The History of the Sellwood Bridge

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ม.ค. 2025

ความคิดเห็น • 93

  • @bricknercj
    @bricknercj 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +22

    We used to take out-of-towners across the Sellwood on the way to my moms. After we'd get over the bridge, we'd say, "That bridge we just went over? It has a saftey rating of about 2 out of 100. You were just closer to death than you'll be until the day you die." In the last couple of years before the new bridge was built, I had a couple of legit panic attacks when stuck in stop and go traffic on the Sellwood. Nice video!

    • @criticaloptimist
      @criticaloptimist 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Imagine if they had used that old burnside bridge steel! lol it would absolutely have collapsed.
      I was driving on 405 through that double decker bridge to i5 a few months ago ago, and there was a massive pothole with exposed rebar. If I had to sit in daily traffic on one of the double decker bridges that we know won’t withstand the big one, I’d be having panic attacks too.

    • @myronpriest4935
      @myronpriest4935 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Came across your channel and been reading the comments I lived right there in Sellwood and wow could I tell you stories in the 70s and 80s and it that bridge shook then and scary I used to bartend at a place called no dogs allowed in Raleigh Hills wow could I tell you stories about that place. a friend told me that she used to see a ghost on rainy nights that the woman was killed in a car wreck a head-on on the bridge I never seen that😅😅 great video😊 great memories of Portland I don't live there no more.

    • @bricknercj
      @bricknercj 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@criticaloptimist Oh, good lord, the fremont bridge! That thing shakes horrfyingly!! I used to traverse it twice a day. Stay safe, friend!

    • @donneary7104
      @donneary7104 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      @@criticaloptimist I was driving that same I-5 double-decker bridge when a large bolt the size of my fist dropped right in from of my car. If I had been one second ahead in my travels, I would have been dead as it would have hit my windshield. Instead, because of its heavy weight it just remained in the traffic lane where I harmlessly passed over it beneath my car. I don't know what happened to the cars behind me. .

    • @criticaloptimist
      @criticaloptimist 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@donneary7104 that is terrifying!

  • @michaelcase8574
    @michaelcase8574 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +17

    For many years, Stafford Jennings had his Chris Craft boat dealer, Staff Jennings, was located under the west end of the Selwood. So many boats came out of that place.

  • @F.Y.Mjaytee3700
    @F.Y.Mjaytee3700 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    I take the sellwood bridge everyday to work. This was a treat to learn about. Thank you bro. Your research game is unmatched!!!

  • @frederickbooth7970
    @frederickbooth7970 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    An excellent documentary that was far ranging in scope of the history of the area. I hope you receive more views & likes! The St. Johns bridge is at times equally as scary as the Sellwood bridge! Have been stuck in traffic & one can feel the entire bridge shaking underneath your vehicle! The St. Johns bridge also needs some serious repainting of structural members as we noted last month when crossing going westbound & having to wait for the construction causing traffic backing up. Sometimes it amazes me that these old ancient bridges are still functioning when they are older than my parents would be if they were still alive! Have subbed to your channel & look forward to viewing more history of the area. Was born in Portland in 1956 at the old St. Vincent`s hospital which we understand is now condos. We have traveled across the old Sellwood bridge many times as my family once lived on the edge or Eastmoreland on 36th & Nehalem streets. Lived at 7934 SE 36th for the 1st 13 years of life. Used to ride my bicycle all over the Moreland areas as young boy.

  • @KingFaderRecordings
    @KingFaderRecordings 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +12

    The Spokane boat ramp was still usable in the 80's and 90's. It closed sometime after that. So that concrete isn't 100 years old. Oldest street view of 2009 show's it closed. Probably when that lot to the north was developed, the park used to be bigger.

  • @BeingMe23
    @BeingMe23 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

    Another fine documentary from Steve. 👏 😀🍿 📽 🎬

  • @margaretwilson7290
    @margaretwilson7290 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    My family came to this area in the early 1900's and we're still here. The Sellwood bridge was a major route during my mother's childhood as well as my own. When I was young Spokane St. went all the way to the river. There's was a broad ramp, none of the vegetation was there and no barriers across the road. Boaters used to launch from there all the time. The problem arose when people began running stolen vehicles off the ramp into the river as it's quite deep there. I can remember when a recovery effort was done when, I was a kid, and dozens of vehicles were dragged out of the river. That's when the talks began about closing off access to the water. It's too bad. It was fun to go down there, as a kid, and toss a pole in the water from the edge of the ramp.

