History Treasured & Sometimes Endangered

End of the line for some trolly tracks.

2012-02-05T11:55:00.000-08:00

Just to be clear it seems the tracks being removed are only along Glisan. I just went from NW Glisan along the east side of I-405 towards the Fremont Bridge looking at how exposed tracks add to the urban fabric. I understand that the cost to maintain these might not be within the scope but they are certainly worth enjoying while they exist.

The most articulate reaction to the letter within Facebook Dead Memories came from the pro removal side:

David C. Brown For all practical purposes, the tracks are obsolete and are a hazard, plus they undermine the integrity of the street, driving up maintenance costs
Buildings that are obsolete can be repurposed and made seismically sound and be given new life.
These track do not live up to modern engineering standards and cannot be repurposed.

The anti-removal side was a mixture of anti-changed, hardcore preservation it was not even strong on the aesthetics argument that I found most compelling. Hard to argue aesthetics when the tracks being removed just pop out of the pavement like fading shadows covered in asphalt.

The Railing and the Rules on the Sign.

2012-02-02T14:38:00.000-08:00

This issue has always troubled my eldest son as we wait for the Yellow line MAX after hopping off of the Red/Blue line. The sign says don't lean on the historic fencing but it is not all really historic. The west side of the fence facing Pioneer Court House Square is not historic at all, it is a replicated fence. The other three "facades" seem to be historic. What bothered him was not that the fence was historic, he thought it was. What bothered him was that so many people leaned on the historic fence despite the sign. Once he learned the signage was incorrect he has been less stressed out.

One of my favorite annual events: The Crystal Ballroom's 100th Birthday Celebration This Weekend

2012-01-27T13:10:00.000-08:00

This Downtown Hotel looks fun.

One of my dear friends Tim Hills, the McMenamins in house historian, was not able to get the word out fast enough to the press and asked me to help. I was thinking of going to the Central Library's lecture on "Using the Oregonian Historical Archives" from 3-5 PM but now I found something even better: an entire weekend of exciting FREE/ ALL AGES history programs. The SHPO open house for the Crystal Ballroom was always a HP Club favorite back in the day so I expect this might end up being a last minute HP Club reunion. These activities are at McMenamins Crystal Ballroom/Crystal Hotel which they are calling an "Anniversary Bash" will moves between various building SW Burnside between 12th & 14th Avenues, Portland.

SATURDAY 1/28/12

1pm –2pm Presentation by Joe Bianco, 1950s-60s award-winning crime reporter for The Oregonian, whose beat included the notorious Desert Room [now Zeus Café in McMenamins Crystal Hotel]; author of The Story Never Ends (2011)

2:30pm-3:30pm History TOUR of McMenamins Crystal Ballroom/Ringlers Annex/Crystal Hotel led by Tim Hills, McMenamins historian. Tour STARTS on 3rd floor of Crystal BALLROOM 1332 SW Burnside, Portland

4pm-5pm Presentation by Patrick Rosenkranz, Worked concerts at the Crystal Ballroom in 1968; photo journalist for Portland’s underground newspaper The Willamette Bridge; owned/operated a head shop in what is now McMenamins Crystal Hotel, 1970-71

SUNDAY 1/29/12

1pm –2pm Presentation by Marian Hays and Mel Baldwin, Grandchildren of Lola Baldwin, America's first Police Woman, head of the Women’s Protective Division of the Portland Police Bureau in the ‘teens and ‘20s, chief nemesis of the Crystal Ballroom’s operation, namesake for the today’s Lola’s Room.

2:30pm-3:30pm History TOUR of McMenamins Crystal Ballroom/Ringlers Annex/Crystal Hotel led by McMenamins historian Tim Hills; Tour STARTS on 3rd floor of Crystal BALLROOM, 1332 SW Burnside, Portland

4pm-5pm Presentation by Phil Stanford, longtime reporter for The Oregonian and Portland Tribune; author of Portland Confidential, which chronicles Portland crime and rackets of the 1940s-50s including the role of the former nightclub in The Crystal Hotel.

For complete schedule of all events that are not history and location of start and lecture locations for the history events, see: http://www.mcmenamins.com/CrystalCentennialCelebration

Photo credit: Tom Robison HistoricPhotoArchieves

Early Conceptual Sketch of Memorial Coliseum (with trees)

2012-01-25T16:46:00.000-08:00

Last week I was part of a great conversation about the impact of trees on historic buildings online-but I can't relocate the conversation which included a few x-PSU HP club members. Portland is a tree hugging city with a plan in place to increase the urban canopy.

I just recalled a sound bite from the conversation about how trees detract from the (Portland) Memorial Coliseum. I just dug around to find an image from when they wanted to link the Memorial Coliseum to the PDC URA in South Portland. Note that trees were always a part of the concept even when the target area was adjacent to today's PSU campus in Southwest Portland.

PDC scrapbook City of Portland Archives & Record Center

Trees are great, I'm just super glad that most trees in Portland loose their leaves so that I can see the historic buildings more clearly in the winter. Plus at my historic flat in the winter no leaves more passive solar gain and in the summer more shade. Maybe the city should encourage certain trees be planted in front of historic structures.

City planners praise street trees for increasing property tax revenue and cleaning the air. There is even an official "City Wide Tree Project" that since 2011 offers additional protection for trees on private property and establishes a city wide tree replacement plan. One effort has been to document trees citywide similar to how preservation minded individuals documented historic assets in 1984 for the Historic Resource Inventory. I love the detail of many of these recent tree efforts: http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?&a=309910&c=46269

Old Schools: share ideas convesations and meet "my pet" school project

2012-01-23T13:51:00.000-08:00

Portland Public Schools' administration is gearing up again to get a bond passed (the one in 2011 failed). They are hosting tours of school over the next few months to promote repairs and new construction. (See below for details like dates locations and times from their Press Release.)

Historic Preservation League of Oregon (HPLO) is hosting a timely conversation about reusing historic schools on February 9th, 2012. "How can historic school buildings find new life? Join the discuss some creative ideas that have been used to save other schools in the Pacific Northwest. 7PM-8:30 PM, Buckman School ($5 donation at the door). The Buckman pool has the only historic swim tank still in operation. The upcoming Portland Parks and Recreation budget calls for this school's pool to be closed, I think we should ask Peggy or Brandon to get attends of the talk a tour of the pool facility.

The following images are of a pet project of mine. I want to restore the animals and details on the exterior and in the auditorium of the Couch/MLC School.

Earthquakes are the topic theme of HPLO's roundtables this year around the state so PPS's talk on March 14th should dovetail well those wanting to dig into that preservation theme.

Auditorium Couch School/MLC

The ones closest to where children can reach them...

like this owl are in poor condition.

Tour of Rosa Parks • January 24, 7 p.m., Rosa Parks Elementary School

Architect John Weekes leads a tour of the newest school in Portland Public Schools. Rosa Parks was designed for and enjoys active community. It has flexible common spaces for each cluster of classrooms, a dedicated space for parents near the front door and building innovations to reduce energy use.

The Inside Story on PPS Maintenance • January 25, 7 p.m., Grant High School

PPS Director of Facilities Tony Magliano details what’s involved to protect the health and safety of students and maintain an adequate learning environment. Topics include roofs, electrical systems and heating systems as well as the process for identifying maintenance priorities.

Buildings & Learning 101 • January 26, 7 p.m., Madison High School

PPS Chief Operating Officer C.J. Sylvester and Director of Facilities Tony Magliano report on the condition of school district buildings, talk about research on the relationship between building conditions and student achievement, and provide an overview of seismic, accessibility and related financial issues, as well as answer questions.

Buildings & Learning 101 • February 2, 7 p.m. Wilson High School

PPS Chief Operating Officer C.J. Sylvester and Director of Facilities Tony Magliano report on the condition of school district buildings, talk about research on the relationship between building conditions and student achievement, and provide an overview of seismic, accessibility and related financial issues, as well as answer questions.

School Funding and Finance • February 7, 7 p.m., Blanchard Education Service Center

PPS Deputy Chief Financial Officer David Wynde deciphers the state school funding formula, explain the difference between capital funds and operating funds, and answer questions about school budgets and financial matters.

Buildings & Learning 101 • February 8, 7 p.m., Jefferson High School – Middle College for Advanced Studies

PPS Chief Operating Officer C.J. Sylvester and Director of Facilities Tony Magliano report on the condition of school district buildings, talk about research on the relationship between building conditions and student achievement, and provide an overview of seismic, accessibility and related financial issues, as well as answer questions.

Green Schools • February 23, 7 p.m., Vernon PK-8 School

PPS Resource Conservation Specialist Nancy Bond and Energy Specialist Jeff Hamman will talk about what’s being done and what is planned to make our schools more environmentally sustainable.

Buildings & Learning 101 • February 29, 7 p.m., Franklin High School

PPS Chief Operating Officer C.J. Sylvester and Director of Facilities Tony Magliano report on the condition of school district buildings, talk about research on the relationship between building conditions and student achievement, and provide an overview of seismic, accessibility and related financial issues, as well as answer questions.

Earthquakes and Schools • March 14, 7 p.m., Blanchard Education Service Center

Learn about seismic activity in our region, implications for older buildings, seismic work accomplished with the PPS 1995 bond measure and additional work that needs to be done.

Sidewalks Part Five: Purple Glass Prisms Hidden in plain site

2012-01-22T13:47:00.000-08:00

These prisms were introduced in the 1890 and remained popular until 1930. They were designed to reduce reliance on light wells and artificial light sources. The cheep basement light bulb replaced these wonderful prisms in post 1930s buildings. Now that we care more about sustainability in Portland and using passive light could we see the return of the prism?

Ace Hotel (Clyde Hotel/Ben Stark)
Berkeley with the firemen of the Ash Street Firehouse, typically as a blogger I don't feel so much like a tourist.

Not sure if MacNaughton & Raymond designed this system or if one of the underlings was given the task.

Not in the best repair. Lots of patches.
These were once clear glass prisms.
Sidewalk prisms and antique (crystal) door knobs
when exposed to UV light
for decades turn purple. As a child I recall seeing repairs
to the basement lighting systems which resulted
in a kaleidoscope of shades from clear to deep purple.

These three inch purple glass prisms can be found around Ace Hotel pictured above and around the Galleria in downtown. These prisms light basements back when electric lighting was not the norm in the country at the turn of the 20th century.

There are five remaining functional sidewalks in the city of my birth Vancouver, British Columbia.

I found a number of great links that gives you the below ground feeling I have not been able to gain from the Ace Hotel.

Vancouver:

http://www.horizonview.net/~ihs/Objects+Elements/Obj+Ele_ArcSubt_SBsmt_ht.html

Victoria:

http://www.islandnet.com/~jar/streetscapes/topics/prisms.htm

Seattle:

http://seattleglassonline.blogspot.com/2010/05/abj-seattle-glass-online-on-temporary.html

New York (amazing patterns circles, squares, rectangles):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25830962@N06/4851842534/

Historic Venders of the Glass:

http://glassian.org/Prism/us.html

These Prisms were not just for Sidewalks great case study

http://preservapedia.org/Repair_of_prismatic_glass

Update: 2-3-11

We even have some New York City Style circles in Downtown Portland. These were just restored by McMenamins. I was able to take my youngest underneath this example of sidewalk glass in Al's Den:

1223 SW Stark

Inside Al's Den. This was on a bright day, I'm not sure if the general nighttime bar hoppers and hotel guest will appreciate the fantastic glass restoration.

We also found purple prism glass at Alder and SW 16th

We also found purple prism glass at Flanders and SW 9th thanks to a lead in one of my favorite FaceBook groups Dead Memories Portland.

The Galleria is about to be taken over by Target. The purple glass on the north side of the building is fantastic, sadly the glass on the west side of the building has been coated over with cement.

Interesting that you can see the memory of the prisms on the west side of the Galleria.

On the north side of the Galleria the Prisms look great! Recall that these were all once white. Up until 1860 American glass used lead, they started to add in Manganese which when manufactured made glass brighter and acted as a stabilizer if it turns purple it was most likely made prior to 1915 when glass the majority of glass makers started using selenium. Warning museum quality antique glass collectors do not find purple glass charming in household crystal.

Please if you know of more examples of purple prism glass post a comment. I plan to just add examples as I find them to this same post rather than create new blog entries just to keep it simple for google search engine folks who want a one stop click.

