I know about that building….in the 70’s it was Simpson Lumber. My father in law was the night watchman. They made lumber products. It’s funny it hasn’t been torn down by now. I enjoy your channel. Born and raised in Portland….
Tom Black's garage back in the '70's was a unique specialty shop. They did pop-up sunroofs and aftermarket t-tops on Firebirds, Camaros and some g-body cars. I went there because I was told he could sell me just the butyl gasket for a LeVan sunroof. He had an older Eldorado coupe, and he was making a convertible out of it. He did have that gasket! It seemed weird at the time being so close to the Banfield Fwy.
Dude! this is so EXTREMELY RELATEABLE, Im 30 y/o born in 1993, I grew up in Portland, I had my eyes out the window of my parents car as we would drive around town doing whatever we were doing, So many mystery buildings in Portland! i Miss PDX Keep up the good work Steve! I love your narration and way of presenting our videos, STEVE FOR PRESIDENT!
I've known that building for years. From 1960 to 1963 I had a paper route in the neighborhood to north side. Ive crossed the 28th st bridge many a time. That building has always puzzled me. It seemed out of place. Thank you for your videos. Great job.
There was a lumber yard there ...The Graff World loves that spot..especially back in day ..the giant Marvin the Martain and RIP BORE were my favs! Great video Steve
I wish I had a better memory of what I saw as a little kid cause we passed it so much but I just gave this general recollection on what it looked like mostly back in the 90s.
I appreciate your work and history on the city man!! I worked at Gordon’s fireplace shop for 5 years back from 09’-13’ - so sad to see its current state all abandoned and tagged up 😭 as a local native born and raised in PDX I look forward to your videos!! Keep it up man! 👍🏽
Back in the 70s, my brother and I along with many friends used to sneak in there. It still had all the looms and knitting stuff. Every time I pass on 84 I think about that and am amazed that is still standing.
I always remember that building as a kid going along that freeway everyday. The homeless camp you referenced was also an interesting thing to look at driving by.
I go down there to hang out sometimes. First time i went down there i was an alcoholic highschooler who tried to walk down through the neighbors yard holding an open can of wine (didnt even know it was illegal to drink in public)
Back in the early 90s I used to sneak on that property to smoke weed and practice graffiti with my dudes. One time we saw an opening so we went in. I remember a few emergency lights being on and the floors feeling like a springboard. We made it pretty deep into the building walking slowly and carefully out of fear of falling through the floor. All we saw was tons of yarn. Huge boxes on pallets full of yarn. Eventually we made it to the loading dock area and noticed a ADT alarm panel blinking red. We ran like mad for the sketchy exit we came in through. Zero Fs given about falling through the floor at that point. By the time we got out the police were already coming down the driveway from the street above. We made a dash for the train tracks below. Followed the tracks to 28th and went through the tunnel. Walked up to Sandy Blvd and hit Wendy’s for some chili. After talking to my Uncle who ran around Sullivan's Gulch as a kid in the 50s. He said that area had a lot of textile and garment factories.
I was curious about that building! Thanks for sharing this information. Always fascinated by older buildings. I see this one when I'm on 84 or the Tri-Met. Always curious what it held. Every building has its yarn to tell ;) "Digging for gold in my neighborhood, for what they say is the greater good, but all I see is a long goodbye: a requiem for the skyline. It seems I never stop losing you, as all the dives become something new. And all our ghosts get swept away. It didn't used to be this way." (edit was for grammar)
At 17:27 you see a white pick up with a rack coming down the access road. I also heard that it was a boat building shop for the west coast Hacker-Craft. At 17:56 you see the same pick up at the "loading" dock.
being new to the area, first time I drove by that building it captivated me! I knew that it had history to it, thanks for history lesson and knowledge!
To all of you that hung out there, it has not been torn down as the ground and surrounding property is classified as a contaminated hazard that nobody wants to pay to clean up. They used to make doors and other furniture there. I went there on a field trip.
My (now ex) wife and I lived in a duplex on Pacific Street around 2002/2003. Just a few hundred feet from the old Pepsi plant. The back yard had a 6ft cinder block wall that I could climb on top of and make my way to the second story, east facing windows of the Tom Black's Garage building. It had the wooden frame windows with the leaded glass. Anyway, I looked inside this room on the second floor and there were a few dozen motorcycles in there. I wanted to go inside but I also wanted to be respectful. We ended up buying a house in Rose City Park and I never got a chance to do any more exploring in that neighborhood.
I saw an urban explorer go in there years ago..Michael Anderson it was a giant storage area for like RVs and boats ect when he sneaked in...big big inside 2 levels
for buildings adjacent to rail lines like this one, I always wonder if they had rail spurs back in the day. getting a truck down the hill and through the neighborhood would've been a PITA but if you could spot a few boxcars to unload with yarn and load with finished goods, things would move smoothly.
