Sunday, May 24, 2015

SMALL TOWN PAINTED LADIES


Along River Road in Mapleton, Oregon you will find these "painted ladies" old store fronts -- now standing as reminders of a time long ago. Then this small business area left and moved to highway 126 in Mapleton. However the "painted ladies," remained along the river front even though they no longer served the community of Mapleton for commercial wants. Located in a scenic riverfront area I'm sure these ladies are content -- they played their part in establishing Mapleton long ago. 


Mapleton population census 2000 -- 918 people



This is a portion of the storefronts that moved to highway 126  --years ago. In the background at the top right one can see the second story looming of the old yellow painted lady on River Road. So essentially the painted ladies sit on the old commercial River Road while the stores that replaced the painted ladies now reside on the old but updated highway 126. The old ladies sit back to back with the not so old. Confusing? Come to Mapleton to see how it all works.

11 comments:

  1. Is Frank's Place closed as well? It looks a bit overgrown, but perhaps the rose bushes will flower again. That's not a lot of population to support a restaurant, or whatever. I do like the orchid painted builiding, whatever it once was!

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    1. Barbara -- I hope this post is not too confusing. I guess I was trying to show how change can happen in a small town when a road is updated for heavy traffic. I thought it was pretty neat that the old painted ladies were still standing and seem to be well taken care of behind the newer stores. So many times change in a small town means rip down the old and put in a parking lot. I will check out if Franks Place is the name of the bar on highway 126. Maybe the painted lady house has been connected someway with the bar called Franks?? Now you have my curiosity up about how all these buildings are related to each other.-- barbara Oh, added a photo of a portion of the newer storefronts.

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  2. Painted purple! What could be better?

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    1. Joanne -- I get into building that are not afraid to paint wild colors. I see many houses and storefronts that are daring and creative with their use of colors. thanks -- barbara

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  3. An interesting bit of commercial life. The lavender building is a lovely, dignified color, exactly right for a prim old lady who probably would use violet perfume.

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    1. June -- I thought it was interesting that the old beautiful commercial area moved to the busy highway area. When one strolls down River Road in front of the peaceful painted ladies one feels the aura of the old historic town. Yet with the turn of a corner one enters into the frenzy of a highway commercial area. thanks -- barbara

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  4. There are so many of these old treasures around. I'm glad to learn about them from you.

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    1. Hattie -- I feel that this little town saved these few historic places from becoming a parking lot as so many places similar to these painted ladies are torn down when buildings close by need parking. thanks -- barbara

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  5. You have immersed yourself in Oregon as you had in Kentucky. I wish you would come to Maine next. I would love to meet you, and also to see Maine through your eyes! Oh, the discoveries you would make!!

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    1. Rita -- I would love to re-visit Maine someday. I was there decades ago. At that time your state still allowed loggers to float logs down-stream. Unbelievable sight to see this. I know your state has lots of discoveries just from that visit I made long ago. thanks -- barbara

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    2. Rita -- I would love to re-visit Maine someday. I was there decades ago. At that time your state still allowed loggers to float logs down-stream. Unbelievable sight to see this. I know your state has lots of discoveries just from that visit I made long ago. thanks -- barbara

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