(Still planning to explore ASAP NW 8th and NW Everett on 8th and the Dekum building 3rd and Washington )

Historic Parks at Risk: focus on the Hillside Community Center

2012-01-11T11:14:00.000-08:00

Image from Hillside Community Center Facebook Group

The last remaining historic structure of the Catlin-Hillside School for Girls, located at 653 NW Culpepper Terrace from 1917-1959, is at risk of shutting its doors. The 1940s structure is a relatively young building designed by Pietro Belluschi. In 1974 neighbors turned the entire property over to the city to create a community gather point. On January 6, 1975 the Hillside Community Center opened to the public the original architect helped with adapting the former gym structure saving it from demolition and integrity loss. The culmination of the activism of the neighborhood saved the site from less compatible redevelopment "The Trembling Twelve" by taking out second mortgages and Belluschi himself actively raised the remaining $25,000 gap in financing needed to secure the property. The gap in funding was covered by the city which bought the 3.5 acre property from the Portland Art Association (who used the campus as a. In 1974 the Bureau of Parks demolished most of the structures of the former Catlin Gable school purchased for $106,500 to create the open park areas. (The Oregonian 1-6-75 p 26)

Here are a few current Portland Parks issues that overlap with historic preservation sustainability:

If you want to comment on the upcoming 2012/13 budget do so here:
http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=49057
Please take the effort to comment on the risk to a great historic buildings, empty buildings age fast, let's help this and the other small community building at risk remaining in active use. The cost annually to run the Hillside Community center after fees collected is $33,000/year.

There is a fund to restore the historic squares after the Occupy Portland usage:
http://www.portlandparksfoundation.org/historic-squares

I find it difficult to promote this request for money for restoration of the historic bathrooms because the budget calls for closing all public restrooms buildings. I would love to see all the historic restrooms remain open for the general public.

I'd be happy to talk about the Fulton Community Center in SW, all I know about is the uniqueness of the dance floor surface and was acquired in 1941.

Fulton Community Center 68 SW Miles St:
http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?PropertyID=134&action=ViewPark

What on earth is going on at the old Kingston Hotel?

2012-01-05T22:08:00.000-08:00

May 10, 2010 photo credit Brooklyn Sherman

Historic Window and New Window System. Which do you like better?

Fall 2011

The great team at Historic Preservation League of Oregon first brought it to my attention that the Kingston was loosing it's original windows. I was convinced that the flat iron tip had also undergone major changes. I just found an image taken on May 10, 2010 that can really focus on this other issue. Windows are the soul of a building but the "nose" of this building was a huge part of the charm.

Good news the owners are finally putting the upper floors back to use. I have been taking images of the building overtime because at some point I intended to talk about the use of historic buildings as signage.

The demolition of the nose and the unmatched trim made what they did next to the windows a secondary issue for me.
This historic hotel just had a horrible "mommy hair cut" someone needs to take this poor building back to the barbershop.
November 2010

A New Sign Installed at Fireman's Park

2011-12-12T09:54:00.000-08:00

The New Sign in the park.

Brandon a reader of this blog called my house and informed me that a new sign has been placed in Fireman's Park. (Update: January 13th, 2012: I was just told by Alan C that the above image wasn't showing in the blog. Thank you for reporting updates and "website" issues-feel free to post within the blog as well-in this case because the post was not showing that was not possible. I was talking to the firemen at Fire Station #3 who maintain the park on Monday the ninth and they say there has been no trash pickup at the site. The budget cuts call for the closure of two firehouses if the 2012/13 targets the closure of the firehouse at the east end of the Hawthorn Bridge the new memorial site might be at risk of never being completed.)

Once a year it is standing room only at the memorial.

It is too bad that the memorial site is so small
that top brass photo opportunity was taken facing McDs on June 26, 2011.

It was nice to see the horses pull the historic fire engine June 26th, 2011

Sidewalk ABC's Part Four Curb Guards

2011-12-06T14:11:00.000-08:00

The location of this image is clearly somewhere on N. 20th Street, or is it? The ADA ramp was strategically placed to preserve some of this historic curb.

The historic sidewalks corners of Portland, once needed to be protected from the hard wheels of carriages. These types of curbs were installed prior to the development of rubber wheels. I have selected not to document the corners where I took these images to prevent them from being vandalised for the worth of the metal melted.

It seems to be a replica of a curb guard. Hard to tell in this image but it is ADA graded.

The curb guard is long gone but you can see the historic fastening system-above the "O" and the "V".

Sidewalk ABC's Part Three Horse Ring

2011-12-05T13:08:00.000-08:00

I have not always convinced that the metal rings on Portland's curbs were installed for horses. In my geography class at SFSU in the 80s I was told they had nothing to do with horses and I use to love to hunt for them in the Mission District in San Francisco. I was looking at some San Francisco sources tonight which state they were installed by cities to attach horses to by the local fire department.

The horse ring project was a great way to connect history to children. To help them understand the past and add a bit of whimsy to the city street. Sadly by documenting the horses they enabled folks access to removing horses-all sad-click here to learn about the effort that started in 2005. In fact the links to their map are not enabled-a good call. These historical features must be reinstalled if they are removed for curb maintenance in the City of Portland. I wonder if the city has a GIS file on the rings and if the city cares if the ring is a fake or not?

Some times all that was left was a ghost the metal that once held a ring.

Replacement ring, new material not embedded in the curb.

Along NW 21st most rings are fake.

Victory Berkeley finds a historic Horse Ring Near Mary Ann's house.

Go to Goodwill and get some horses, I recalled getting a bunch of My Little Ponies for some elementary school walking tours which worked wonderfully. The street alongside the Hazel Hall House and Poetry Garden is quite enough that it is safe for kids to install and there are a number of rings along the street for multiple students.

Sidewalk ABC's Part Two Risks to Historic Curbs

2011-12-04T13:48:00.000-08:00

As luck would have it Jane Comerford is presenting on her latest book A History of Northwest Portland from the Rivers to the Hills at 7pm on December 6th, 2011 at the Mission Theater. All my images for the blog posts this week were taken a hop skip and a jump or two from the Mission Theater location. Ms. Comerford shared a copy of the book with me and I learned must love sidewalks are much as myself. Up until this week our history conversations focused on Guild's Lake Courts and Slabtown history. Turn to chapter 10 "History Preserved: finding the past in the present" and you'll see images of sidewalks west of where I collected my own examples for the blog's special five part section on sidewalks. She has been making the rounds of the neighborhood promoting her latest book and I was able to see her at her book signing at the Lucky Lab. She is a little shy as a public speaker, so just sit back and have fun watching the slides and looking for a couple of history goofs in the powerpoint with friends. (Update: January 9, 2012 Jane tracked me down crossing a street in NW so the labels have been fixed since I first posted this).

This street is in Northwest Portland. Back in the day Northwest Portland was known as North Portland the addition of a ADA corner ramp has resulted in a loss of half of this curb street marker.

We are loosing our historic cement markers to new construction, curb cuts and yellow skid plates. Some cities like San Diego, California cut out historic markers and appropriate the slabs into the freshly poured cement. We do a similar effort in Portland with the horse rings. Horse rings will be covered in more detail in a future post but the example of a horse ring surviving curb extension is a worthy example of how historic street names along curbs could be saved by a artistic contractor.

This gives you a clear idea how much existing sidewalk is removed during a modernization effort.

This Tri-met stop on NW 21st was created on a widened sidewalk. The original horse ring is preserved on the curb that remains around the tree.

I happen to have another book on hand as I write this post: Portland's Historic Sidewalk Signatures by C. A. Gosset from 1983. It would be fun to see how many of the 276 rubbings he recorded are remaining in Portland and truly judge the impact of modernization efforts. Brandon Spencer-Hartle insists that PDOT has a survey of impacts to the historic sidewalks along Hawthorn which I would love to have found online just to please Tim A. who finds my west sider's lens trite. Gosset focused on marks made between 1900-1930 and includes imprints made by cement masons from both sides of the river. There are notes with addresses for each plate in a detailed index documenting what is otherwise treated as an art form before there were public history scholars. He bemoans that many were hard to locate because they were dust covered or full of moss hidden weeds etc. My family struggled that this is the fall because many marks might be hidden under leaves. If you are planning a similar project wait until the Summer when the fall leaves will have washed away and it will be dry enough to make rubbings.

Shop Local Buy Local: history books by local authors make great gifts

2011-12-03T07:17:00.000-08:00

Today at two, St. John's Booksellers is hosting a great event at the St. John's Community Center. For a mire 25 dollars you will become the proud owner of a first printing of Don Nelson's latest book A Pictorial History of St. John's and over some light refreshments you can enjoy enjoy a detailed enriching author presentation.

Historian Dr. Carl Abbott will be at OHS Sunday signing his latest book on Portland. This image of young ladies c. 1920 near NW 24th and Marshall is in his latest book. It is also in Mike Ryerson's column, page 19 this month in the Northwest Examiner that hits the streets today, as a now and then photo.

If you would like the holiday shopping experience Sunday the 44th annual holiday book event at Oregon Historical Society is just what you'lll need. From noon-four a wide selection of author's including Don Nelson and Carl Abbott will be signing books free for members five dollars for walk-ins. For a complete list of authors and brief descriptions of their latest book click here.

Some good arguments for why folks, not just historic preservation students, should be buying books:

1. Books don’t need to be assembled.
2. Books don’t need batteries.
3. Books never come in the wrong size or color.
4. Books don’t need to be serviced by a dealer.
5. Books don’t need spare parts.
6. Books are easier to wrap than footballs.
7. Books look good with any decor.
8. Books don’t irritate your allergies.
9. Books don’t need watering or fertilizing.
10. Books don’t go out of style.
11. Books don’t bark or need to be walked.
12. Books don’t get aphids or draw ants.
13. Books don’t shrink, stretch, or fade.
14. Books don’t need extension cords.
15. Books won’t scratch the coffee table.
16. Books don’t get stale before they arrive.
17. Books never need ironing.
18. Books don’t have zippers that break.
19. Books can be used over and over by many people.
20. When you are finished with a book, it is not empty.
21. Books that are good will hold a child’s attention for longer than any toy.
22. Books don’t cause cavities.
23. Books can be taken to school without being confiscated by teachers.
24. Books can make you smarter.
25. A book is a gift you can open again and again!

Sidewalk ABC's Part One Intro

2011-12-02T13:48:00.000-08:00

Berkeley works on his letters and I try to determine if the date of the structure adjacent to the sidewalk marker match in construction date of 1908.

Historic sidewalks are the theme this week. My youngest son's pre-K teacher at the PPS Ramona Early Learners Academy asked that I work with my son more on his alphabet on the way to school. Children love doing sidewalk rubbings, attaching horses to horse rings, photographing, and jumping over the cracks. So the next few posts will focus on my efforts to engage a four year old with the historic pavement and alphabet on our strolls through Portland, OR. My older son joined the effort as well and he will be included in a later post about the merits of vintage vandalism.

Even the city (see above) wanted to get the credit for creating sidewalks. In the late 1930s and early 1940s you even can find sidewalks in Portland in the SE that were funded by the Federal government and installed by the Public Works Administration.

So W.W. Cathcart laid the cement for the foundation in front the Wickersham Apartments, at 410 NW 18th Ave. in 1910. Mr. Cathcart was not unique, across the country early developers and contractors would cast their names into the concrete making permanent marks on the public right of way.

Fireman's Park Sign Gone

2011-11-25T21:09:00.000-08:00

City of Portland Archives and Record Center

In October, I posted that the park had lost it's most majestic tree, now the c. 1970 sign is gone. After reading every newspaper article, landmark report, ordinance and city record imaginable I have to conclude that the park was never a City of Portland park. The Campbell Memorial was treated as a city fountain and underwent loving restoration two times over the last century and in each effort the community at large learned that it is under the Fire Department not the Parks and Recreation Department in charge of stewardship at this site.

Missing Sign, lost tree just two lone posts and a stump.

City of Portland Archives and Record Center c.1960

Today was Thanksgiving thanks to Sylvester Pennoyer

2011-11-17T08:12:00.000-08:00

The Pennoyer Building in Goose Hollow is for sale once again. The building is not a landmark and is just outside of the King's Hill Historic District's boundaries.

The above law office, now for sale, was once the private residence of Sylvester Pennoyer, built in 1874. The longest adaptive use for the building was as a funeral chapel run by Miller and Tracy at which operated at 714 SW 20th Place for decades. The morticians ran a number of ads from 1935 until 1969 in the Oregonian.

