Cast iron and I have a love at first site relationship. I love the period, the style and detail. I'd love to be able to go back and lobby to save all the buildings that have been lost, but the real question is, would anyone listen? Would I be man enough to even walk around in the old town district back then? These buildings have been so romanticized in their short life span (some less than 50 years) its easy to forget that many of them were poorly maintained and possibly damaged beyond saving. But in the end, hind site is 20/20 and we are left to lament the loss of these once grand structures. Minor White's lens romanticized these buildings so much its hard for us today to realize that there where more than a few issues.
Minor White is to dilapidated buildings as a glamor photographer is to unattractive people.
circa 1939
The reality is clear with the Moore Produce Company,
demolished 1954, photo circa 1953
Allen Music store, demolished for the World Trade Center. The building in the bottom right corner is the Mikado Block which is still standing.
The much beloved (and now restored) New Market Theater
Photos from U of O's
Building Oregon Collection.
Minor White is to dilapidated buildings as a glamor photographer is to unattractive people.
The reality is clear with the Moore Produce Company,
Allen Music store, demolished for the World Trade Center. The building in the bottom right corner is the Mikado Block which is still standing.
The much beloved (and now restored) New Market Theater
keep it up. these are cool.
ReplyDeleteI'm having trouble finding photos of the New Market Theater before half of it was demolished in 1956. The arches near Skidmore Foubtain are the ground floor facade of the demolished portion.
ReplyDelete