  • @ThePeebucks
    @ThePeebucks 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    Fascinating history! Well researched, well delivered!

  • @michellelangdon5134
    @michellelangdon5134 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    Excellent documentary Steve!

  • @TheMistyDawnShow
    @TheMistyDawnShow 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you! originally from Portland, I am currently in Vancouver, and you are spot on… PLUS, you are SO freaking cute! lol thanks a bunch!! 😅❤

  • @Sloggett1000
    @Sloggett1000 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Awesome video! Great narration, very well knowleged on the topic and tons of great historical photos of the bridge. Thank you for doing this!

  • @patakigeo
    @patakigeo 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I am so glad you are doing these Portland history videos, Steve. I hope there is enough outsider interest in these great stories.

  • @503punxoioioi9
    @503punxoioioi9 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    Used to live there. There's two reasons to go to Sellwood: the Goodwill bins and the inexpensive giant hamburgers w/ fries at Acropolis. They have an outdoor order window anyone can walk up to. The family that owns the business has their own ranch and raises their own beef which is how they keep the prices low.

    • @SisterSherryDoingStuff
      @SisterSherryDoingStuff 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I remember Bobby, the owner. Still have great steak dinner deal.

    • @Azazel2024
      @Azazel2024 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I live in Milwaukee. 5 years now because I take care of my very old mother. God this place is death. Jesus. Its literally nothing. A couple schools and 500 gay pride flags and juvenile delinquent lil high schoolers EVERYWHERE . I now know why the only person I knew from here hated it. What a dump . Seriously if you have a boat , drink and are a judgemental little suv driver this is the spot for you . Hillbillies

  • @kellygannon6169
    @kellygannon6169 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I treasure your content. The bridges of Portland, Oregon maintain a sweet place in my heart. Thank you for providing your personal and logistic observations with us. I recommend your TH-cam channel to everyone I can! Again, thank you Steve! The next cat I get to name shall be named Steve. After you.😊

  • @jeffreyhunt1727
    @jeffreyhunt1727 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    You've done a fantastic job with this video. I've watched your content for a few years now and I love that you're digging deeper and telling these kinds of stories. Great job.

  • @RLDenham
    @RLDenham 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I LOVED the bridge its was fun to drive fast & a great gut check if it freaked you out you must really hate the metal grating on the Hawthorne bridge.

    • @Scarfacekiller
      @Scarfacekiller หลายเดือนก่อน

      We call the Hawthorne the slip and slide bridge.

  • @KLEARSKITHEKREEPER
    @KLEARSKITHEKREEPER 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    You do such great videos buddy

  • @Azazel2024
    @Azazel2024 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Great job again, excellent detail and history

  • @rainbowiam
    @rainbowiam 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    As a long time resident of southwest Portland, graduate of Lewis and Clark and a previous self-employed entertainer at the Riverside Corral, I am so excited to discover your channel. I will now be binge-watching until caught up. 😊

    • @rainbowiam
      @rainbowiam 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Also, I totaled my first vehicle (in 1996) coming from Lake Oswego towards downtown on the west side of the old Sellwood bridge. To date, my only serious accident.

  • @AndyWilliams8
    @AndyWilliams8 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    I used to have to ride my bike over the old Sellwood bridge. It was always a choice between trying to keep up with the traffic on the main roadway or using the sidewalk that seemed like it was two feet wide. In either case, it felt like I was going to die at any moment.

  • @standdownrobots_ihaveoldglory
    @standdownrobots_ihaveoldglory 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I mentioned at work (regional museum) that I was becoming obsessed with Portland history & this channel. And now everywhere I look in town, I’m seeing cool stories we should do. Infrastructure history is becoming a passion, especially in these highly politicized times, it’s a great way to talk about issues that may veer controversial, but from a logistical & very realpolitik perspective

  • @MinecraftInfrastructure
    @MinecraftInfrastructure 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Man, I love obscure history so much.

