Long Description:
* The WPA in Oregon was responsible for the building of several
roads and highways thus it is appropriate that the administration
was also tasked with building a new headquarters for the state
authority on road building.
It was built in 1938 along the then called "super-highway" of
McLoughlin blvd. It was built in a rustic style, usually reserved
for great lodges and park structures. It was likely created by some
members of the team that built the majestic Timberline Lodge a few
years early in the same style.
The rusticated stone blocks of its construction were quarried
from a Highway Commission owned quarry to the north of Portland at
Rocky butte. This same basalt lines many of the tunnel entrances,
also built by the WPA, that dot the Portland area. The extensive
rock retaining walls and tunnel entrances of the WPA built Rocky
Butte scenic lookout are also of stone from this local quarry.
The old Oregon Highway Commission building served many purposes
through its life span including housing the state police offices
and Oregon Dept of Transportation's geological services. It remains
in ODOT's hands and its future is under review. It stands in good
condition and integrity despite suffering some damage in recent
storms and was the recent beneficiary of a new roof.
*Old Oregon Highway Commision Headquarters - WPA Projects on
Waymarking.com A couple links that were recently brought to my
attention:
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/GEOENVIRONMENTAL/docs/Historic_Bridge/coastbr.pdf?ga=t
http://www.oregonlive.com/milwaukie/index.ssf/2010/12/milwaukie_sees_new_life_in_odots_long-vacant_former_headquaters.html
*** Bonus Cache GC2P3M1 can be found at this cache... more or less.
There is a hint on the GC2P3M1 listing that may be helpful.