Did you know North Portland Library has a haunted past? Now a welcoming community space, it once had a scary reputation. Tales of a “shadow man,” flickering lights and other ghostly happenings in the library have been passed around for decades. Today, these stories are just a fun part of the building’s lore, but it's not the only one with an eerie history!
Many Portland buildings have a paranormal past, with some locations causing enough stir to make local headlines. Pittock Mansion — currently a museum and one of the most ideal locations for an afternoon picnic — is supposedly haunted by the ghosts of its original owners, Henry and Georgiana Pittock.
Cathedral Park and the whole neighborhoods of Kenton and Brentwood-Darlington boast their own scary myths. According to some authors, there are even reports of a beast stalking the woods of our beloved Forest Park!
From reports of screams to ghostly figures in the night, there’s enough paranormal lore out there to keep horror fans busy. You can read all about Oregon’s haunted history at the library.
Your neighborhood and house history
For readers interested in local history but who lean more towards the factual, the library has something for you too. Find out your neighborhood and house history with these online tools.
- Check out detailed maps and learn how to use them. Look through a digital archive to learn about your neighborhood’s past. From annexation maps to full color Sanborn maps, there’s plenty of material to keep aspiring historians busy.
- Learn exactly how your house was built with old design catalogs. While some houses were custom jobs designed by an architect, many house plans were purchased right from a catalog. If your home looks a lot like your neighbor’s, you might have one of these.
- Ever wondered what your house looked like before you moved in? Search for old photographs of your Portland house with resources like city archives or the Oregon Historical Society.
- If you want to delve even further into your house history, you can comb through detailed records of cities, neighborhoods and individual buildings — and find out who lived in your house!