Dude I know exactly what you mean being memorized by that building as a kid! When I got older and started skateboarding I would imagine myself skating up there. I think some pro skaters actually did skate up there on the Portland episode of King of the Road.
Ive lived here in Portland off and on since 1980. That building always got my attention going past it. When i was younger i dreamt of climbing on the roof and looking out over the highway.
I had the same curiosities and feelings about the Gasco building near the St Johns bridge and the abandon tannery on the bank of the Willamette near PSU campus.
Once again, I have questions Steve has answers, I always assumed it was part of property with Mini storage. TeMini storage building is the one I usually look at since it was clearly a factory, a very interesting convert.
I lived in Sullivan's Gulch from September 1995 to March 2003. We owned the house on 2331 N.E. Wielder Street. I walked the whole of this neighborhood and often wondered what that building was Who chinese. I sure due miss Portland.
Haven't watched yet but just based on the thumbnail you may be referencing the building off of I-84 that always gets tagged up. I went to Benson and I heard (this was a few years ago) that it's being used for storing RV's and boats and such now. Idk what it was before and I hope you say in the video
I'm guessing many of the old structures being torn down are because the seismic retrofitting that would be required for many uses would cost more than new construction - like that great old fire station torn down not long ago where the Green Line exits the bridge into Oldtown in the turn. I wonder if this place has a "U" sign at the unseen front?
I thought you were going to say the recycling center building off 205 right after the i84 exit going north, maybe the Lombard exit? The roof looks like an upside down claw machine and it terrified me looking at it as a kid 🤣 thing is still there to this day
I used to live in Portland…probably the city & metro area I’ve most lived in throughout my life…was COMPLETELY over the city/metro area by the time we left it. Zero interest in going back…but your videos are so freaking pleasant and nostalgic and almost even comforting. Just another reason why I don’t have to go back LOL. I’ll just watch one of your videos as they pop up and that’ll do it. 😌✌🏽
I'm born and raised and I felt the same way living near downtown before moving out to Beaverton. But the city gets a bad rap and it sucks but It's nowhere near as bad as people think. Seattle is 10x worse but it wasn't in the news for political reasons
The building being tagged up? It's been that way since probably the 80's and is constantly getting tagged over. The ironic thing is the neighborhoods north of the gulch are insanely nice reno's of old PDX homes and go for million(s)
It’s interesting but you really should do more research because it be very simple to find out what was in that building it was a lumberyard straightforward lumber you could’ve found that out by doing simple reading also you can get closer to it I appreciate you don’t want to trespass but apparently it’s been trespassed a lotmore research before video you could’ve had the answer to what it was before you even started
I think part of the allure is that almost every other building along that part of I84 is newer, or has a building/company name on it, or its purpose is clear. But that building's old, it's not clear what happened there, and (as far as I remember) there's never been a visible company name. It's a mystery, and mysteries are intriguing.
I know about that building….in the 70’s it was Simpson Lumber. My father in law was the night watchman. They made lumber products. It’s funny it hasn’t been torn down by now.
I enjoy your channel. Born and raised in Portland….
That’s so cool, with its placement I could see an interesting thing or two happening working security at that place.
Tom Black's garage back in the '70's was a unique specialty shop. They did pop-up sunroofs and aftermarket t-tops on Firebirds, Camaros and some g-body cars. I went there because I was told he could sell me just the butyl gasket for a LeVan sunroof. He had an older Eldorado coupe, and he was making a convertible out of it. He did have that gasket! It seemed weird at the time being so close to the Banfield Fwy.
Dude! this is so EXTREMELY RELATEABLE, Im 30 y/o born in 1993, I grew up in Portland, I had my eyes out the window of my parents car as we would drive around town doing whatever we were doing, So many mystery buildings in Portland! i Miss PDX
Keep up the good work Steve! I love your narration and way of presenting our videos, STEVE FOR PRESIDENT!
I've known that building for years. From 1960 to 1963 I had a paper route in the neighborhood to north side. Ive crossed the 28th st bridge many a time. That building has always puzzled me. It seemed out of place. Thank you for your videos. Great job.
There was a lumber yard there ...The Graff World loves that spot..especially back in day ..the giant Marvin the Martain and RIP BORE were my favs!
Great video Steve
I wish I had a better memory of what I saw as a little kid cause we passed it so much but I just gave this general recollection on what it looked like mostly back in the 90s.
I haven’t thought about that Marvin painting for so long….
I appreciate your work and history on the city man!! I worked at Gordon’s fireplace shop for 5 years back from 09’-13’ - so sad to see its current state all abandoned and tagged up 😭 as a local native born and raised in PDX I look forward to your videos!! Keep it up man! 👍🏽
You need a drone. Even a DJI Pro 3 would create some incredible footage. Love your channel. Thank you for this video.
