Historic Portland Discussion

[Portlander]

 

[Portlander]

 

[markhb]

I can only imagine what it must have been like to drive through Monument Square when it was something vaguely like a rotary.

 

[Portlander]

My parents used to cruise Congress Street in my father's green 1955 Pontiac Star Chief convertible that he bought after his discharge from the Army prior to my arrival on the scene. The route went from the rotary at Longfellow Square down to and around the rotary at Monument Square and was similar to "main drag" cruising that occurred in towns and cities all across the country during the 50's and 60's. Simpler times!

 

[PlantArch]

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.

Sorry for the late response! London plane trees are a good choice for the Portland area. They are hardy to Zone 4 (with Portland being Zone 5-marginal Zone 6) and they are quite resilient, especially in urban environments. Plant them!

 

[Portlander]

Any guesses on what eventually replaced this auto sales and service business in the late 60's?

 

[MarkHB]

View attachment 71289
Any guesses on what eventually replaced this auto sales and service business in the late 60's?

I barely remember it, but the Greyhound station!

 

[DanielPWM19]

I barely remember it, but the Greyhound station!

Which grayhound station? The one by Maine Med?

 

[Portlander]

No, this location at High and Spring Street was prior the Greyhound terminal on Congress Street near Maine Med. It is now known as the Spring Street Lot and provides hourly parking and is owned by the city.

 

[Max]

No, this location at High and Spring Street was prior the Greyhound terminal on Congress Street near Maine Med. It is now known as the Spring Street Lot and provides hourly parking and is owned by the city.

That's what I thought it was, looking at it from the back of the McLellan House. It appears that the adjacent buildings have been torn down or substantially altered. And where's that cupola that's towering over the building on the right side of the image? Looks like it would be on Park Street somewhere.

 

[Portlander]

You are correct Max and I think the cupola was removed many years ago but the building itself still exists.

 

[Max]

Spring Street was still a narrow, cobblestone street at that point. High Street was two-way. I'm guessing a trolley was still using the tracks going down the middle of the street? Based on the cars this was probably the late 30's or early 40's?

 

[Portlander]

After some quick research, it was the steeple of the Holy Trinity Church (Greek) that was removed in the 70's due to deterioration and the high cost to refurbish or replace. And yes, the old photo of the Spring Street lot does appear to be late 30's early 40's.

 

[nomc]

No, this location at High and Spring Street was prior the Greyhound terminal on Congress Street near Maine Med. It is now known as the Spring Street Lot and provides hourly parking and is owned by the city.

Has there ever been discussion about developing this lot?

 

[Portlander]

I'm going to date this photo around 1960 and it appears that construction has begun on the Greyhound station in the lower right. Spring Street is still a pleasant thoroughfare and the modern Sears building which opened in 1948 is visible in the center. The additional floors had not been added to the top of the Casco Bank building yet which happened in 1964.

 

[Portlander]

Has there ever been discussion about developing this lot?

Not that I'm aware of.

 

[Portlander]

 

[MarkHB]

That 1972 photo is interesting, as it plainly shows the old route of Temple St., as well as what the area looked like before Spring was extended past Center.

The High St. Greyhound must not have lasted long if it was built in the late 60's; I'm pretty sure it moved to St John shortly after the 1974 energy crisis, when Chevron vacated that former gas station.

 

[Portlander]

I'm pretty sure it moved to St John shortly after the 1974 energy crisis, when Chevron vacated that former gas station.

It was still an active Greyhound station in January 1976 because I arrived by bus all the way from San Antonio and remember staying at the Portlander ($8.50 per night) for a week before catching a Greyhound back to my parent's home in North Carolina prior to enlisting in the Navy. I saw a lot of the country via Greyhound and Trailways right after graduating from high school! There was another energy crisis between 1976 and 1978 because I remember waiting in line for an hour in New London, CT at 6 AM to get fuel for my 1977 Honda Civic so I could get back to Norfolk before my leave expired.

 

[MarkHB]

Damn, those were some pretty snazzy room configurations! I always thought that place was cool with the metal framework over the driveway (which I didn't realize, driving by, was apparently an elevated walkway).