Mr. Pennoyer was an anti-Chinese, pro-union newspaper man and politician who was served as the the Governor of Oregon and Portland's Mayor. Formerly the MGM building the legal firm renamed the structure the Pennoyer Building in 2006. There is a street named for him, yet also a hard time understanding why the park he gifted to the city is now named Governor's Park.

I found a facebook site for the club that functions one assumes in the building's basement. I'm thinking the building is part of lost Oregon history and has no historic protections. Exciting if the online details are a lead on another moved building. I don't think he used fire department horses to move the building unless the move was after he fired most of the department and hired pro-Pennoyer lackeys.

Ella St. Social Club is a truly unique hidden and historical gem of Portland. Housed in the corner of the infamous Pennoyer building, which was the home of Sylvester Pennoyer, the 8th governor of Oregon, he as well served as Mayor of Portland, was originally built downtown in 1888 and later moved to it's current location by horses in the late 1800s. Pennoyer died at his home in 1902. The space has been through many incarnations including a funeral home and an arcade in the 80s. Originally an elevator shaft was used to the right of the stage where they would bring up the dead for showing. We've had many reports of ghosts.. Some swear the building is haunted. In Pennoyer's day, 20th Place was originally named Ella Street! Dark, red walls, and candle-lit.. Ella has a very relaxed atmosphere. A great place to escape the norm and weekend warriors! '.

Further fun reading on Pennoyer: Wendy Collins Perdue's 1987 paper, SIN, SCANDAL, AND SUBSTANTIVE DUE PROCESS: PERSONAL JURISDICTION AND PENNOYER RECONSIDERED looks interesting-had to look for info on moving the home...mostly deals with his legal battles with Neff. Loosing the case certainly fed into Pennoyer anti-federal government views which he expressed in office by snubbing US presidents.

Funeral Home Haunted by Incompatible Infill; yet uses every HP tool in the coffin

2011-10-23T21:37:00.000-07:00

Warning the funeral home post contains, spoilers, bad Halloween tall tales, and paltry sarcasm.

You have been warned!

Hennessey, Goetsch & McGee Funeral Home, 210 NW 17th Ave. is vacant and its ghosts are about to get scared away by an impending giant. Built in 1937 ghosts continued to move in until 2005 when it reopened as a Day Spa that never took off because of limited foot traffic, crime, and lack of parking. I can't think of a Historic District without empty lots but the lot on the east side of the structure is not within the District so despite the impacts this is not really a case for compatible infill principles.

The Terra del Sol Spa owners attacked the building with a vengeance. They gutted the inside glassed in a charming hearse entrance and failed to ever appreciate the building's historic charm. In fact they needed to convince the clients that it was some modern take on Mediterranean beach architecture other wise who would go there to get their nails done? The generalized disrespect for historic interiors and interest in youthful facials must have shaken awake a few poltergeists but I bet the loved the sand filled room painted to enable you fantasised that you were in Coastal Del Sur on your lunch hour.

There are a number of great talking points in HPLO's "Compatible Infill Design: principles for new construction in Oregon's Historic Districts." Sadly the haunted site infill that is popping up on the fringe of the Alphabet Historic District was never reviewed by the local landmarks commission because it is outside of the District's boundaries. So any hope that the new building will reinforce the Historic Significance of the District just was flushed down the drain with that Groupon you bought to get your nails done for half off at the spa. If you have two million dollars to spare you could buy the property and make it into a Taco del Mar.

Above is an image of the eastern facade of the building that lovely foil rapped medical building is about to gain a new neighbor.

Better yet I found a chart on page 21 of the 2009 Portland Plan. Looks like the ghosts sold off the air-rights from the funeral home site. Transfer of density/FAR (32,630 sf) Commercial Use in RH zone. Interestingly the ghosts over at the Palmer house did the same "Transfer of density/FAR (15,635 sf)" and the Slabtown ghosts are lined up to do the same for the air over St. Pats. The owner of the funeral home entered the Special Assessment program in 2010 the property tax freeze only lasts only ten years now so the building will roll off in 2020. This makes which no sense to me because under the new rules you need to do a lot to the building and the rehabilitation/gut job was already complete. There was no required plaque stating the building is in the program on display, and I'd love to see the preservation plan.

Haunted Preservation

2011-10-22T14:34:00.000-07:00

All the tour guides were in period dress. Actors would pop out of the graves and tell "their" history. Just what any third grader needs to keep interested in Portland history-tales of misdeeds.

There are a couple of Halloween activities that help promote and protect historic places.

In its seventh year the Lone Fir Cemetery always has great Halloween night tours, fit for the entire family and your preservation club friends.

c. 1883 Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery

Friends of the Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery is a pro-active group of volunteers who protect the cemetery from vandalism on Halloween. Ever since the increasing viewership of Ghost Hunter genre television shows have had a negative impact on our country’s cemeteries. Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in Portland, it is a treasured green space that is also an official landmark. There are a number of great events, tours and workshops. I hope to see you at Seventh Annual Tour of Untimely Departures from 6-9 PM on October 31st. There are more than 25,000 people buried at this active cemetery. The cemetery is within the proposed boundaries of the in process Buckman Historic District. So get there early and take a moment to study the neighborhood, there is usually a long line so you might want to get advanced tickets.

John Palmer House c. 1890 from HABS Report

I think this is the third year of the "haunted" house tour at the privately owned John Palmer House in North Portland. The owners this year are hosting “Spellbound” for Halloween on the 28^th and 29^th at the John Palmer House at N. Mississippi and Skidmore Street. The John Palmer house is I’m told is haunted. Costumes are encouraged and you need to be 21 and over to attend this story telling fundraiser. "Maggie Kolkena and Susan Dunn purchased the home in 2008 for use by not-for-profit organizations. Refreshing this grand old house has included complete re-wiring and re-plumbing, the remodel of the kitchen and addition of a modern bathroom. The main floor, with its extravagant Bradbury & Bradbury wallpapers, remains largely unchanged." For more information on Spellbound click here.

I still want Metro to turn the Smith Bybee house into a Halloween Haunted House.

Lost one beautiful heritage tree, a Swamp White Oak planted in 1918.

2011-10-19T20:47:00.000-07:00

On October 2, 2011, my family heard the tree loose a limb in high wind. I came home and posted in the blog an image of the damage to a single car. I watched as the fire truck arrived to help and went home. It never occurred to me the tree was at risk. I offered to send an image of the fallen limb to Bosco-Milligan staff who had worked so hard to save the memorial when I attended Riches of the City. I was shocked yesterday that the tree had been cut down. Her stump being used as a bench the memorial looked naked. The following text is from the Nation Register Nomination Report:

At the rear of the monument and included in the nominated property is a towering Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor) planted in 1918 by the Portland Fire Department when the David Campbell Memorial Association acquired this plot of land in a donation from Katherine A. Daly. The tree is historically important because of its association with the entity that erected the monument here ten years later. In addition, it was clearly an original component of Cret’s overall site plan for the monument, as he designed the limestone perimeter wall to enclose the tree in the acute south-facing corner. The City of Portland acknowledged the tree’s historic value by designating it a Portland Heritage Tree in 1994.

Allowing this to be PBOT rather than an official Portland Park is heart breaking once again. I want to be a friend of Fireman's Park. Images below from October 2, 2011 right after tree limb fell. The caution tape etc. came later.

History Detective Seeks Work.

2011-10-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

Most of my hours for years have been spent on a study of Guild's Lake Courts not on this blog. I am not often looking in the 1953 local papers for Guild's Lake Courts, because it was no longer in existence in 1953. Last week I found these two amazing images in a Portland Oregon Journal article by Paul Keller from July 5, 1953 at the City of Portland, OR archives. I just now I spent two hours playing at being a history detective. After some effort I will just need to go back to that same archive and look up Paul Keller in the phone book from 1953 and I hope to have the street address and head out to the field to take an image from the street. Keller a former WPA sketch artist wrote the newspaper article himself and might be in the directories in the archives where I found the original clipping file. Keller also illustrated Oregon Historical Vignettes in 1974 which I just bought for $2.40 on Ebay.

The couple made a sealed bid of $325 dollars for the four-plex on the right in August of 1949. After 5 weeks had past they were told they had 60 days to remove their new 20' x 75' home. The railroad property owner wanted them out faster and paid the Keller family 150 dollars to get it out fast. They used a friend's truck and moved the house to a site they did not own. (Those were the days!) They sold the plumbing, shower and the stove for 125 dollars. Now that means for 50 dollars and a lot of sweet equity they just got their dream home that they transformed into their vision of Early American Motif. They poured the basement in October of 1949 and moved in July 1950. The long hall way was perfect for hanging his art, a mini gallery and they used bricks from the four chimneys for the front porch and back terrace.

Guild's Lake Courts was one of the largest public housing developments ever built in the United States. It opened in late 1942 the contractors finished building it in 1943 -many units were torn down in 1946-almost all the 2,606 were removed by 1951. Now, I already have images of housing that has been moved to other areas like Moon Shell-Cottage at Cannon Beach and farm worker's housing on Savie's Island but this is the first time I have proof that there are some Guild's Lake Courts building in the region that look quite different from the original design. If you ever need a detective to find a building's history I'm sure there is a starving former PSU Historic Preservation Club member willing to take on the case. All I want to know now is if the building is still in use?

In the 1953-54 directory two Paul Keller's are listed: Paul J @ SW Seymour & Paul H @ NE Skidmore
one remains in '65 both gone by '66

Richard Keller 2320 Seymore Dr. 1961 no luck on a street address on Skidmore.

From the same scrapbook is where I found images of the NW Tower that was the answer to the blog and question I had at the North West History Net Work's table for the Archive Crawl.

Historic Buildings and Artist Studios: Everett Station Lofts

2011-10-17T09:25:00.000-07:00

Historic buildings often have high ceilings and great natural light and prior to neighborhood gentrification affordable rents. Artists and gays are often urban pioneers in redlined and historic districts. Martin Soloway in 1989 was able to garner $2.5 million dollars of Public Funds to convert three distinct historic structures into a 47 live/work spaces designated for artists renamed Everett Station Lofts. Another developer who focuses on artist spaces in historic buildings in downtown Portland is Ken Unkeles. I reacquainted myself with the creative class's use of small footprint work s reading Charles Heying's Brew to Bikes. Like many projects the tax abatements for the lofts were not renewed-the catalyst had worked the neighborhood was now safe and built out and public investment could target new visions. I was troubled that the authors Bridger Wineman and Charles Heying did not tackle the affordability displacement issue in greater depth for what mirrors the condo-conversion story of the same era. How can ownership be a priority when most of the hands on creative class can't afford a down payment with out generational asset transfers? "The offer to own was not a priority for tenants, but the impending conversion to market-rate units impelled them to seek an alternative that work work for Soloway"(p. 257). When I worked in the Bronx Housing Court I was there to link up Pro-se tenants with free legal services to help protect their civil rights. I could make a statements like "civil rights were not a priority for tenants in the Bronx" "lead paint was not a concern for parents of young children" but the truth is people in crisis when their house is at risk are going to deal with the issue of the moment like lack of heat and cockroaches. Homeownership is a middle class value it only benefits individuals with reported taxable income who gain annual right offs as individuals that far out way the public subsidy offered to the household per capita of those who created an artist mecca in the Everett Lofts in the 1990s.

Soloway is a good guy developer, I have a list of those good guy developers because you need good developers willing to restore historic buildings when financing really favors new construction projects. The most sustainable building ever built is one that already exists, the most efficient machine is one that is never turned on. It is pretty fantastic that Soloway took a paper loss and sold the building at "bluebook" value to Artspace. I am sad that the sixteen storefronts are dead except for during first Thursdays, I liked it much better when Martin Soloway had them in exchange for low rent have daytime hours of operation.

There is just no street life during the day, I miss the former experience of this corridor. Plastering windows make for great framing of art but it also makes windows into doors and the sole of the building is eradicated. I find this more jarring on the first floor than on the upper floors of a historic building. Prior to the wide spread use of the elevator the first floors were the sweetest spot in a building garnering higher rent-wait for later this week when I post about the Otis Elevator building also on Everett.

