This is my last post for Vintage Portland. After 4-1/2 years, about 1,100 posts and almost 3 million page views, I’ve decided to hang it up. But don’t be sad, VP will carry on under new stewardship. I’m pleased to announce that the website will now be run by the City of Portland Archives & Records Center (PARC), the same people who have so generously allowed me to use their materials for so many great views of Old Portland. They have vastly greater resources to draw from than I could ever hope to have, so new and wonderful photos, maps and other documents will still appear regularly on this website. They are also assuming control over other Vintage Portland social media sites, so expect to see some revitalized content there too.

While I value the collaboration with PARC over the years, I’m looking forward to being an outsider, seeing fresh images, being surprised at what is presented, joining the conversation, and digging into a few mysteries myself. I know there will be days when I miss publishing these gems, but the time has come for me to turn the keys over to an enthusiastic group with fresh ideas and perspectives. Portland has such a rich history, and PARC has done such a great job of preserving our past, I’m confident they will take this space to places I never could.

I appreciate the enthusiasm, passion and knowledge of the Vintage Portland community. It’s gratifying to see the level of discussion some subjects spark, and that discussion adds considerable value to the images we see. Mysteries solved, historical facts unearthed, context given through personal experiences, and even the rare heated comments have made my efforts even more enjoyable. And I’ve had some great contributions sent in too, dug up from personal archives or discovered at garage sales, all little gems.

Thanks for all your support over the years. We won’t publish any new content next week while the transition takes place but PARC will begin a new era of old Portland on Monday, June 23. I’ll see you in the comments section!

Dan Davis