The Oaks - Portland, Oregon

The Oaks or Oaks Park as it is now known, is still a nice place to spend time on a sunny day, but this lovely boardwalk no longer exists. The Oaks Amusement Park was opened in 1905 and is still operational and a popular destination.  It's a great place, with a definite old-time charm.

There is also a roller skating rink in the park that has two very special features:
1. The wood skating rink can be detached from the foundation so that in case of a flood, the floor will float on top of the water. This technique was last employed in 1996.
2. The rink has a Wurlitzer pipe organ and a live organist to accompany the skaters on Thursday evening and all day Sunday.

If you're at all interested in the Wurlitzer, the people who play it, or the rink, you should check out this inspirational 10-minute documentary entitled Pipe Dreams by Mark Tunby.  It's just like being there.

The water slide doesn't exist anymore, but there is a great old roller coaster.
The back of this card is notable in that it was sent from Dothan, Oregon. I had never heard of Dothan before, probably because it is now a ghost town. It was located in Douglas County near Westfork, which doesn't seem to exist anymore either.

The message, sent in 1910, reads:

6/21/10 Dothan, OR

Dear friend received your letter to day and Mrs. Holcomb was here then (?)

she received your letter. I am glad to hear you are well and happy

West Fork and all its surroundings are the same as when you were here.

Yours truly

Mrs. J. Barry

Here's the back of the first card:

Security Building - Dubuque, Iowa

I was surprised to see that this building in Dubuque, Iowa is still standing. So is the Grand Opera House, the red building next to it.  The dog's not there anymore though. The Security Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. Today, Dubuque Main Street, a non-profit, helps to preserve and support a vibrant downtown. Here's what it looks like today:

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Nicer Than The Sea