Gonderson Building in the Pearl

2011-10-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

As a child I would be shocked to drive by the Pussy Cat Theater in Oakland, California. The building stood vacant after the 1989 Loma Prieta Quake eventually the city tore down the building in 1998. It was during the demolition that it was tragically learned that under the sheet rock was a marvelous vaudeville theater. The Claremont Theater opened in 1914 at 51st and Telegraph Ave. and became a Tower Theater movie house until the 1970s when the theater life cycled into a porno theater.

Gonderson Bros. Linnton plant employees in 1938. I would love to see a wartime image of the plant workers I bet there were a lot more than 41 employees during the war years.

What does this have to do with the Gonderson Building? It is another personal example of a building that I dread walking by and a building which at least for me until recently had no history attached. The bus stop was always covered with trash, windows remain unfixed for years, the freeway off ramp by the front door in daunting.

Nortwest 14th Avenue and Everett Street c.1929

I started being interested in Gonderson Brothers because I learned in the City of Portland Archives that they hired workers who resided in Guild's Lake Courts. Mary from the archives sent me a link to a book on their company history, Gunderson: a history of an Oregon company. The two historic images included in this post were images for the company history publication produced in 2000. The Greenbrier Companies were a sponsor of the NW Summer Concerts and because their office in in Lake Oswego we couldn't quite understand their support of the Free Summer Concerts at Wallace and Couch Park. Nobody on the committee keyed into the fact that this company has played a roll in our neighborhood for decades and still have a facility at 4350 Northwest Front Avenue.

With all the construction of the sidewalk and with Vestas construction across the street readapting the Mier and Frank warehouse there has been a lot less unsafe activity on this corner and fewer tags but it still is hard to walk for a pedestrian to walk along Everett.

Preservation Alert: Tax Credits at Risk

2011-10-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

HPLO's Director Peggy Moretti wants to make sure that preservation supporters use job creation as a talking point, not only is reusing a building more sustainable it creates more jobs than new construction. For more info on HPLO click here.

Lawmakers and committees started assemble their individual and collective recommendations to reduce dept. The 12 members of the newly-created committee, which is charged with coming up with a plan to reduce federal spending by $1.2 trillion is angled to ax half of federal credits currently available to historic rehabilitation projects. I'm not sure if that just will lower the bar so that any building over 50 years of age and any building on the national register of historic places will each be reduced in half. I am distressed that from the sustainability and job creation lens that this will end the adaptive re-use of not contributing old buildings or buildings owned by individuals who are not caught up in the preservation bug.

According to the national trust: "At issue is whether the Select Committee will focus solely on spending reductions or also tackle revenues by clamping down on ‘tax expenditures’ to make headway on the deficit. Historic preservation spending and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits could be seriously affected by the Joint Committee’s actions or inaction, largely because failure to pass a deficit reduction plan will trigger automatic, across-the-board spending cuts."

A number of sources are concerned that the members if the federal Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction are going to create a crisis for large scale penciling historic rehabilitation project. The federal historic preservation tax credit benefits might be cut in half in a budget due out by November 23rd. For ways to engage via National Trust to advocate for federal tax incentives for Historic Preservation click here.

Preservation Education for the next generation.

2011-10-14T12:29:00.000-07:00

I was asked what my dream job would be recently. My dream job would be teaching at a Preservation Charter school in Portland, OR. The fact that no such school exists does not thwart my dreams. Cathy Galbraith of Bosco-Milligan developed an ideal third grade program for those young budding preservationists the project Homeworks was designed from 1999-2005. The effort uses history as a story line integrating African American history via oral history, building documentation, and neighborhood history. Third grade was selected because it is the year Portland city history is included in the public school curriculum. I love the walking tours and experiential learning incorporated and the efforts to expand into new schools.

Coloring is one way to entice children to think about the historic built environment. That can be done outside drawing from life or via. coloring sheets. I'm going to post a few examples I did for a kids table hosted by the PSU Preservation Club in 2008 for the Slabtown Community Festival.

I was charmed by a pack of playing cards that were the S.W.A.G. (stuff we all get) at the HPLO (Historic Preservation League of Oregon) last night-more on that for another post.

If you read the Oregonian today you'll that charter schools are struggling in this economy. Although PPS enrollment is up beyond expectations so their is growing pool of potential students.

Once you paint brick your stuck with it.

2011-10-13T22:58:00.000-07:00

In NYC I was use to empty bottom floors on busy commercial streets, because the income from the first floor was so high that it was worth taking out upper floor access so that "wasted" stairways were removed to increase sales floor dimensions. I'm sad to say the Lotus Club is not such a example deferring to retail floor investment for income.

I was concerned that folks might not know the irreversibility factor of painted brick. I was exploring the Yamhill Historic District making note of a few of that districts at risk structures with the lovely "Scarlet Letter". And I was looking a the 1987 design guidelines for that district that clearly express that once painted you need to leave the masonry painted. The drafters also understood that paint was sometime the only affordable solution available to seal soft brick particularly on older party walls that were now functioning as exterior walls. I was happy to hear that the 2012 HPLO round tables will be looking at the issue of un-reinforced masonry issue in the state.

(above) I love this building the top must have been stripped. The structure is a masonry ruin because there is no seismic tax credits in the state.

Plus on a side note what is this charming bust doing inside the Strobridge building (modern entrance is at 735 1st Street/historic was on Yamhill)? There is a wonderful historic marker also inside the modest entrance.

Half of all the wood used in the manufacture of furniture in San Francisco is exported from Oregon As early as 1862 a set of furniture made of Oregon maple was sold in San Francisco for $800 Or Statesman May 12 1862 The furniture trade of the state reached $750,000 annually two thirds of which was for home made articles The Oregon Manufacturing Company of Portland in 1875 began to make first class fashionable furniture from native woods a building being erected by JA Strobridge on the corner of First and Yamhill streets at a cost of $75,000 for the company's use Portland West Shure Aug 1875 HUlxboro Wash Independent Dec 2 1875 The finest cabinet articles were made in Portland-
History of Oregon 1886-88By Hubert Howe Bancroft p. 727

Some misguided but fun 1960s designs. Where is historic preservation headed?

2011-10-12T14:05:00.000-07:00

As a number of 1960s structures in Portland turn 50, it is worth spending a moment reflecting on the next generation of landmarks.

I would love see Playmobil or Lego manufacture toys that honor the 1960s architecture featured in this post. Lego is making architectural wonder sets for world renowned architecture like Frank Loyd Wright's Falling Water.

The two Portland 1960 whimsical designs featured failed in the real work. The penguin pool pictured in a 1961 postcard was replaced in 1984 with a more natural habitat. That more natural less retro-futuristic design is currently under repair to enhance water conservation efforts of the Zoo.

I would like you to guess what building's design was being lauded in the Oregon Reporter in August of 1961. The clipping file image at the top of this post is of a community area on the 13th floor . The building is still standing and I seriously doubt that the 13th floor is accessible. I could see cultural significance for the structure but defining architectural features I thought were seriously lacking until I saw this image.

The 2nd Annual Archives Crawl is this Saturday. I'm going to wait to post readers comments so that that Northwest History Network can use the newspaper clipping image for their quiz if they want. The after party is at Mission Theater 3:30PM-6PM, I hope to be there in person.

Before there was McMeniamins there was the Old Spaghetti Factory

2011-10-09T20:36:00.000-07:00

Pine and SW 2nd c.1984 from HRI

c.2010 from portlandmaps

Do you think of McMeniamin's as a chain restaurant? I thought it was worth focusing on Old Spaghetti Factory and McMeniamins operations because of a number of similarities: family owned, re-use of historic structures and Portland roots. Mike and Brian McMeniamin are household names in town; the brothers have been working for two decade to distinguish themselves as brew masters and historic hotel innovators. The first pub opened in 1983 than came their first movie pub the Mission Theater (1987) and to top it off they created hotel/movie/bar campus at Edgefield (1990). The brothers today from what I can tell now operate 58 locations in two states. There are a number of rehabilitation projects in their chain/empire and ten of their properties are on the National Historic Register. Their historic hotels include former: bathhouse, grade school and poor house.

Now how many dinners at Old Spaghetti factory in Southwest Portland recall the initial location in the Cast Iron Skidmore Fountain Historic District? Guss Dussin opened The Old Spaghetti Factory January 10, 1969. There are 34 locations currently in the United States and few others in Japan and Canada. Heck there is even a copycat chain out of Texas called the Spaghetti Warehouse. Guss focused on locating in places like warehouse districts where rents were low according to their own press "diamond-in-the-rough locations often are unique and distinctive-even historic". Heck there is even a copycat chain out of Texas called the Spaghetti Warehouse.

The decor of both family friendly restaurant chains hinges a bit on the eclectic decor which makes each location unique. Mike might adore orange lighting and they hire great local artists to paint in a now emblematic style. Guss let his wife Sally handle the interior decorating, their first restaurant in what is now the Skidmore/Old Town Historic District (1974 report approved 1977) of Portland was wall to wall Garage Sale finds, I'm not sure when they added the historic street car which children adore at many locations even in Japan. Sally continues to restore antiques and create reproductions to adorn their establishments while Chris their son has taken over restaurant operations.

I asked Bill Hawkins about the Old Spaghetti Factory I had noticed in the film The Riches of the City and was told it was a former stable. I had to seek out more information:

"The "Old Spaghetti Factory" is a modern name for the Livery Building which
neighbors the Chown Building to the south. Built in 1886 the three story Italian-
ate structure has been converted to restaurant use. Although well preserved,
the building lost the Livery character in the 1969 interior alteration and
exterior painting. This Livery was at one time the largest in Portland." (Dec. 30, 1974)

There has got to be a better location for an ATM machine, they took the historic window materials and to mount and frame this non-bank ATM.

The 1970s effort and reports were dated according to planning staff ie. "neither nomination form included determinations fully comparable to current contributing/noncontributing categories"so in 2008 there was an update report with footnotes etc. click here to view. The Portlandmaps site lists the current street address as 126 SW 2nd. Interesting that city planning staff in Portland are rewriting legal documents. Here is the 2008 re-draft text for the Old Spaghetti Factory building:

"United Carriage and Baggage Transfer Co. (Old Spaghetti Factory) (# 49): 133 SW Pine Street (1875).
Italianate. Architect unknown. This three-story brick building was constructed as a livery by the United Carriage and Baggage Transfer Co. which occupied the structure until the mid-1890s, after which it was occupied by Mitchell, Lewis & Staver Co., sellers of vehicles and machinery. Around the turn of the century the American Steel and Wire Co. was located there, as well as the J. McCraken Co., commission agents and suppliers of storage facilities and building materials. From 1908 to 1968 it was occupied by the F. B. Mallory Logging Equipment Co. It has a stucco finish, wood trim, and segmental brick arches over round-arched windows. A bracketed cornice and pediment define the roofline. Two arches at the lower level are large enough to accommodate a high or wide vehicle; one on Second Street and the other on Pine. Alteration records for this building are incomplete. In 1969, the building lost its livery character with an interior alteration. In 1985, the doorway was remodeled. Individually listed as a local historic landmark in 1969, this building was listed as a “primary landmark” in the 1975 National Register nomination."

Crazy Venue 126 is the current occupant of 133 SW Pine Street and it is not a family friendly establishment it is a modern teen canteen aimed at folks with curfews. How do the owners cover expenses?

Portland's newest venue for alcohol-free partying on the weekends. Freaky Fridays 16+ Dance night. Xclusiv Saturdays 18+ party. Plus you can rent out Venue 126 for your event! Email danl@cegportland.com for details!

I'm too busy trying to update this blog and old enough to goto 21+ to check out the interior of the space.

Never Paint Brick and the story of two masonry carriage houses.

2011-10-07T10:28:00.000-07:00

The Lovejoy Opsis Building 920 NW 17th (1910)

Jan Hird Pokorny spent a semester trying to teach me about brick. I might have tested better in his class had I spelled quion properly. (I spelled it coin.) Pokorny had us drafting masonry brick facades and historic support systems. [Trivia: Pokorny in 1960 told Art Garfunkel to quite architecture school and stick with his greater talent music.] He knew I was a planning student and never advised me to drop out of school but he did make it clear not to paint brick. You paint brick the paint layer traps in water, in NYC water freezes, frozen water expands breaking the brick.

