By Living Room Realty, March 5, 2018
Take a ride up Greeley avenue heading north to Rosa Parks. Take a left and continue onto Willamette BLVD. As you drive through University park on your way to St Johns you will see on your right are large stately homes. Tudors, Colonial, Sprawling ranches with exquisitely manicured lawns. On your left is Swan Island, and a view of the forest park set above downtown that is unmatched. Before you get to the University of Portland you will see a large blue Victorian that sits at the edge of Columbia Park. This is the John Mock home. Continue pass the University over the train tracks and into east St Johns. The homes becoming more modest. These are the homes of the people who worked the ports and helped make St Johns what it is today. Beyond Richmond st you take a dip down underneath the Historic St Johns bridge. One of the most iconic and famous bridges in Portland. Prior to the bridge there was a ferry that carried vehicles, people and goods across the river. The Original ferry was started and operated by a man named James John. James John was the man who settled this area and gave the township his name in 1865.
Since 1865 St Johns officially became a part of Portland. Labor disputes, fires, riots and evolving industries took it’s toll on the once thriving township. St Johns has always been home to the hard working folks who work the yards and warehouses along the Willamette and Columbia river. Take a seat at the bar at Slims one early morning and you won’t feel like much has changed in last 50 years until you walk outside and see a neighborhood that is transforming from what it once was into one of Portland trendiest neighborhoods. 5 years ago the neighborhood was depressed. Needles on the sidewalk, Homeless sleeping in door ways, broken car windows and dilapidated housing were common to see. Now a revitalized movie theatre, Vegan BBq, Beer and wine shops, gift shops, Coffee shops and restaurants have taken their place. You can still feel the history that has taken place here and sometimes you can still hear the stories told first hand by a few of the long time residents. The Small town now Portland neighborhood isn’t done with its story. The truly interesting and unique still call this home.
When in St Johns be sure to keep this history in mind when you walk past all of the shops, baby strollers, Young suburban urbanites and funky fashion forward folks. Be sure to make you way down to Cathedral Park to the banks of the Willamette. Enjoy a beer from Occidental Brewing or time it so you catch some great jazz at Jazz fest. Take a picture of the bridge while you’re down there as it is one of the most famous bridges in the country. Keep your head up and talk to people because the real gem of this neighborhood are the people and their stories. Enjoy St Johns.
