Quaint and queer shops line many of the lower east side streets. For the most part, the shops occupy the ground floor and basement, while the upper stories are devoted to residence purposes. Iron balconies and fire escapes are on the street side of the buildings, and are used in a great variety of ways. On hot summer nights, they become sleeping porches, while during gala days and festivals, they are gaily decorated balconies with many a Romeo and Juliet scene enacted.
The original of this picture was an old daguerreotype taken by Portland's veteran photographer, Joseph Buchtel. It was taken from a window of the Canton House, later the American Exchange, located at the corner of Front and Washington Streets. This view includes practically all there was of Portland in 1854. In the foreground are the buildings along the west side of Front Street between Washington and Alder. In the background the building with the square cupola is the Taylor Street Methodist Church.
Image Description from historic lecture booklet: "Cordial spirit is shown at the places of business. Often one sees names which remind one of interesting characters. Meat shops are open to the street as they are in most European countries."
Image Description from historic lecture booklet: "This is a fine modern city of more than 150,000 people. Brisbane is the capital of the state of Queensland."