The BodyVox Dance Theater 1201 NW 17th (1915)

Current/New Loading Door Fantastic

Loading Door Style I feared

So Boora Architects did a wonderful historic rehabilitation project for the dance company BodyVox. The building was originally stables and worker housing for the Wells Fargo Company and their carriage repair center. The budget was tight so they thought LEED without using the name brand. I was hesitant about their designs that were brought to the NWDA Planning Committee because I thought the roll down doors were going to be solid (like those at Ace Hardware also on NW 17th). In the case of both of these examples I was upset by the viewpoint of members of the committee that because the design visionaries were artists that we should take a more hands off approach on our critic-maybe my peers idealize architects in the Fountainhead framework and feel that too many cooks spoils the stew.

To contrast the great job by Boora architects just looking west from BodyVox you can see the headquarters of Opsis Architecture another leader in green rehabilitation in Portland. I certainly hate seeing brick painted and am clueless why LEED allowed Opsis Architecture at 920 NW 17th to bastardize this historic structure with the white paint treatment on the facade not to mention the non-historic windows. The 1910 building was built as the stables for the Marshell-Wells Hardware Company and is next to the more icon Radio Cab building, it now looks like a squat bad dream of Le Corbusier.

Just down the street from BodyVox also on NW 17th there is an example of a LEED project from 2006 that is just gleaming white. Brick is a great sustainable building service, that they painted over. I did note some nice re-use of brick in their loading bay.

The U-Geek Club and how much I hate the color brown.

2011-10-04T14:46:00.000-07:00

There are a group of us that can't seem to get enough of the "U" buildings. This flatiron shaped building has for a number of years been signage along W. Burnside.

I was in the field prepping for another post on how I hate the trend for brown paint. A sad commentary on my personal athletics but my Professors at SF State argued all the time about painting Victorians in detailed rainbows of colors or leave them in muted colors and let the shadows cast pop out the details.
I hated that they took out the historic windows in the St. Francis, they did leave the windows on the sun porches which I find a jarring combination. Than to add insult to injury they are now in the process of browning the building.

St. Francis is still an apartment building. It keeps getting repaired but I never like the choices the owner makes.

Here is a picture I took today where the bar was pulled off of a window allowing me to see the green/blue paint I miss contrasted with this brown. I am convinced that the trend for Sepia colors on flash Internet game still shots makes everyone think that historic buildings must be painted in the pallet of shit browns.

There was a building torn down recently on Overton and NW 18th. Maybe I just needed to paint it a dark brown and it would still be standing?

I must be the only person out there that loves green buildings.

Seriously, If I was writing about car design and building design I would have included this gem of a building. The green tiles are just divine, I can't recall which dealership this was prior to Volvo but it is a luxurious green building.

Fairmount Hotel 1920 NW 26th Ave.

2011-10-03T06:32:00.000-07:00

I have always loved this building it is one of the few examples of classic hotel in Portland that has not been converted into a condominium. Wikipedia and the historic marker have the construction date at 1905. I had thought it was a touch older because it was built for workers engaged in fair. The marker says it was one of a number of small hotels for Fair visitors. The current use as a SRO is successful and helps fills a void by providing much needed affordable housing in the neighborhood. The owner collects memorabilia from the Lewis and Clark Exposition; this building is one of the few remaining structure from the year of the fair built for the "event".

I guess when I was so happy to find the historic marker I should have read the marker more closely or at least taken a better image of the marker. Marker is safe from the weather and is in great condition.

Tree Branch falls in high winds at Campbell Memorial

2011-10-02T17:14:00.000-07:00

My kids and I were walking home from the MAX and the fierce winds blew down a large limb of the tree that is a key landscape element at the Campbell Memorial site. The tree was an important factor for some neighbors advocating for leaving the memorial in place. We were there on the scene prior to the fire truck which was quickly replaced by cops who closed off the park. Personally, I love seeing fire trucks next to Fireman's Park but I'd rather see them watering the grass in the park than diverting traffic. There was a group of residents that were very concerned that the roots of the tree would be compromised with any major redesign of the park, which has since been landmarked. Oddly enough on Sunday September 25th while looking at the damage the tree did to a parked car we did run into one other former HP Club member, Brittney was biking to Sunday Parkways.

History Events in Portland Worth Checking Out

2011-10-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

Typically, I don't include posts that will "expire" but with Carl Abbott's new book Portland in Three Centuries just hitting the shelves, I became acutely aware that 2011 is a banner year for books with great historic images of Portland. Mr. Gholston's private image collection is being highlighted in a number of these 2011 books - I'm hoping that he'll be at the Oregon Historical Society holiday book signing. Norman is not new to town he has been an active member of Bosco Milligan's exhibition committee for years and is now an unsung hero of historic preservationists. He has even been helping unearth images of structures at the Beesaws site on NW 23rd. Mr. Gholston has been an active member for all five years for the Slabtown Community Festival an annual event that highlights history in that neighborhood. I noticed that Tracy Prince had a table at Slabtown and was signing her book on Goose Hollow, which like many books this year relied on fewer Oregon Historical Society images than Portland history books had done in past decades. I did notice Dan Haneckow was also at the festival and the image above is just after his visit to Tracy's table when he got to talking to Norm (who is wearing the festival t-shirt). Dan Haneckow will be presenting a lecture on the Portland Flood of 1894 on October 17th at Mission Theater at 6 pm. Jane Comerford's A History of Northwest Portland From River to the Hills is in pre-order and she'll be at Bridgeport Brew Pub on Nov. 20th and Lucky Lab Pub on Nov. 30. I'm thinking Carl is hiding out but I'll check back and update if he is talking at any of his usual haunts City Club, Powell's or PSU.

The image above is one of Norman's great images that I think will be in Carl's new book. (I told him to use it but who knows what the Editor went with.) Do you know what this image is of? I'm curious who reads these posts so feel free to comment if you know the answer or just go out and pick-up Carl's newest Portland History book and see if there is a clue there.

If books are not your style, for the kinetic learner AHC has a number of reasonably priced activities this fall, just click here for great walking tours and I think their auction is coming up on October 15 if you need an excuse to dress-up.

If you want to chit chat with fellow preservation friendly folks try this HPLO event: Members and Friends October 13, 2011, 5:30pm to 7pm, 70 NW Couch Street, Portland.

Mural on the Empress

2011-09-27T20:19:00.000-07:00

The president of the Condominium Association of the Empress, 20 NW 16th Ave. Chad Albright presented at NWDA Safety and Livability on September 27th to meet his neighborhood public notice requirement. It puzzles me if the building predated the freeway has such a blank wall. The other three facades are brick, maybe it was a party wall of some sort when it was built in 1927. Well it now just west of the the I-405 freeway and north of Burnside. The condo association wants to make the wall less of a black slate for taggers. The artist is Joe Bass who operates a tattoo parlor in the building. There are three businesses on the first floor of the building. PDOT removed the trees to deter homeless from their adjoining lot but the site now looks sparse and uninviting to what residents describe as a mini-neighborhood. There would be no additional lighting. I loved it that residents at the meeting called there location a mini-neighborhood and we proud to live there and were so happy that the sandwich business the Three Pigs has been getting great reviews. They want to share their island with the community at large.

I really would have liked images of lost buildings from the I-405 freeway. Mary C. found having an image of Mt. Hood facing east a bit jarring and was also concerned with the lack of harmony between the tones of the mural and the golden tones of the building.

This is just phase one at some point they plan to really link the artistic pipes to the actual exterior pipes.

If you want to see more images of the building click here as the condominium development page by JB Equities is still maintained. There are even links to floor plans etc.

Public History out of Reach

2011-09-20T20:59:00.000-07:00

It was hard to find the history of the 1900s Finnish Lodge (Kaiser Town Hall), in fact I couldn't find anything online.

A close up from the mural inside the building. It includes quite an interesting mix of Portland Lost Icons and Existing Landmarks. The log cabin looks nice next to town hall.

A wonderful Building in North Portland

Marker inside 3704 N Interstate Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97227

This is a historic building, The Finish Lodge Hall 1907, does not quite fit in the 1959/1960s era Kaiser Complex Hospital Buildings. If you want to snap your own image the Overlook Neighborhood Association holds meetings inside.

Hunting for historic markers is a great hobby. I saw this one during an official Black History Month event but the image I took was poor. One again my effort to photograph this marker had poor results. What use is this mark up high, facing a flight of stairs, covered with glass and framed? There is no marker on the exterior of the building Kaiser Town Hall; no marker to educate a MAX rider walking to and from the Overlook Park stop and recreation area of the building's history.

What other blogs I'm Reading.

2011-09-19T16:23:00.000-07:00

I was enjoying reading Brian Libby's post today in Portland Architecture linking auto design and building design of the 1930s and 1950s. Just like in any major online edition of the paper everything was going well and I had to read the comments. One nice element of Portland Architecture is that people love contribute using their real names.

Brian Libby is an architectural critic who focuses on the design of a building not on a build's cultural significance. He is a great photographer of buildings and often focuses on current events and trends in planning, architecture and design. "The 1930s also brought one of Portland's most handsome public buildings, one that has unfortunately been under-utilized over the past 13 years: the Gus Solomon US Courthouse (designed by Whitehouse & Associates). Ever since the Hatfield US Courthouse was built in 1997, the Solomon has seen only a trickle of workers move in and out of its doors. We need to do a better job of finding new life for this gorgeous old landmark."

I think the mystery post office within the Gus Solomon Courthouse is a great example of a failed effort to use this structure.

Fred Lesson "It's interesting that you list the Gus Solomon Courthouse as one of your favorite public buildings. I agree that the interior -- the old Post Office space and the grand courtrooms -- are wonderfully elegant and beautiful. The exterior, to my eyes, is the bastardization of classical historic elements that I find largely unattractive. Ironically, perhaps it hinted at the Post Modern movement forty years ahead. If I think of it that way, it falls into the "Well, sorta OK" category."

Why does Fred Lesson take Brian's very preservation friendly comment and twist it up? He is the president of the board of the Bosco-Milligan Foundation yet I can never tell if he even likes old buildings. I was taken to task for making negative comments on his articles in the AHC quarterly. The interiors were just restored and reopened this year.

The images by Brian Libby rock our old post has some images as well you can look at in an old post. I really love Brain Libby's images and wish he had one of the capital building in Salem it would have looked great next to his other images. An earlier work of architecture by Morris Whitehouse that was like the St. John's bridge was a new deal ear project.

Save the Dr. Pierce Barn

2011-09-15T06:32:00.000-07:00

So not a single building in Portland was submitted to HPLO's most endangered building list in 2011 but there are plenty that were nominated for that "honor" in the state. This Cottage Grove Barn is about to fall if a buyer is not found. This is not a barn I'd want to see made into Amish Birdhouses and sold at Costco.

Dr. Pierce barn, a historic advertising barn located in Cottage Grove, Oregon, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. But the current owner wants to demolish it. Time runs out Oct. 13th. After that the owner is free to tear it down. Help us save the barn by spreading the word! We love the barn! The barn needs someone to own it and love it for what it is - a little farm surrounded by the city. Dr. Pierce barn, a long time Cottage Grove landmark, was built around 1909. It rests on one of the area's first land claims. This piece of land was one of the original places where the town of Cottage Grove was born in the year of 1851 with the arrival of John Cochran, an industrious pioneer who brought his family by wagon train start a new life. The barn is the last remnant of the rural life that helped nurture the beginnings of Cottage Grove. People seem to love the message boldly painted on its north face wall, "for your liver- Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets". Dr. Pierce was a real person who marketed his "miracle cures" to early 20th century folks by advertising on the sides of barns all over the country. Pierce made a fortune with his "Golden Medical Discovery". His pleasant pellets were only one of a myriad of "cures" that he sold in the US and world wide.

Linnton Historic District on the Drafting Board

2011-09-09T07:44:00.000-07:00

Everyones' favorite architectural romantic ruin along St. Helen's Road. The Portland Gas and Coke building built in 1912 and abandoned in 1957. Vera Katz told me she tried to save the building as mayor but the super fund site issues were too much of a hurtle.

Historic Preservation in Linnton was discussed at a meeting of the Linnton Neighborhood Association tonight and seems to be aimed not at the remaining commercial establishments along the river it is focused on the residential structures on the hillside. The grants like the Main Street program and Save America's Treasures that were mentioned in the newsletter are more for commercial retail cores I hope the effort gains some ground and helps foster and enhance the community's sense of place.

