mistakenly printed on the back of a postcard shortly after it was built. Manchester eventually earned the tallest north of Boston title with the Brady Sullivan Tower (1970) @180' which then exceeded the height of Franklin Towers.

 

[Portlander]

The Ames Building in Boston and Union Trust Building in Providence during their heyday and both structures are still standing and in great shape.

 

[TC_zoid]

Thanks for pointing that out. "Facts" are all over the place online, even Wikipedia sometimes.

 

[Portlander]

As a tribute to the incoming Nor'easter, Congress Street during the winter of 1965. Note that the new James Bond movie "Thunderball" starring Sean Connery is getting ready to premier!

 

[PlantArch]

Are all off those trees still there or did they get torn out or destroyed by snow plows?

There is not a single one of those original trees remaining at this time. Take it from your friendly Urban Forester.

 

[PlantArch]

View attachment 69786
Looks like they are thriving and with the removal of the center median several years ago the trees down the center are no longer with us.

All of those original trees are long gone.

 

[markhb]

There is not a single one of those original trees remaining at this time. Take it from your friendly Urban Forester.

Professional question for you: what do you think about planting a couple of London plane trees in Portland (off-peninsula, if that matters)? Survival-wise, etc.

 

[mainejeff]

Speaking of trees....I wish we would see more Dawn Redwoods in Maine. I plated a couple on my former property in Central Maine and they did very well....super fast growers too.

 

[Redfern]

Professional question for you: what do you think about planting a couple of London plane trees in Portland (off-peninsula, if that matters)? Survival-wise, etc.

We planted London Plane Trees at Munjoy Heights in 2015. The trees have performed and matured remarkably well.

Munjoy Heights — Redfern Properties

Redfern is a socially and environmentally conscious real estate development firm with a focus on mixed-use and multi-family housing.

www.redfernproperties.com

 

[markhb]

We planted London Plane Trees at Munjoy Heights in 2015. The trees have performed and matured remarkably well.

Munjoy Heights — Redfern Properties

Redfern is a socially and environmentally conscious real estate development firm with a focus on mixed-use and multi-family housing.

www.redfernproperties.com

Thanks, Catherine! I fell in love with them years ago, walking along Holland Park Ave. in London, which is lined with them.

 

[Portlander]

 

[Portlander]

 

[Portlander]

 

[Portlander]