Comments on: A Legacy Written in Stone (ok, concrete)

By: M.A. Feist

M.A. Feist — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:46:05 +0000

Thanks, Doug. I’ll try your advice. If I find anything of interest I’ll keep you in mind.

By: Doug

Doug — Mon, 04 May 2009 22:11:50 +0000

Thanks for visiting the Alameda History blog, and for your very kind comments. I've put together a list of resources that can help you with your search, which you can find right here on the blog under the Resources tab in the upper right. I would try to start by establishing a chronology of residents, using the Polk Directories and even the Federal Census. There are many tools out there and those are two of the best. Obituaries (on microfilm at the Central Library) are also very helpful. Take good notes, have fun with this, and if you get hung up, drop me a note...I'm pleased to be a "friend of the court" as you pursue the history of your house. -Doug

By: M.A. Feist

M.A. Feist — Mon, 04 May 2009 20:13:56 +0000

My house was built in 1910, as were most in this Richmond community. I’ve seen the Elwood Wiles stamp in concrete throughout this area. Since Hawthorne Blvd. is a major artery here, I’m hoping that old maps, plats, street signs etc. are available. Where do I begin my search? Thanks for your fascinating blog.

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 04:13:06 +0000

Doug–I once wrote a somewhat sentimental article about the loss of the names, but I wasn’t kidding. I think SHPO is wrong here–removal of these bits is a loss of “texture” in our old neighborhoods. Thanks for writing about it and xxoo B

By: Doug

Doug — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:36:00 +0000

Hi Bon. Thanks for dropping by the blog and for sharing your cautionary tale from Salem. I noted in the PDOT piece on sidewalk history that the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) considers contractor sidewalk stamps as "interesting artifacts but are not listable resources, and can be removed." I have noticed that most of the corner cuts installed in NE Portland recently (and there was a spate of them in the fall) have the original construction date and the reconstruction date stamped into the curb. While our friend Elwood Wiles name is no longer visible in some of these, the sense that they are old--and reprepsent many layers of footsteps--is kept alive.

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:01:28 +0000

In Salem the “corner cuts” which eliminate curbs for bikes, strollers and handicapped, also remove the names of the sidewalk makers, hence historical context from the neighborhood. Beware! (Our neighborhood was paved in 1910 and 1911, a hundred years of foot traffic almost!)