To get involved contact Tom Jaleski (click to e-mail)

other resources

Architectural Heritage Center

Historic Preservation League of Oregon

Guest speakers Brandon Spencer-Hartle, Historic Preservation League of Oregon and Cathy Galbraith, Architectural Heritage Center spoke to a full house on a day of extreme heat in a room with no A/C. There has been interest from Linnton residents to explore historic preservation in our neighborhood.

New Historic Marker on PSU Campus

2011-08-10T22:09:00.000-07:00

I found this very exciting today.
I have no idea that the Lang Syne society was still actively putting markers up in Portland. One of the clubs founding member's works in the Simon Benson House and I can't wait to ask Donna for details.

The Envoy Penthouse Open House

2011-07-10T12:06:00.000-07:00

July 10th 2011 was my first trip to the Envoy. Now that there are no SHPO open houses the next best opportunities to fill the void are: real estate open houses, non-profit historic home tours and trick-o-treating in a historic district. When the club was focusing on condominium conversion this 2005 project the Envoy property just outside of the study area I was working on for my GIS class. I posted an image in 2007 on the blog and that was all folks, until now.

Well, I invited Brandon of HPLO, and the former HP club president, to check out the gem unit of the Envoy. The condominium unit we viewed today was once two penthouse apartment units, one once owned by Myer and Frank a leading Portland family. But weather overtime or as a direct result of the conversion very little fabric of the interior has survived. The entire plan was modified through the redesign into one lavish unit--thankfully most of the ornate windows did survive. There were many great points to the unit the key being the decks and the views. (I loved the small desk with accessed through a window.)

Now Brandon must be swamped with constituents who have read articles or attended Portland's 2035 Vision plans, or having just attended AIA focusing on topic's like Portland's UNREINFORCED MASONRY apartment buildings: a threatened species? He could not help focusing on how the Envoy, the Wickersham, Trinity Place, Cedar Hills etc. need low interest loans to reinforce these structures that make our city shine. The topic did make it hard to just enjoy the view but the truth is great buildings in Portland are at risk.

http://www.lanepowell.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Unreinforced-Masonry-Apt-Buildings1.pdf

c.1929 Note the original garage doors.

My favorite room was not the master bedroom. I love the leaded glass, the modified radiator. I would like to think of what Sandy Hill could do to return the unit back to a more vintage state yet embrace the new floor plan-a sweet challenge. The recessed lighting everywhere.

The Simpsons Streets & Alphabet Soup History Bike Event

2011-06-04T07:29:00.000-07:00

(Update Oct. 3rd 2011 we had so much fun I thought I better add the pictures from the event. Currently we are working on a grant and hope to have the Mission Theater as an end point.)

Below is my friends press release for an event we are planning. The idea was to get one of these eclectic free bike ride events in our community. It will be interesting to learn who is coming for history, who is coming for Simpsons and who is coming for the bike ride (hoping for a nice blend). I will be talking about a few key buildings.

Pedalpalooza is a two week long event celebrating Portland's bike culture. The highlight of the celebration is independently organized bike rides featuring tours of everything from donuts and food carts to heritage trees and solar homes.

A group of neighbors have organized a ride to highlight the unique history of Northwest Portland and its connection to pop culture,including the Fox TV show The Simpsons. The ride, titled The Simpsons Streets& Alphabet Soup, will begin near the swing set at Wallace Park (NW 25th Ave& Raleigh St.) at 6:15pm on Wednesday, June 15. The ride is free, open to the public and family friendly. The tour will last approximately two hours and will cover four miles. Highlights of the tour include a stop at Temple Beth Israel, a comparison of Asa Lovejoy to The Simpson's Rev. Lovejoy and a brief talk on John Couch.

To learn more visit http://www.shift2bikes.org/cal/viewpp2011.php or http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=166649650064367

Edward Glaeser's Triumph of the City: How our greatest invention makes us richer, smarter, greener, healthier, and happier

2011-06-01T03:16:00.001-07:00

So Glaeser has a blog that is far more read than this blog called "Economix" feel free to go post there if any of these anti-preservation tidbits below trouble you. Check out the book at the library, spend your money at Powell's on a Don Nelson or Carl Abbott book instead. Glaeser pushes for economic equity but how can one love the splendor of the city but hate the sense of place unique to each city?

The quotes below from the text are the choice bits as he is not focused on preservation effort in geneneral:

"In older cities like New York, NIMBYism hides under the cover of preservationism, perverting the worthy cause of preserving the most beautiful reminders of our past into an attempt to freeze vast neighborhoods filled with undistinguished architecture." p 261

He feels preservationists have too much power, that FAR needs to be increased in infill and all development to reduce pressures to tear down. I love air-right transfers and agree with his economic arguments. He says preservation makes cities for the rich; I'm curious if he has looked at west coast cities at all? I really felt that Glaeser had channeled Franco and I started seeing the high rises all along Spain's beaches that made vacation homes accessible along the Costa del Sol. Franco basically ruled Spain from 1936-1975 and wanted tourism in Spain starting in 1959 as an economic engine that also increased dialog with other countries and it is attributed to an increase sexual permissiveness (feminist movement). Forcing Castilian only might have helped tourism as well, but foreign investment in vaction property was not permitted under his four decades of leadership. I'm convinced his developments along the coast are ugly but that they opened up the beach house to the non-rich. I think Glaeser fails to consider the economic and sustainable benefits of heritage tourism. Heck when I went to Red Vienna I learned that one third of public housing residents had second homes in the mountains so that they needed their cars so flex car systems would not work. Building new towers in New York City might enable me to return but will there be any public schools to enroll my children in if I did return? Plus he missed the lecture on sustainable practices-where are all the landfills going to go if you tare down historic neighborhoods?

"I'll take the side of people over buildings any day." p 264 I'm feeling sick. I love people but if I'm a preservationist I guess I hate people?

"People living in historic in historic districts are 20% more likely to be white." p 150 Where is this coming from? I think this is just New York City data but is this 2000 numbers or 2010? How did he get census data from the long federal form to match up with the boundaries of historic districts?

Preservation Award and Vote for Schools.

2011-05-16T07:28:00.000-07:00

At the NW Examiner Community Awards Tanya March (AKA me) wore her Portlanders Heart School button as she received her Historic Preservation award. So the preservation community in Portland and Oregon did not come out in favor of the bond or the levy, the majority opted to be neutral. Brian Libby wrote that he was on the fence in his blog. Not to say that Brian is a preservationist but he does write the most widely read architectural blog. Dan Volkmer was in favor of the bond and levy and is running a historic home tour in NW Portland on May 21st to raise money for Chapman School. Everyone agrees that the bond will impact the historic fabric of Portland's public schools which are 65 years old on average. I believe that nominating the schools determined by PPS to be eligible (and 3 additional schools which I think "they" short changed) as a non contiguous historic district and coming out in support of the bond was the stand up thing to do. The wait and see game being advocated by Fred Lesson sets preservationists in the reactionary position instead of embracing the roll and being participants in the process at the table as organizations like Bosco have been for years.

The public school buildings have had differed maintenance since Measure 5 passed in 1990. It is time to vote yes for the PPS bond and school levy. Park Rose school district (another of the school districts within Portland) is also voting on a school bond in the May 17th election.

If your sick of touring leaking school buildings I have a great tour option that will be a great out of Portland day trip:

If you want to really experience a lot of historic building efforts on the 21st after going around NW you should join HPLO and check out the Rummer House Tour.

Goose Hollow History Party April 17th. 2011

2011-04-10T07:28:00.000-07:00

The PSU Historic Preservation Club use to hold meetings in the coffee shop next to Goose Hollow Inn. Club Members Tanya March and Brandon Spencer-Hartle both wrote histories of Goose Hollow for classes with Chet Orloff. These student histories were gifted to the Goose for patron enjoyment. It is exciting that Tracy Prince also of PSU has taken an interest in Goose Hollow History.

Goose Hollow Inn is hosting a community fair and launch party

for Tracy Prince's new book Portland 's Goose Hollow

Sunday, April 17 12:00-4:00 pm

Featuring:

Crafts for Kids
Local Artists
Live Music
Food and Drinks
Bud Clark’s childhood memories
Pictures of Historic Goose Hollow

Free/ kids welcome

Day Building Fire in NW Portland Post from July 2010

2011-04-07T12:28:00.000-07:00

Fire in the hood. It least they found a top notch restoration crew to solve the initial "button down the hatches" work. I hope the owners are insured. The damage at the top level level is near catastrophic. I'm assuming this was started by an ash tray on the balcony. The fire department got there fast enough so there is some hope.

Update: 4/7/10

As you might already know this building has been restored and is in better condition than before the blaze. I posted about the marvelous effort that went into saving this building earlier this week.

Vanport College Marker

2011-04-06T21:55:00.000-07:00

This marker above is at PSU. I never really thought about it but I think it was a pre-flood marker that was moved along with the campus and place at is current resting place on the west side of Lincoln Hall. I wonder where the original resting place was at Vanport? Sorry that it is nearly impossible to read the marker text in this image I'll try again after a rain to see if the text is legible. Sadly, like many tombstones this marker is weather worn and difficult to read.

The image above is a billboard still standing on the east bank promenade. As you might know Brooklyn has helped clean the David Campbell Memorial-he is in the brown hood Berkeley is in the black hood. Well I couldn't help to notice that this worthy effort to create a new memorial next to a firehouse. This would honor 31 men who have died for the city on the East side still shows the artistic details of the old memorial. I hope they just plan to make a cast of the original. Oddly, I was thinking David Campbell should be in the online Oregon Encyclopedia. Someone out there really should write that entry. I'd like to know more about the hero and about the rumors at the time surrounding his death.

Jane Glazer is a preservation hero.

2011-04-06T07:42:00.000-07:00

I wish I could link to the NW Examiner. Allan Classen's cover story "Wife restores husband's building after fire." made me remember that preservation has a soul. As you might know the file was substantial. Her efforts to restore the structure went beyond what the insurance company provided her. She never told her husband as he died that his building he rehabilitated 40 years ago had been tragically altered in a single blaze. It was the building they had lived in when they were first married it was a labor of love, great team work Bremik Construction (White Stag) you did a marvelous job.

Hats off to Allan for running a very pro-preservation story.

A chance to see some PPS Schools Saturday.

2011-04-06T04:34:00.000-07:00

Club members use to really enjoy touring homes, apartments, commercial buildings in the property tax abatement program. An activity that went away not because we graduated but because that layer of the tax program was eliminated. Regardless of how you feel about the PPS ballot measures on the May ballot these are some great opportunities for some free insider's tours. Thirty six of the PPS school buildings are on the record as being eligible for the National Register.

"The East Sylvan campus of West Sylvan Middle School is hosting tours on Saturday (4/9) from 10-noon. The idea is to give anyone, not just folks with kids in our schools, the chance to walk the halls and get a first-hand look at the building conditions and learn about the proposed classroom and safety upgrades. Cleveland and Roosevelt HS and Faubion K-8 school are also hosting tours at the same time on Saturday."

Just a note on comments. Most comments on posts typically have come via. Facebook and never make the blog. I am surprised that anyone running a blog does not do this but this blog is set to have all comments monetized. So basically comments are vetted before they post. Only spam comments gave been deleted. I still think this is a wise move considering the furry over my last posts on a local preservation blog. Having the ability to address comments rather than having them fester is wise. This is one of the 10 or so groups I currently manage. This is the most diary like of the bunch.

Portlandia even has a historic marker.

2011-03-31T21:08:00.000-07:00

Heck who knew Raymond Kaskey's will not let her image be used? Not that I shop for keychains but it is all clear to me know why I never see tourists running around with images of her plastered across their chests. When the Nation Trust was in town back in 2001 everyone was asking me where to buy a Blazer's shirt. I have never been asked to locate a Portlandia shirt. I wonder if she will ever be a landmark icon. She was installed in 1985, but she already has historic marker, quite an honor for such a youthful lady.

Markers in Old Town

2011-03-31T19:49:00.000-07:00

At least I could see both of these markers from the street. I'm still trying to figure out how to get back inside Kaiser Town Hall. At that location on interstate the plaque was safe under glass, inside, and up so high I couldn't read it at all. I think I've found almost each of these twenty markers Chet Orloff worked on when he was President of OHS.

Buildings at Risk The scarlet "U"

2011-03-26T22:18:00.000-07:00

2125 NW Flanders

So, I use to worry about historic building that were built out at 20% or below of the zoned Floor Area Ratio (FAR). How could air right transfers save them. Now I have a new puzzle in Portland that I'd like to map in GIS, the "U" phenomenon.