It’s really weird that both of us have been intrigued by that exact same building for 40 years.
also been fascinated by it my whole life!
I think its pretty much any kid whos parents drove I-84 often. Then when I went to Benson I saw it daily commuting to school
@@jsteezy80 I used to skip school in Aloha to go visit my Benson friends.
Enjoy watching your videos, fellow portlandian for 2 years and learning the cities history is great! keep up the great videos!!
Back in the 70s, my brother and I along with many friends used to sneak in there. It still had all the looms and knitting stuff. Every time I pass on 84 I think about that and am amazed that is still standing.
Another great video Steve! Keep up the great work :)
8:57 Someone knew you were coming so they tagged your name. That was so nice of them
That’s so cool! Nice tag man
I always remember that building as a kid going along that freeway everyday. The homeless camp you referenced was also an interesting thing to look at driving by.
Hah! I guessed right. Moved here 11 years ago; same experience. Thank ya, my friend.
my first place was on multonmuh and my first experience was walking down there
I live right behind there and go up there to smoke all the time
When you go on top of it, there is indeed an alarm sometimes
I go down there to hang out sometimes. First time i went down there i was an alcoholic highschooler who tried to walk down through the neighbors yard holding an open can of wine (didnt even know it was illegal to drink in public)
I've always wondered about that place as well. I see a newer car 18:05 parked there - security?
Yeah it’s crazy, I swear I’ve never seen anyone there and as I was filming that vehicle pulled in and parked.
Back in the early 90s I used to sneak on that property to smoke weed and practice graffiti with my dudes. One time we saw an opening so we went in. I remember a few emergency lights being on and the floors feeling like a springboard.
We made it pretty deep into the building walking slowly and carefully out of fear of falling through the floor. All we saw was tons of yarn. Huge boxes on pallets full of yarn. Eventually we made it to the loading dock area and noticed a ADT alarm panel blinking red. We ran like mad for the sketchy exit we came in through. Zero Fs given about falling through the floor at that point. By the time we got out the police were already coming down the driveway from the street above. We made a dash for the train tracks below. Followed the tracks to 28th and went through the tunnel. Walked up to Sandy Blvd and hit Wendy’s for some chili.
After talking to my Uncle who ran around Sullivan's Gulch as a kid in the 50s. He said that area had a lot of textile and garment factories.
Oregon Screen Impressions is nearby,but much of the old textile industry has disappeared...
I was curious about that building! Thanks for sharing this information. Always fascinated by older buildings. I see this one when I'm on 84 or the Tri-Met. Always curious what it held. Every building has its yarn to tell ;)
"Digging for gold in my neighborhood, for what they say is the greater good, but all I see is a long goodbye: a requiem for the skyline. It seems I never stop losing you, as all the dives become something new. And all our ghosts get swept away. It didn't used to be this way."
(edit was for grammar)
I really enjoy what you do, I really enjoy seeing our area through your eyes.👍
Thanks 👍
At 17:27 you see a white pick up with a rack coming down the access road. I also heard that it was a boat building shop for the west coast Hacker-Craft. At 17:56 you see the same pick up at the "loading" dock.
being new to the area, first time I drove by that building it captivated me! I knew that it had history to it, thanks for history lesson and knowledge!
Yeah it’s had me from day one. I couldn’t care less about much as a 5-year old but I knew to never miss that building when we went by.
Drove by today 9/30/24 fresh paint going on over graphite and even on the roof
To all of you that hung out there, it has not been torn down as the ground and surrounding property is classified as a contaminated hazard that nobody wants to pay to clean up. They used to make doors and other furniture there. I went there on a field trip.
My (now ex) wife and I lived in a duplex on Pacific Street around 2002/2003. Just a few hundred feet from the old Pepsi plant. The back yard had a 6ft cinder block wall that I could climb on top of and make my way to the second story, east facing windows of the Tom Black's Garage building. It had the wooden frame windows with the leaded glass. Anyway, I looked inside this room on the second floor and there were a few dozen motorcycles in there. I wanted to go inside but I also wanted to be respectful. We ended up buying a house in Rose City Park and I never got a chance to do any more exploring in that neighborhood.
I saw an urban explorer go in there years ago..Michael Anderson it was a giant storage area for like RVs and boats ect when he sneaked in...big big inside 2 levels
for buildings adjacent to rail lines like this one, I always wonder if they had rail spurs back in the day. getting a truck down the hill and through the neighborhood would've been a PITA but if you could spot a few boxcars to unload with yarn and load with finished goods, things would move smoothly.
Dude I know exactly what you mean being memorized by that building as a kid! When I got older and started skateboarding I would imagine myself skating up there. I think some pro skaters actually did skate up there on the Portland episode of King of the Road.
