Great Northwest, I hardly knew ye...

By now, the demise of the Great Northwest Bookstore in South Portland is familiar news. Owner Phil Wikelund,local bookstore proprietor since 1973 (!!) had found a way to survive with the changing times by moving most of his business online, but that doesn't mean things were easy for him: due to increasing expenses and decreasing profits, he had let his insurance on the building lapse, meaning the May 2 fire was a total loss. Last month, local supporters had a benefit at the Crystal Ballroom to raise funds for the demolition of the 120-yr-old structure.



The bookstore was housed in what is still known as the Fourth Presbyterian Church, it's original intent (though I have come across one source saying it was first referred to as the Christian Fellowship Church, I haven't been able to find that information repeated elsewhere). Early in its life, it housed the South Portland headquarters for a group called "The People's Institute," an organization dedicated to bettering the lives of single mothers and their children from 1912-1915, notably a time of interesting social status for women. Later, before Mr. Wikelund took possession, it housed various different organizations, including the long-term tenant Union Gospel Mission.



But, as many know, The Great Northwest Bookstore wasn't the only resident of the church last spring. The "unofficial poet laureate of Portland," beat poet Walt Curtis, had been living downstairs as well. It's only fitting to include a poem here which he recently recounted to the Willamette Week:

At the edge of the dream there’s a curl of smoke and flame
It’s a love letter sent long ago
The lovers are lost in the phantom of time
Nothing remains except ashes in the rain.