I was at a conference today where new urbanist are concerned that emergency dispatch folks are making pocket neighborhoods difficult, wanting streets too wide etc. I'm worried less about new construction efforts to create pocket neighborhoods and much more concerned about how fire codes impact the current built environment. South Portland was being vacated by the fire marshal long before PDC eliminated blight in Portland's first Urban Renewal Area.

My Portland network of friends on Facebook are concerned because the scarlet letter "U" has been cropping up all over town One house on Flanders up near NW 23rd is quite a concerning situation to members who serve on the NWDA. I'm told there are squatters using candles all over this house pictured above. I'm thinking South Bronx that the owners want their insurance money-heck they just paid their 1,800 dollar fine according to the rumor mill-but seriously maybe they just want this building gone but can't get a demo permit in a historic district. I was asked to see if I could get the house torn down-odd that folks would ask a preservationist to be an advocate to demo a house-oh the slippery slope of community living. The neighboring house and apartment building is quit close and firefighters are concerned that if someone is on the third floor sleeping by candle light the fire crew will be hurt saving her. These signs according to Adam Sinnett "mean it's unsafe for firefighters to to fight fire from the inside. Often this just means too many interior rooms with too few exits, although they can mean structurally deficiencies that would only fail during a fire. It's a subtle but important distinction from just 'structurally unsafe'."

Neighbors in my community are stresses about 2125 NW Flanders. The first two images in this post. The owners, Virgil and Jacqueline Traynor live in Auburn and they are also current on their property taxes in

Portland. Clearly this as one community member expressed, and that I agree with ex-pressed in an e-mail string, that is not a matter of illiquidity on the part of the owners. The city of Portland has been aware of the hazard the neglected state of this structure and the unpleasant situation for more than four years. The latest deed is from 2007 for this 1905 building. The permits to work on the roof from what I can gather online expired two weeks ago. Fun complaints received and documented run from weeds to new stair from main to 2nd floor, unsafe electrical and new panel in basement. No permits for work started over three years ago. There are obviously issues relative to enforcement follow through. Perhaps this is true of each building bearing the letter "U". It distresses me that we do not have stiff penalties for building heading towards demolition by neglect and the risk of arson is quite high in the Flanders street example. Neighbors from that block have expressed concern to Commissioner Leonard who has both code enforcement and the Fire Bureau in his portfolio. "There is evidence of drugs and possible prostitution and run always. The fire Marshall is concerned for both neighboring property and the safety of firefighters if there is a fire or other incident."

Pearl

Old Town

Old Town/China Town

Couch School/MLC swimming tank. PPS Bond.

2011-03-23T06:42:00.000-07:00

So last Summer I spent some time learning about swimming tanks built in the first two decades of the 20th century in Portland. Portland Public Schools is considering a modernization program that for better or worse that will mark the end of this pool pictured above. PPS has done a great job inventorying buildings to access historic integrity and plan for best practice stewardship of their historic buildings. The most sustainable school is one that is already built with the embed-ed energy preserved. Updating classrooms does not compromise these historic structures and many facades need TLC. But if the bond passes on May 17th funds can not go towards repairs. Funds will convert old oil boilers to run more safely and efficiently and old buildings will be brought up to compliance with ADA of today. The MLC building was in the proposed central city Urban Renewal Area (URA), and oddly enough this was the only space I could see PDC redeveloping at the school as there is almost no space and no other community facility at MLC School. That URA proposal has been redefined and is now focused exclusively around PSU.

Now back to pool chatter... Buckman's pool cost around 750,000 dollars to repair years back and the construction site was much more ideal. The Metropolitan Learning Center (MLC) pool would be around two million to restore to pool use.
Portland Parks and Recreation would rather spend their life guard and other efforts on a new facility on Conway's Slabtown vision.

So I learned once Portland had swim tanks like this in the old "South"/SW Portland at two Jewish community with pools Neighborhood House and the center that was on the same block at SW 12th and Market where my youngest goes to daycare. oddly enough just blocks from the swimming tank at Shattack School (now a pool-less Shattack Hall at PSU).

So this sign represents a lost era when PPS and PP&R worked together to offer the MLC students one of the earliest Schools Uniting Neighborhoods programs (SUN), assisting MLC students designed Couch Park's 1970s playground, and staffed the community pool. Interestingly the pool pre-dated the school's gym by a decade, the roof was used for exercise activities it was over 50 years before there was a park adjacent to the Couch School. In an odd way this marker is a historic marker.

Hitting the Pavement

2011-03-11T22:29:00.000-08:00

So a number of us are still hunting down jobs around town, rumors are flying that one of us founding members found a gig. I'd like to dedicate this post to my very very favorite piece of pavement in the entire city. Dan might be proud of snagging bricks from the reconstruction of 23rd for his deck but this is the best most beautiful sidewalk in the city. This pavement is on the South side of the 600 block of Alder. It might be terrazzo (crushed marble) to create each of the bands of colors. Only a small portion of the metal curb guard still remains that once protected the sidewalk from carriage wheels. There has been some cement patches on that edge and other portions exposed. I sort of find the ruined condition romantic.

PSU interested in Urban Renewal Once Again: a stark contrast to PPS retooling buildings efforts

2011-03-05T06:19:00.000-08:00

Well the club has been less active but a number of members all of whom now are Portland State University alumni have been personally posting about the Urban Renewal Area that Sam Adams brought up at City Club in the "State of the City Address."

The school's long awaited master plan vision from June 2010 makes four references to Historic Preservation and not a single reference to archaeological resources.

http://www.fap.pdx.edu/planning/public_cppc_1/PSU_FrameworkPlan_June.pdf

Portland Public Schools in their effort to to "modernize" their facilities has really dovetailed their understand of sustainable rebuilding with the vision of cradle to cradle historic preservation and retention and restoration of identified historic structures. PPS even kept the conversation going with experts in the field and attended the Monday session of the Landmarks Commission to explain their use of the term "re-build" which indicates which school's will be updated to the degree that students will need to spend a long period of time being educated at another facility-it does not mean schools to be torn down. PSU lacks any sort of historic preservation program and the student body is not even protesting tuition hikes or class sizes, which looking at the recent protests at state schools in California should be the bigger issue for students in this economy.

Portland's Lost Black Neighborhoods

2011-02-05T14:19:00.000-08:00

Portland’s Lost Black Neighborhoods
City of Portland Black History Month Celebration

Wednesday, February 9th
5:30~7:30PM
Kaiser Town Hall
3704 N. Interstate Avenue

Image of protest about conditions at Guild's Lake Courts at Portland City Hall on June 20, 1948. The residents were being charged 28/month for surplus trailers. OHS Neg. #CN006198

Hotel Corvallis in danger of Gentrification

2010-11-19T22:22:00.000-08:00

This building built in 1893 click the link to see a historic image c. 1900
http://oregondigital.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/archives&CISOPTR=1411

The hotel is one of three remaining historic hotels downtown. I think but don't trust me the official cite of the City of Corvallis contradicts itself quite a bit:

http://www.ci.corvallis.or.us/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=1061&Itemid=1270
http://www.ci.corvallis.or.us/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=1065&Itemid=1274

The National Register Nomination from 1983 will not help much, since footnotes were rare in those documents until the last decade. I would be curious to learn if this was fit into the criteria of Architectural Significance (vs. cultural).

The building is run as affordable housing. If any snobby/serious Historic Preservation folks read this blog they might faint at the loss of original defining feature fabric. I wanted to use this structure to document my long held rage at the destructive power of the window ledge air-conditioner units. Sadly, my research has lead me to believe that when the market returns this will be revived as a fancy hotel. I do hate air-conditioning units-for more reasons than aesthetics. The anchoring systems have damaged the sills and there are rust stains from the units running down the exterior facade. Bricks are decaying. The seismic upgrades are jarring. Sadly looking at the original first floor windows this building and corner treatment that have all been lost I seriously wonder have we failed the occupants of this building? How can low-income housing function, why is their home being left to decay?

http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/article_452b7f7a-032a-11df-b10b-001cc4c002e0.html

That article link above from this year gets to some gentrification issues-not that they use that term. I could tell in the field that it was a HUD project by the stickers on the windows. So in 1980 it was converted into low-income housing using a "a rehabilitation loan from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development" and is operated by the local housing authority who lack the funds to maintain it.

Might be worth looking into when HPLO got the easement for this building-I hope in covers the lobby. Sadly, I don't see HPLO advocating for affordable housing. :(
Is this the future of affordable housing that linked into historic tax credit projects today?

There are images of 30 buildings on the link below that HPLO has easements on about 36 properties. I am a member of HPLO I have no other affiliation with the organization. I wonder why the Hotel Corvallis didn't make the slide show?

http://www.historicpreservationleague.org/easementPortfolio.php

Union Station to get Fed Money

2010-11-08T19:31:00.000-08:00

I'm thinking high speed rail is great. I'm glad maybe the talk of moving Amtrak across the river is over. Plus, the modernization program presented by PPS tonight had two paragraphs on historic preservation. PPS second largest land owner in the city. Most buildings over 65 years of age.

Historic Marker Flipbook

2010-11-02T19:31:00.001-07:00

Tim seems to think it might still be open to the public.

Odd that for a city of our size we have very few house museums .

Seriously they even call it a flipbook

So Metro just sealed up the house and placed out a number of historic and natural history plaques to placate the historic tourist. Bybee-Howell House once operated by OHS use to interpret rural lifestyle for city kids. They could try to turn it into a haunted house-sort of already looks like one to any kid with half and imagination. Classical Revival haunted houses are in this is the season for haunted houses. Citizen's of the island have expressed concerns over the amount of paving and permanent bathrooms that were called out in the unfunded master plan for the house-being re-drated. In the meantime, Wulf needs funds and volunteers to continue restoration work in the house. A new master plan
Wulf's e-mail at Metro wulfl@metro.dst.or.us

Seriously save this house.

My crazy idea will not be in Wulf's planning concepts but if you like haunted houses and are trying to revamp that old house museum check out:
http://www.hauntedhouseassociation.org/haunted_house_directory.cfm

The image of the haunted house dates back to the economic collapse of 1893 when over 500 banks failed, many in the west, and many newly built victorian homes sat vacant. 19% of the work force was jobless and walked away from their homes creating a haunting landscape. I just think corn mazes and haunted houses sorry.

Moving a House

2010-11-01T19:33:00.000-07:00

These were tests done by a 8 year old to see if you could move the Morris Marks house down Broadway. We selected not to try the streets that the max runs on since they cost 50,000 a line to cut according to rumors from the Ladd Carriage House. Notice that the site will also need to be brought to a single grade I think it is PP&R land and PDOT/and or Water Bureau?

The first bridge we tried was 24 feet of dental floss.

The shorter bridge is 18'6" the one with the quote "let knowledge serve the city".

So I'm betting the floor to ceiling height is greater than 9' per floor.

Ouch says the house.

One of the HP Club Members wants equity in Portland

2010-10-16T18:04:00.000-07:00

Wendy Ann Wright use to come to a lot of the HP Club meetings. On October 2, 2009 she wrote this comment on an article in the Portland, Mercury. I respect her for blogging using her real name and I don't think much has changed in the year since she made these comments. There is a group working on creating an African American Historic District in Portland. I know a lot of former club members are posting to me that they need jobs. Sadly, HP is something you do for love not money. Wendy Ann

She won the Oregon Heritage Fellowships
Wright, Portland State University, "Archaeological Resource
Preservation: Developing a Model for the City of Portland."

"Thanks Sarah. I asked because according to your article Mr. Libby asserts that "...You don’t save a building for its cultural history, but still we want to recognize that.” This actually is not true. Many different properties can be listed on the National Historic Register. Unfortunately in Portland the only things that ever seem to get listed are things associated with old dead white guys or architecture.

These may be important cultural resources to some, but Portland should step up and start nominating some things to the National Historic Register that matter to other people, like properties significant to our African American and other underrepresented communities or what about archaeological sites that document people living in these parts for 10,000 years or more. Instead we just blow that stuff off & keep hyping whitey. Many other communities have done a better job of considering a range of cultural resources including: Alexandria, VA, Pima County, AZ & even Vancouver, WA.

