The First Oregon City Elevator

The following text has excerpted from a brochure called "History of the Oregon City Municipal Elevator," available at the Elevator.

In Oregon City's early years, most of the city was located on the "first level" along the Willamette River. As the city grew, it became apparent that an easier way needed to be found to travel to the upper levels of the town. By 1867, steps were built up the bluff to supplement early Native American trails used by city residents. More steps were constructed over the years, but the climb was still difficult because because the preferred route had 722 steps from the base of the cliff to the top of the bluff.

On May 10, 1912, the City Commission decided to place before the voters a ballot measure asking if the City should be authorized to issue bonds for "A Public Elevator at the Bluff." The first vote on funding a public elevator was defeated on July 8, 1912. Considered again on December 2, 1912 the voters authorized $12,000 in bonds "to construct and operate an elevator from the lower to the upper town at some point to be selected."

By March, 1913, negotiations had started to acquire access between 6th and 7th Streets for the upper portion of the elevator. The City surveyed and platted the vertical "Elevator Street" and entered into a contract with Oregon Bridge and Construction Company to construct the elevator. The elevator could be operated by either electricity or water power.

The elevator, constructed of steel and wood, was placed into service on December 3, 1915, a day on which nearly the entire population of Oregon City rode the elevator. The 89-foot ride to the top involved a wheezing, jerking three to five minutes. Once at the top, it was necessary to cross a 35-foot catwalk that bridged the two sides of the city high above the chasm. When the elevator worked, it generally lowered the water pressure in the surrounding area. When it didn't work, passengers had to wiggle out of a trap door and down a narrow ladder.

By 1924, the hydraulic power was replaced by electricity and the ride was reduced to 30 seconds. Dependability increased with the switchover and the elevator became the preferred method of pedestrian travel. By the 1950's, breakdowns became much more frequent and it was determined that a new elevator was needed to replace the wooden structure.