A woman sits on the fence in front of the Portland Hotel, also known as the Hotel Portland, viewed from Yamhill Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. A portion of the Pioneer Courthouse is visible on the right.

New Market Theater, at Second Avenue and Ankeny Street. Sign on top of building reads, “New Market Block. 1872.” Sign on ground floor reads, “Multnomah Hotel Garage Parking.” Exterior of bottom floor is painted white.

The Cosmopolitan Block, east side of Front Avenue between Oak and Stark Streets. Sign in the window for Peerless Pacific Co. Taken March 9, 1939.

Looking east across SW Front towards Ankeny and Front Avenue. Demolition of Dekum and Reed Building behind the Skidmore Fountain. The pediment and cornice of the Johnson building across Front Avenue is still intact. Signs for Mutual Grocery and Gadsby’s Home Furnisher. Taken March 9, 1939.

The Portland Hotel, also known as the Hotel Portland, constructed in 1890, looking west from Yamhill Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. People wait on the sidewalk at a streetcar stop. Taken March 8, 1939.

A building with sign, “Armstrong Mfg. Co.” A shop offers painting services on the bottom floor. Looking east across SW Second Avenue to Ankeny Street, showing west end of New Market Block, North Wing. Taken March 8, 1939.

A doorway on the SE corner of the Allen and Lewis Block at Front and Couch Streets. The Steel Bridge is in the background. Lumber is piled on the waterfront. Taken March 8, 1939.

The Portland Hotel, also known as the Hotel Portland, constructed in 1890, looking west from Yamhill Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. People wait on the sidewalk at a streetcar stop. Taken March 8, 1939.

The Portland Hotel, also known as the Hotel Portland, constructed in 1890, looking west from Yamhill Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. People wait on the sidewalk at a streetcar stop. Taken March 8, 1939.

A doorway to the Pine Street Entrance of the Kamm Block. White photographed this doorway again later in the year, after a fire tore through the east half of the building. Taken March 4, 1939.

Cast-iron details in the architecture of Cook’s Building, east side of Front Avenue, south of Ankeny Street. Reflection in the window shows sign for “Howe Scales.” Taken March 4, 1939.

A row of buildings on Front Avenue, looking south from the Burnside Bridge. Demolition of Dekum and Reed block, at right, has begun. Automobiles are parked on the street and the trolley tracks are visible. Taken March 4, 1939.

A doorway on the SE corner of the Allen and Lewis Block at Front Avenue and Couch Street. Small portion of the Steel Bridge is visible in the background. Taken March 3, 1939. White photographed this same building again on March 8, 1939.

Johnson Building from upper floor of Dekum & Reed Block, Front Avenue and Ankeny, looking east. The date 1883 is displayed on the Johnson Building. Probably taken in February 1939. Photo taken through the window of an abandoned building. Attached to the same strip of film as Negative No. 3999. Same subject as Negative No. 390226-2.

Johnson Building from upper floor of Dekum & Reed Block, Front Avenue and Ankeny Street, looking east. The date 1883 is displayed on the Johnson Building. Probably taken in February 1939. Photo taken through the window of an abandoned building. Attached to the same strip of film as Negative No. 39100. Same subject as Negative No. 390226-2.

Architectural detail of the Dodd Building, SE corner of Front and Ankeny Streets, viewed from the Dekum and Reed Block on the west side of Front Ave. Probably taken in February 1939. Photo taken through the window of an abandoned building. Attached to the same strip of film as Negative No. 3998. Same subject as Negative No. 390219-3.

Architectural detail of Dodd’s Block on the left and Cook’s Building on the right. Taken through the window of an abandoned building across the street on Dekum & Reed Block. Probably taken in February 1939. Attached to the same strip of film as Negative No. 3997. Same subject as Negative No. 390219-3.

Demolition of the Dekum and Reed Block, west side of Front Avenue at Ankeny Street, with the city of Portland in the background. Photographed from the upper floors of the Johnson Building on the east side of Front Avenue. Many Portland buildings and signs are visible. Signs include “Portland Trust,” “76 Union Gasoline,” “R.R. Poppleton Motors,” and “General Electric Motors.” Taken February 26, 1939.

The Barnhart Building has been demolished, while the Miles Building and Kamm Block are visible in the background. Looking across Front Avenue towards Pine Street. “For Lease” signs in the window. Taken February 26, 1939.

Demolition of the Dekum and Reed Block, west side of Front Avenue at Ankeny Street. Photographed from the upper floors of the Johnson Building on the east side of Front Avenue. Taken February 26, 1939.

Nighttime view of a wrought-iron gate in front of the Portland Hotel, also known as the Hotel Portland. This gate was purchased by Eric Ladd in the early 1950s and used in his colony of historic buildings in Goose Hollow. Returned to Pioneer Square in the same position in the late 1980s. The gate features a lantern. Taken February 23, 1939.

Cast-iron details of the Dodd Block on the SE corner of Front and Ankeny Streets, viewed from the window of the Dekum and Reed Block on the west side of Front Avenue. Taken February 19, 1939.

View of the Dekum and Reed Block, located on Front Avenue and Ankeny Street. Photo taken from south side of Burnside Bridge on February 12, 1939. An automobile is parked on the street and the Willamette River is visible in the background. Also visible are signs for a creamery and Golden Glow Beer & Ale.

Cast-iron buildings line Front Avenue, looking south from the Burnside Bridge. An automobile is parked on the street. Freight rails in the middle of Front Avenue. Taken February 12, 1939.

Demolition of the Barnhart and Miles buildings on SW Front Avenue. Piles of bricks are stacked in the back of a flatbed truck parked on the street outside. Taken February 8, 1939.

Demolition of the Barnhart and Miles buildings on Front Avenue and Pine Street. Starr Block on the left. A sign on the side of a building advertises the J.J. Ross Mill. A pile of debris sits on the sidewalk. Same subject as Negative No. 390120-2.

The Kamm Block sits across the street from the demolition of the Opitz Building, February 5, 1939. Looking from First Avenue along Pine to Front Avenue, to the Kamm Block. The Kamm Building housed the Boxer Fixture Co. Attached to the same strip of film as Negative No. 3986. Same subject as Negative No. 390205-1.

The Kamm Block sits across the street from the demolition of the Opitz Building, February 5, 1939. Looking from First Avenue along Pine to Front Avenue, to the Kamm Block. The Kamm Building housed the Boxer Fixture Co. Across the street is the Colonial Fixture Shop and an advertisement reading, “Hochfeld Bros. Dealers in Bankrupt Stock.” A large cast-iron pillar lies in the debris. Same subject as Negative No. 390205-1.