FROM ICON TO EYESORE: The History of Gordon's Fireplace Shop

PATREON:   / exploreoregon   An icon up on the ridge that everyone in the city of Portland, Oregon has seen before either on the freeway or on the MAX… Gordon’s Fireplace Shop, as many of us remember the location, closed down in 2016. The building has since sat there waiting to be repurposed and has rapidly fallen into greater and greater disrepair. With a history dating back more than a century, and and origin story involving aviation and America’s involvement in the First World War, this old factory building has had a rich history with many tenants over the years. In this video I dive into that history while paying another visit to this site at NE 33rd and Broadway. I wanted to put this video together as, in a couple weeks, this building will go up for auction and ultimately fall into the hands of a new owner. What they will do with the property is anyone’s guess but, considering the state of the building, I have serious doubts that it will be with us much longer.