Who says a retaining wall has to be boring?

The cement retaining wall on 16th Street between Duane and Exchange had interesting pattern details stamped into it when the concrete was wet. Maybe I'll go back and correct the numbers, but my guess is they are about 16 to 18 inches across and spaced several yards apart. They're all at about eye level on the wall. So far, nobody seems to know why someone imprinted these beautiful designs in the concrete. The concrete is "fairly new" in historic terms. Someone estimated it was put here in about the 1970s, although these patterns look earlier and more deco to me (if they're in period). The wall keeps a parking lot from slipping down onto a vacant lot in the block above the Shallon Winery. Most of the marks appear in plain concrete. I liked this one with the clinging vine in front.

The spot is historic, having been at one time the Arrigoni Hotel and later (1880) St. Mary's Hospital, owned by the Sisters of Charity, and the oldest hospital in Astoria. During renovation, it was found that the old Fort Astoria stockade had been on this site. Appreciation to Karen L. Leedom for information published in her book, Astoria: An Oregon History.

This is my entry for Think Green Thursday. For additional interesting current pix, please follow that link as well as this link to more City Daily Photo blogs and travel the world.