  • @glennwebster1675
    @glennwebster1675 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    I grew up there... That sucker shook hard for years.. same with the st.johns bridge.

  • @TinkerBTea
    @TinkerBTea 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    This way my main way of crossing the river from 70s - 90s. Fond memories. Awesome video. Very professional too!

  • @Essey1982
    @Essey1982 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Love the family story... Another Portland born baby, me too.

  • @paddionichols340
    @paddionichols340 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I absolutely loved watching the video about the sellwood bridge

  • @503dcccccccccccc
    @503dcccccccccccc 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Another great doc Steve. I have to add that local 29 Union ironworkers since 1901 of portland oregon whom i am a member of since 1995 erected all the iron of our bridges. A few cousins and i worked on the new Sellwood bridge.

  • @johnstjohn4705
    @johnstjohn4705 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    In the 90's I commuted between Tualatin and Portland for work. Once or twice a week I-5 would become a parking lot due to an accident. One of my alternate routes was to take Grand down to Sellwood and cross over the bridge. It was white-knuckle driving. Glad to see it replaced.

  • @devapea
    @devapea 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    The smile station (used to be Sellwood fire station) at SE 13th and Tenino has remnants of the old brick on display in front

  • @conorgilles81
    @conorgilles81 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    When I heard buses were banned from driving over the Sellwood bridge, that made me want to reconsider driving over it myself.

    • @Azazel2024
      @Azazel2024 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Actually taking a good look at it convinced me . 25 years ago

  • @Firestormlover
    @Firestormlover 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Wait! Wait wait what??! You didn't mention the Big Slide! And how incredible that was! There are great time lapse videos of how they literally shoved the bridge over to the temporary piers. it still holds the record as the longest bridge span ever relocated. We had a Big Slide party for it, and probably some (slightly worried) side bets on whether it would just slide right on into the drink. It was an amazing engineering feat. Sorry, but you have to re-edit this and talk about the Big Slide, that is all there is to it. ;) Edit! The engineers used Dawn dish soap to coat the teflon pads to make it "safely slippery" enough to slide the bridge over to its new location, as it would not pollute the river like oil or grease if it dripped off the bridge.

    • @Scarfacekiller
      @Scarfacekiller หลายเดือนก่อน

      Dawn really is a miracle soap. I use it for a lot of purposes, almost as much as baking soda.

  • @carrieharris9479
    @carrieharris9479 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Hey Steve - Great educational video 📹. I went across the Sellwood bridge years ago and was terrified 😨 😳. I haven't been on there since the new has been built. Your video gives me hope. Thank you so much 😊.

  • @brentboswell1294
    @brentboswell1294 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I remember driving my company's 15 passenger van over the bridge one day, van full of people, and sharing the bridge with a Tri-Met bus going the other way. The shaking was horrendous!

  • @rustart
    @rustart 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great doc Steve. I’m curious about Reed college and that area, would love to see you do a film about that area. Keep up the fantastic work!

    • @standdownrobots_ihaveoldglory
      @standdownrobots_ihaveoldglory 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      By the way, he has a video walk through of Reed & the neighborhood. Reed was a bit of a scapegoat at my college, if confronted over our high levels of drug use, we’d just point out that reed was worse. No idea if that was true tho!

  • @clarencesmith2305
    @clarencesmith2305 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    That ferry dock was used in the 80's early 90's as a boat ramp the apartments to the left weren't there it was a restaurant that had a pay to park area for the tow vehicles and boat trailers.

  • @criticaloptimist
    @criticaloptimist 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    Reclaimed bridge steel!? lol that’s terrifying… like it’s impossible to know how many lives were saved by this guy not reusing all that steel. It would have surely failed if that first firm built it.

  • @SisterSherryDoingStuff
    @SisterSherryDoingStuff 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Thank you for the deep dive into the history of first scary AF Sellwood bridge!! Curious - what happened to the cemetery?

  • @jeffreyhunt1727
    @jeffreyhunt1727 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    23:51 The former site of Judson Manufacturing company in Emeryville, CA is now home to an IKEA store. Imagine if the bridge were built from a flat-pack.

