The Multnomah substation under construction, c. 1907. Oregon Historical Society photograph.
The first substation on the Oregon Electric out of Portland, located on the site of today’s John’s Marketplace on Multnomah Boulevard. Originally designed for 600-volt operation, the two 600-volt rotary transformers there were rewired from parallel to series to provide 1200-volt power when the company extended its line south of Salem to Albany and then Eugene.
Multnomah station in 1914. The frame depot annex in front of the substation can be seen to the left of the photo, with the finishing touches being put on the building that now houses Marco’s Cafe behind it on the other side of SW 35th Avenue. Oregon Historical Society photograph.
This was the only one of the Oregon Electric’s substations that was not converted to automatic operation in 1922–1923, as it was also a ticket and baggage office, meaning it had to remain permanently staffed.
A January 1936 inventory of the line notes:
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MULTNOMAH – M.P. 6.7. Section 101 Headquarters. E. M. 23.45. Concrete sub-station with frame depot annex, used as lineman’s storehouse. Small freight shed. fair condition. Paint. Two family operator’s cottage. Fair condition. Paint. Section house; needs minor repairs. Combination car bunk house. Spur track, length 1261 ft. 70#. Industry siding, length 804 ft. 70#. Portable sub-station spur, length 270 ft. 70#.
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Authorization for Expenditure (AFE) E-2892, dated December 5, 1944, authorized the retirement of all eight substations on the Oregon Electric network — including Multnomah — in preparation for the total abandonment of electric traction on July 10, 1945.
AFE 2965 of February 25, 1946, authorizes the sale of the substation. The final demolition date is currently unknown, but the John’s Marketplace building was constructed in 1958.