Comments on: Alameda Street Names

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:20:13 +0000

Rolf: I think you are looking for Eugene Snyder’s “Portland Names and Neighborhoods: Their Historic Origins,” published in 1979 by Binford and Mort Publishing, Portland. Copies are in the Multnomah County Library system. I have a much-used and loved copy as well, which I found at Powell’s (used copies do turn up there from time to time). If you can tell me what street you are interested in, I can look it up for you.

-Doug

By: Rolf Glerum

Rolf Glerum — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:50:32 +0000

I am seeking an out-of-print book or pamphlet on Portland Street Names and the history of the individuals the streets are named after. Google, MC Library, OHS, Amazon or Powell’s can’t seem to come up with it. Can someone out there help?

By: Jan

Jan — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 01:07:53 +0000

Hi,
Elwood Wiles was my uncle and I’m proud to say.

I’ve been working the Wiles family history and happy to see Elwood did well.

I have friends who live in Oregon so hoping thenext time I go up, that I have the opty to see some of the cement work that Elwood did and snap some photos.

By: Doug

Doug — Sun, 03 May 2009 04:38:50 +0000

Thank you, Anne, for this gem of information. Duly noted. I have updated the page with this information. Thanks for the compliment and I hope you’ll enjoy the reading.
-Doug

By: Anne Hawley

Anne Hawley — Sat, 02 May 2009 17:21:42 +0000

Great blog! I’ve added it to my feed so I don’t miss new articles.

As a student of languages, I felt sure that Alameda, though nominally Spanish, must have Arabic roots, as do nearly all Spanish words beginning with “Al” (simply “the” in Arabic). A short search turned up this tidbit: “Alameda, Spanish for paseo con arboles [street with trees], is borrowed directly from the Arabic al-muwatta, which means ‘the well-trodden path,’ or the ‘the clear path.’”

Source: http://latinomuslims.blogspot.com/

By: Doug

Doug — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:20:08 +0000

Hi Roberta. Thanks for stopping by the site and sharing your thoughts about Alameda. My hunch is the big house you are referring to is the Autzen Mansion at 24th and Alameda(I remember that estate sale too!). You can learn more about that great house in William Hawkins excellent book “Classic Houses of Portland.”

While he was not the architect on the Autzen mansion, I am preparing some background on Alameda architect Harry Phillips, who lived across the street and designed many of the homes along and just below that part of the ridge.

By: Roberta Herget

Roberta Herget — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 22:00:54 +0000

Great info! I’ve lived in the Hollywood district for 20+ years on the fringe of Alameda. I love this neighborhood. It’s so convenient, with almost everything within walking distance, and the airport is only a few minutes away by car or you can hop on the Max line and go right to the terminal. I once attended an estate sale in one of the grand old homes on Alameda street that was built in the 1920′s and they had a ballroom! I’ve never forgotten how palatial that home was. It had 4 fireplaces and the most amazing tile work in the bathroom. The view was incredible, even in the daytime. I can imagine what it must look like at night – the whole city twinkling below you. The people who live on the Alameda ridge are really lucky. I’m giving your book for Christmas to a relative who used to live on Wisteria Drive in the 1940′s.

By: Gregg Herrington

Gregg Herrington — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:13:38 +0000

For more on Wiles, Google his name and prowl around. I found this page, with a ton of bio stuff on him.

http://books.google.com/books?id=bG4UAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA136&lpg=PA136&dq=elwood+wiles&source=web&ots=PuZpcARFgy&sig=29Xbklu161Rfp2SaEi_AyYCuLJc&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result#PPA136,M1

By: Gregg Herrington

Gregg Herrington — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:55:39 +0000

Elwood Wiles’ name, and dates such as 1911, are carved into many of the sidewalks in the oldest part of Vancouver — those neighborhoods within 25 blocks or so of the Columbia River and just a few blocks on either side of Main Street. The curbs on these same blocks often have horse rings embedded in them. I had always assumed Wiles was a Vancouver concrete entrepreneur — and perhaps he was. I don’t know where he lived, but now I know he he worked both sides of the river. Thanks.

By: Nancy Drake

Nancy Drake — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:58:01 +0000

I too would like to know more about Elwood Wiles. I see his name all over the place in Northwest Portland on sidewalks. Many are 100 years old.