  • @criticaloptimist
    @criticaloptimist 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    You should look into the bridge into Oregon city too. It’s so narrow that if a large truck is on it the opposite traffic has to stop before entering the bridge. And imagine the impact tolling would have on that area.

  • @jamesmischke
    @jamesmischke 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I lived in Selllwood for a decade in the 2000s. My wife and I used to drive across the old bridge every day. I'd start praying on one side until I crossed over to the other lol You kinda accepted any day could be "the day". Still beats driving down to Powell to take the Ross Island 😂

  • @MarvinThiessen
    @MarvinThiessen 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

    Think the old Sellwood bridge had no room for error? Try the Ross Island bridge, 4 lanes, 2 each way, mere inches separating cars going in opposite directions. Definitely a pucker factor crossing that bridge. The new Sellwood bridge is a wide 2 lane joke, morphing into 1 extremely slow lane. Absolute hell between 3-7 p.m. Sidewalks are wide enough to hold a flea market. Ridiculous design planning comes as no surprise considering Portland's ongoing war against cars.

    • @Scarfacekiller
      @Scarfacekiller หลายเดือนก่อน

      lol that was my bridge for years. I agree it was and still is janky AF

  • @Azazel2024
    @Azazel2024 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Always exciting to drive over , especially in a big truck when it was windy

  • @Danlandia1
    @Danlandia1 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thanks!

  • @norahjaneeast5450
    @norahjaneeast5450 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Yeah I'm not entirely sure the sidewalks were 4 ft wide of course that doesn't include the lighting that protruded into that 4 ft area but also there was only a sidewalk on the north side I have crossed that bridge almost 100 times it never really bothered me how rickety it was until they had the other Bridge open and they were taking down the the road bed first just the bridge without it looked weak although it did stay up for 90 years so we at least have to give it that

  • @PDXborn
    @PDXborn 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I avoided that bridge like the plague. Ross Island bridge became my main bridge when I lived in that area. Drove over it several times in my 73 Impala. It was like driving an ATV in a bike lane. Almost got clipped with no where to go. Last time I drove over it was in the 90s. Anything would be better than that bridge. 100% a death trap.

    • @PDXborn
      @PDXborn 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      And yes that boat ramp was there in the 90s...

  • @Infinitespace04
    @Infinitespace04 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    2004-2010 I crossed that bridge at least twice a day, often 4 times. My wife and I carpooled to work. Lived in garden home and worked in clackamas. Every time it was sketch af. Our paper thin car didn't offer anymore comfort.

    • @StevetheAmateurHistorian
      @StevetheAmateurHistorian  5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I love that I’m getting so many comments just vindicating my memories of what crossing that bridge was like. I remember bobbing over the bridge a few times in the 90s in my families 1984 Honda hatchback.

  • @jplowkey-q1f
    @jplowkey-q1f 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I remember being a little bummed when the new one opened. The new design didn't look done to me, I thought they were going to put something on top of the extra metal above the streetlamps. I was also bummed it was only 2 lanes. Had to remind myself it was less about alleviating traffic and more about replacing a dangerous bridge.

  • @ChesneyBrentwood
    @ChesneyBrentwood 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I would like to kindly request a Halloween documentary on the macabre history of the Vista bridge.

  • @norahjaneeast5450
    @norahjaneeast5450 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    You know that's exactly what that is is that concrete that goes into the river on the other side staff Jennings used to use that boat landing to launch their boats there's been hundreds of cars that have entered the river there I don't think the boat launch on the other side was used as a dump site because I don't think it was open to the public other than the staff Jennings employees I would bet you the boaters in the area would like to have that floating gas station it was probably part of their boat repair business

  • @lkkaz1
    @lkkaz1 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Growing up in PDX I always heard that every bridge was painted a different color. Is this still true?

  • @kdigiacomo
    @kdigiacomo 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I've driven across that 1,000s of times, didn't really bother me but my friends hated it, sometimes they would actually have me drive. Oddly I haven't been across the new one more than a few times just because I have no reason to go over there anymore.

  • @Dbeldin
    @Dbeldin หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    the Ross Island bridge is not that much better. . lots of heavy traffic off Powell. plus the exit to oregon city, milwaukee....