Love your work🌹Awesome, as always 👍
I used to get excited to look at the building too. Since the 80s
I love your storytelling… ❤ new sub😎
my first apartment was on that block multnomuh and i would go hang out down there.
Ive lived here in Portland off and on since 1980. That building always got my attention going past it. When i was younger i dreamt of climbing on the roof and looking out over the highway.
I had the same curiosities and feelings about the Gasco building near the St Johns bridge and the abandon tannery on the bank of the Willamette near PSU campus.
I been at sea almost 2 years fishing. I miss portland; good stuff dude!
When I was a kid I thought it was someone hiding Noah's ARK...
I always wondered about this place!
ive explored the outside of that building in my young days, good times.
Dang WESH tag on the wall at 3:25 hes a seattle guy they are all over here.
Always wondered about that place. I usually see it from the Max.
Once again, I have questions Steve has answers, I always assumed it was part of property with Mini storage. TeMini storage building is the one I usually look at since it was clearly a factory, a very interesting convert.
i love that building lol
I was thinking “I know that building…” and I did!
Profound I know
Core memories unlocked
This building may have been part of the Doernbecher furniture company.
I lived in Sullivan's Gulch from September 1995 to March 2003. We owned the house on 2331 N.E. Wielder Street. I walked the whole of this neighborhood and often wondered what that building was Who chinese. I sure due miss Portland.
Haven't watched yet but just based on the thumbnail you may be referencing the building off of I-84 that always gets tagged up. I went to Benson and I heard (this was a few years ago) that it's being used for storing RV's and boats and such now. Idk what it was before and I hope you say in the video
And than Lady sniffed a flower. And than we walked to the corner. And than we turned right. And rhan...
when i was a kid i would always get intrigued by the graffiti on that old building.
there was a truck parked out front in one of your video clips
I'm guessing many of the old structures being torn down are because the seismic retrofitting that would be required for many uses would cost more than new construction - like that great old fire station torn down not long ago where the Green Line exits the bridge into Oldtown in the turn. I wonder if this place has a "U" sign at the unseen front?
what is the purpose of the 'U' sign?
@@GenuineSalami"Unsafe" to enter per the city.
@@mikeinportland30 thanks!
That fire station was not torn down. It was stolen by junkies.
TYPE1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1:15 12:04
Great video !
I thought you were going to say the recycling center building off 205 right after the i84 exit going north, maybe the Lombard exit? The roof looks like an upside down claw machine and it terrified me looking at it as a kid 🤣 thing is still there to this day
0:27 Oregon theater
I stopped there to take a leak a few years ago and noticed it had been used as a latrine by more than just me if you know what I mean
I heard there were many raves there
timber plant? i thought we call those trees
You should go to the main entrance and request permission to visit it
Was buy it today
1500 Market St is the san francisco version
also Pasquale’s Tower
I used to live in Portland…probably the city & metro area I’ve most lived in throughout my life…was COMPLETELY over the city/metro area by the time we left it. Zero interest in going back…but your videos are so freaking pleasant and nostalgic and almost even comforting. Just another reason why I don’t have to go back LOL. I’ll just watch one of your videos as they pop up and that’ll do it. 😌✌🏽
I'm born and raised and I felt the same way living near downtown before moving out to Beaverton. But the city gets a bad rap and it sucks but It's nowhere near as bad as people think. Seattle is 10x worse but it wasn't in the news for political reasons
@@jsteezy80 I agree with all of that.
Ok so I thought this was where the foot clan hung out from ninja turtles I tell my kids this today.
This place was fetured in THRASHER i think Jaw dropped off it onto the slanted roof, or someone did
You should get a drone!!!
Used to live in that neighborhood and it wasn't also that way. It got that way when Portland went insane left
I found the dumb comment blaming the democrats 🤣
(Eff both republicans and dems)
The building being tagged up? It's been that way since probably the 80's and is constantly getting tagged over. The ironic thing is the neighborhoods north of the gulch are insanely nice reno's of old PDX homes and go for million(s)
It’s interesting but you really should do more research because it be very simple to find out what was in that building it was a lumberyard straightforward lumber you could’ve found that out by doing simple reading also you can get closer to it I appreciate you don’t want to trespass but apparently it’s been trespassed a lotmore research before video you could’ve had the answer to what it was before you even started
God what a lame comment
It's interesting but you really need to learn punctuation and maybe remove the "slightly" from your name cuz that was full of saltiness
Enjoyable video
I think part of the allure is that almost every other building along that part of I84 is newer, or has a building/company name on it, or its purpose is clear.
But that building's old, it's not clear what happened there, and (as far as I remember) there's never been a visible company name.
It's a mystery, and mysteries are intriguing.
Is it bodies or yarn? The world will never know.