Northwest Portland in Multnomah County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Blagen Block

1888

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, June 25, 2026

1. Blagen Block Marker

Inscription.
Danish immigrant Neils J. Blagen constructed this cast-iron fronted building. Blagen had been the contractor for the Wasco County Court House in the 1870’s and Temple Beth Israel in 1888. He later used his construction abilities to bring one of the first railroads over the Rocky Mountains, importing in the process three hundred Chinese laborers to complete the work. The quarter block property, once part of Captain John H. Couch’s landclaim, consisted of two fifty-foot lots, one being owned since 1857 by the Skidmore family. Their home remained standing on the Northwest corner of First and Burnside until 1888. Blagen owned a lot between the two Skidmore properties. Later, when Charles E. Sitton, brother-in-law to Stephen Skidmore, inherited the Skidmore properties, it was decided to trade lots, making it possible for the two parties to build two quarter-block buildings in 1888, sharing a party wall between them. Sitton named his building after Stephen Skidmore, having been the main beneficiary of his estate. Funds were also left for the erection of the fountain at the intersection of First and Ankeny Streets. The Blagen

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Block was constructed for the W. C. Noon bag, tent, awning and sail making business, one of the oldest and largest of its kind in the Northwest. Two special steam elevators carried the heavy canvas from the brick basement to the fourth floor. Specially durable construction allowed for the weight and vibrations of the machinery. It was, according to contemporary sources, “one of the most substantial pieces of architecture in the city,” and remains today the last example of the many large four-floored commercial palaces which once predominated this section of the city.

(Captions)
Front Street in late 1930’s looking south from Burnside
Given by Mr. and Mrs. Sam Sposito
Minor White Photo Courtesy of Oregon Historical Society

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1888.

Location. 45° 31.421′ N, 122° 40.271′ W. Marker has been reported unreadable. Marker is in Portland, Oregon, in Multnomah County. It is in Northwest Portland. It is at the intersection of Northwest First Avenue and Northwest Couch Street, on the left when traveling south on Northwest First Avenue.

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, June 25, 2026

2. Blagen Block Marker

The marker is located in front of the archways on Northwest 1st Avenue.

Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 24 NW 1st Ave, Portland OR 97209, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge

and in the Willamette Valley.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Japanese American Historical Plaza (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The First Telephone Exchange in Portland (about 500 feet away); A Lewis and Clark Botanical Memorial (about 500 feet away); Louis Building (about 500 feet away); Ankeny Arcade (about 600 feet away); Ladd and Tilton Bank Interior (about 600 feet away); Fighting Fire With Steam Power (about 700 feet away); James Russel Baxter (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portland.

Another marker is no longer nearby. New Market Theatre (was about

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, June 25, 2026

3. Blagen Block Marker

The enormous Blagen Block building is a historic building in Portland's Old Town.

500 feet away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Blagen Block (Wikipedia).

The Blagen Block is an historic building in Portland, Oregon's Old Town Chinatown neighborhood, in the United States. The four-story building was designed by Warren H. Williams and completed in 1888.

(Submitted on August 24, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 24, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 24, 2026, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.