  • @TheKeeperMadz
    @TheKeeperMadz 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Hi fun fact u know more about Portland oregon than my own town and it's ridiculous I know but here we are 😂.

    • @Azazel2024
      @Azazel2024 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Most people know very little local history . Hes definitely informative

  • @TheShrekage
    @TheShrekage 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    the ferry slabs are further north along the shore

  • @sjs1965442
    @sjs1965442 17 วันที่ผ่านมา

    People would dump stolen cars by rolling them down the ferry ramp. I worked in the office building at the base of the ramp and the city would pull vehicles out of there every year

  • @JCaptain-w9t
    @JCaptain-w9t 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I wanted to email you photos i have that you can use… but did u know that the 205 bridge is actually hollow inside and you can walk inside that bridge one end to the other.. its true.. when u drive over that bridge u will hear a metal bump… every 100 feet .. that was the connection from one part to the other… its at that point it is a round hole.. about 7’ around two of them per part… then after going thru the hole it opens to a large room like 10’ high… and 30-60 feet wide … then another 100 feet to the next section .. it totally nuts.. also the 205 Bridge opened when i was about 10 years old they actually had the 50 year celebration recently … but no one had posted the real opening since maybe they lost the films made but i was there and it held a huge carnival … if u can believe it.. rides etc… i have more for you but not sure how to email you..

  • @eScential
    @eScential 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I remember consulting a paper map to evade after crossing once as driver.

  • @them2002
    @them2002 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I accidentally drove my semi over it around 2005 or 06. I had no idea trucks were forbidden. Nothing happened thankfully.

  • @twoheadedboypt2
    @twoheadedboypt2 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I completely forgot they made a new one.

  • @miapdx503
    @miapdx503 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    The Sellwood always gave me major anxiety. My husband knew, whenever possible to avoid it when I was in the car. Likewise, when he wanted to be passive aggressive he would deliberately head over it...😒 yeah, ex-husband now.

  • @Grandpa82547
    @Grandpa82547 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I've crossed that bridge hundreds of times. Never scared. I call this fear-mongering.

  • @RoMo0276
    @RoMo0276 8 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    no room for error? I crossed that bridge hundreds of times, that’s a bit dramatic.

  • @MrJeep75
    @MrJeep75 23 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Looks like a old boat ramp

  • @OregonTropics
    @OregonTropics 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I really like your channel. My channel is just 6k subs and different from yours but i just shared it to my subscribers since it's very cool.

  • @MrGlendale111
    @MrGlendale111 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Portland has a number of bridges I think only 2 are considered up to code for a major quake. That doesn't surprise me with Portland. It is not the progressive Metro it likes to call itself. It's a neglectful city and Metro. It puts little effort into safety and the well being of its citizens. I expect a major quake to collapse a number of bridges, roadways and a high casualty count in Portland. Nothing much has been done to prevent this from happening.

    • @Scarfacekiller
      @Scarfacekiller หลายเดือนก่อน

      Couldn’t have said it better myself, with the idiots running our government, they’ll likely have zero emergency relief funds left, since it’s all spent on stupid bills like legalizing all drugs & helping illegal immigrants.

  • @onegreatstarfish
    @onegreatstarfish 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    I can't believe you glossed over how they slid the old bridge over to build the new one it it's original place. This had NEVER been done before, and you just skipped right over it.
    bad video.
    you also didn't mention how ODOT tried to sell the old bridge while it was still sitting, complete, on it's tempororary piers.

    • @Azazel2024
      @Azazel2024 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      You'll be ok. Have some tea

    • @rustart
      @rustart 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      He covers all that. Somehow you missed it.

    • @Skunkhunt_42
      @Skunkhunt_42 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Yall portlanders love pitching fits 😂

  • @richknudsen5781
    @richknudsen5781 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Quite the drama queen you are Padawan. But truth is is was outdated and due for replacement.

  • @matthewmarack7156
    @matthewmarack7156 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Your a little dramatic.....story teller

  • @TheMistyDawnShow
    @TheMistyDawnShow 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you! originally from Portland, I am currently in Vancouver, and you are spot on… PLUS, you are SO freaking cute! lol thanks a bunch!! 😅❤