BTW properties that may be included on the National Historic Register include those:

A. That are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or

B. That are associated with the lives of significant persons in or past; or

C. That embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or

D. That have yielded or may be likely to yield, information important in history or prehistory."

Fire in the Corkish Apartments Part Two

2010-10-04T13:11:00.000-07:00

So, I went back today to look at the damage. The side of the building damaged was not one of the facade that I had thought to include in my pre-fire image collection phase. It's hard to get a clear image at all except from a distance. I did notice a lot of activity at the site. Sadly, the old nomination report also did not include any images of the damaged facade. The building was not as gutted as the press had indicated. I was very happy to see that most of the historic windows were still intact ie. not without glazing.

This corner I noticed has had some serious alterations that have nothing to do with the fire. I was a bit curious about these alterations. Some back porches might have been closed in. (Top is from 1977, below was today.) The today image is to a stair way quite possibly an alteration designed for just the sort of evacuation that transpired on Saturday.

Plaque was a bit smokey.

Fire seemed to "escape" out under the eves.

One of the Markers I attribute to the text by Chet Orloff

That first image is from 1977, and was sent to me by the SHPO and was taken for part of the national register landmark application. The second two images were taken in the field as materials to support an upcoming exhibit at Architectural Heritage Center on Re-building South Portland. Sadly there was a significant damaging fire in the building this afternoon. I had hoped to write about how I had a hard time getting a good image of the historic plaque. I never was able to get around the tree and railing in such a way that I could get a clear shot of the historic marker. This four unit Queen Anne Apartment Building was built as a rental building. A significant property linked to the history of immigrants has possibly been lost. I will try to get out to see the state of affairs later this week.

If you want to learn more about the community history please come to see the exhibit. Press Release Below:

South Portland is one of Portland’s “lost neighborhoods” and an important part of the city’s historical memory. The neighborhood’s size and proximity to downtown made it the most visible immigrant district in the city from the late 19th century and well into the 1950s. South Portland however, was substantially erased at a single historical moment through highway construction and Portland’s first Urban Renewal program. The lost and surviving remnants of South Portland—now the Lair Hill and Corbett Neighborhoods—also have much to tell us about the processes that re-made the socially conservative Portland of the 1950s into the more progressive city it is today. After 50 years, it is time to remember and interpret the history of South Portland and its cultural “re-building” as a place and community. This exhibit shares the South Portland story and its community of people, through powerful photographs, interpretive text and artifacts from the Bosco-Milligan Foundation’s Collections.

Please join us at the AHC on Friday October 8th, 2010 at 6:00 pm for the opening reception of this new exhibit in our Meyer Memorial Gallery. The reception will be followed by a brief lecture on South Portland, at 7:30 pm by Dr. Carl Abbott.

Vandalism.

2010-09-30T19:14:00.000-07:00

So ten years ago I sat in a lecture talking about the impact of graffiti and intentional vandalism on historic structures. The class would spend a week on earthquakes than bugs mold floods HVAC systems etc. The main example used for vandalism was havoc left behind at the Pompeii Amphitheater after a Pink Floyd Concert. I tried to really focus on Jan's lecture rather than think about where my bootleg copy of "Live at Pompeii" filmed in 1971. He always had killer slides and a monotone presentation so this was hard.

This week I went to the only remaining operating pedestrian tunnel I know of in Portland the Kelly Tunnel. It seems like the most extreme example of vandalism I've noted in Portland. So this walkway is over 50 years old so you could put it on the national register would you want it with the extra art? At what point should we start saving graffiti? The Berlin wall is 49 years old this year there are remains and traces of the wall in the city. There are memorial sites to the 136 individuals who died attempting to cross the wall. The images from 1984, 1986 I found online shows tons of graffiti which is how I remember the wall in Berlin. The graffiti "wall painting" were preserved in 2009. There are images on the preserved wall sections online but some tourist sites refer to graffiti as "murals"? Notice the Floyd theme of this post if you will. ;) So maybe in the NR report for the Kelly Tunnel I need to use the term "wall painting". General advice if you like Pink Floyd you might want to consider a career working at a music store that with a master's degree in historic preservation.

Kelly Street tunnel was built in 1942, one of the last of a type. I don't know if Solve has enough cleaner for this clean up.

Water Bubbler where was it Moved From I wonder?

2010-09-30T11:56:00.000-07:00

This fountain was one of the first twenty installed in 1912. There are about 52 four bowl bubblers now in the city, this one was moved from South West Fifth and Washington. The fountain was relocated in 2000 when they moved the Simon Benson House onto PSU campus. The cost to produce a four bowl bronze fountain has not in the budget for decades. One of the last examples made is in front of OHS and was made by foundry students of Benson High School- pretty cool. Now the 74 single bowl type are just as utilitarian but you need the four bowl for a good water fight.

I think I have not noticed these historic markers before because of leaves.

636 SW Salmon Historic Element

2010-09-22T22:02:00.000-07:00

What is the purpose of salvaging and reusing historic building pieces without and public history?
Does anyone know where these elements came from?

Desire for the Trolley's Rattle

2010-09-22T21:42:00.000-07:00

Willamette Shore Trolly are some nearly one hundred year old interurban lines that were reused to run from Portland to Lake Oswego they have had equipment issues and for months and have not been operational. It would be nice to see them run again but they might just be a place holder for the street car.

check http://oerhs.org/wst/index.htm

Hypocrisy

2010-08-19T22:57:00.000-07:00

I took these images on the 16th of August I think 506-518 SW College was demolished two days later. No one is saying that this building needed saving for architectural design or historic significance BUT there is the idea that there are better more sustainable ways to save buildings.

So I can't understand why who ever is running the facebook group "Saving the Morris Marks House (1880)" would show an image of the building just torn down today at PSU. Frankly it is the same era of building that will be torn down if the Morris Mark House is moved. I wonder who's brain child is behind the FB group? The group posted the fight for OHS today to get the funding to save the organization and the pile of rubble from what I think is the above building.

X is to Historic Preservation

2010-08-15T11:14:00.000-07:00

X is to Historic Preservation as predatory lenders are to senior African-American homeowners. It takes all kinds. The owners of the house evicted all the affordable market rate tenants five years ago to expedite relocation. They will tare down the adjacent apartment building once the Morris Marks house is out of the way. The new construction in this zoning will create a surplus of high end apartments and a net loss of affordable market rate units-but everyone is entitles to the highest and best use. I thought it would be nice to move the building to PSU as a faculty club. And that is coming from me that thinks moving historic building is basically evil- creating historic house petting zoos is sick and doing so looses all context. The problem is that I don't think PSU wanted to work with Clem and he has an ironclad deal with the owners. No efforts to create a Friends Group worked because no one was willing to attach their reputation to a sketchy deal. Well Bill did and he rocks so maybe others could have joined him and made lemonade. Really too bad because well you can't throw out the baby with the bath water. Portland is not promoting sustainability or history by moving the building but the city has a long history of moving buildings it is part of the peculiar Portland narrative. Each of the years it has stood vacant it aged five times faster and has been the victim of squatters. I'm sort of amazed it is not already just a fire pit. Read the comment by Mike which was a response to the article in the Oregonian. I have heard scores of these tales. If he couldn't get it done in a hot market it seems like a pipe dream now.

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/08/clem_ogilby_wants_to_move_the.html

The club was very active on this issue was a topic at every meeting. In no way has the Historic Preservation community forgotten this beloved structure.

Some ideas of how a URA can help restore the historic fabric. Historic Preservation Opportunities?

2010-07-29T23:20:00.000-07:00

So I'm starting this post with a tease. Can you recognise the Q-19 Cafe? I'm sure some facebook folks will enjoy this game. The building was built during WWII and the name plays on the vocabulary of the time and the street address of the bar. This is the type of building that gets skipped over by windshield survey work and by archival work. This image was in a shoebox, and has been returned to the shoebox. There is no record of the bar in the historic inventories done in 1984 or 1992. The same family that built the establishment who attended St. Patrick's school still own the bar and would like to see the return to the Q-19. A street car along NW 19th could really make this a viable location for the original Q-19.

(Please do not reproduce this historic image and document.)

I have a few pockets of concern within Study Area 1 of the proposed central city Urban Renewal Area. I would really hope that some of the commercial low-rise buildings along NW 18th and NW 19th are able to benefit from facade improvements and that these improvements follow the secretary of the interior guide lines. The buildings of interest are from three eras. I will attempt to show a great example of each era and ask that we do not forget the WWII era building like the Q-19 Cafe.

From NorthWestURA

Below is a sample of the kind of article historians and other students at PSU can find fast late at night now that the Multnomah County Library has The Oregonian database on their site (for library card holders). This tool is very addictive and much faster than micro film research. I hope this does not deplete the use of other period newspapers like the Oregon Journal, or the Observer.

One of the trips Robin planned for the Historic Preservation club was a trip to The Shanghai Tunnels. Historic Preservationists sometimes tries to distance itself from those interested in haunted houses. Interestingly there are always a few students interested in historic cemeteries and ghost hunting. The earliest trained professional architects loved touring the romantic ruins of our past. As a preservationist I often spend more time looking at how these ghost hunters desecrate historic sites. Yet I enjoyed going to Halloween at Lone Fir with club members a few years back. Having guided tours on a night like that is the best vandalism prevention concept.

So I went to see Donald Nelson talk about the South Park Blocks yesterday at AHC and grabbed Todd Cobb's "Ghosts of Portland" to read on the bus. I so enjoyed how he established the historic back grounds that I went and toured a few of the buildings associated with ghosts early this morning with my sons as I told them the tame stories that went with each site.

I was unaware that The Commodore Hotel was designed by Herman Brookman. Herman Brookman had designed one of the sections of Guild's Lake Courts and looking over is drawings listed might have been involved with the Battleship "Oregon" Monument. I will post some images of this art deco building with this post. The "Commodore Building" built in 1926 now has 67 small apartments the rental agency has some images, the interior lobby is the only element of much interest on their visual tour for perspective tenants. FYI the birds on the exterior are terra cotta pelicans, there is some great polychrome terra cotta-I think the client was a daughter of Aaron Meier. It is on the national register of historic places so feel free to request that report from the SHPO.

[Oakland, CA is great for Art Deco. So not many in Portland but the other buildings in this style in Portland are the Jantzen Knitting Mills-1935 N.E. Glisan St and Dolph Building at 615 S.W. Broadway-post if you can think of more in Oregon.]

http://www.downtownportlandapts.com/visualtour_comm.html#
Herman Brookman is know for Temple Beth Israel http://www.waltlockley.com/templebethisrael/templebethisrael.htm
what troubles me about that building is just how many different sources have unique lists of architects involved in that project including Morris Whitehouse.

I loved Todd Cobb's descriptions "The Commodore Building is imposing, and despite the bright colors-the result of a recent paint job-there's something exceedingly Gothic about the structure in addition to its art deco adornments. Surrounded by 1970s style cold glass and steel structures, the Commodore has character, a face, and looking at it, you can almost feel a presence" (p 59).

Todd's book came out in 2008-there was a few historic elements altered that year as I recall not just a paint job that he describes-
http://www.portlandonline.com/bds/index.cfm?a=221085&c=49780
Looks like some historic windows were lost.

Don't worry I didn't read the book during the talk. I saw a great image of a lost historic marker on the South Park Blocks, from 1946 where the peace block is now. "Protesting what is lost makes the remembrance clear." I think it had he names of all the Oregonians that died in WWII, I think I have seen and image very like it from Salem. And that Couch Street is true North. And that Blackstone dorms are living on very borrowed time.

Washington High School was not the first school turned condo in Portland: focus on Linnton School Place

2010-07-23T21:11:00.000-07:00

Prior to posting to the blog the garages at the Linnton School Place condos seem to be taking the heat from HP folks on my personal Facebook page had a link to the development and inviting HP folks to go see the school. There are two Facebook pages for the PSU HP club; they both appear to be dead. So let's just peal away the garages. Shucks, I can't to that anymore than I can remove the dates that my new camera added to the images-which were taken today not last year. So go ahead look at the the garages-they are eye sores and let's go forget about the garages and enjoy the charm. I bet the owners love having a two car garage for each unit plus guest open parking-too bad they couldn't be a bit off site like at Sunnyside Gardens Queens, NY.

I'm not trying to sell you a unit. I'm still trying to understand how the school bus from Guild's Lake Courts made it up the hill.
But there is tons of charm in this property so if you bought one I'd understand. It will be interesting if the garages cause issues to the future vision of a historic district for this swath of Linnton.

My first peak at Linnton School:

These are just a few images from within the smallest of the 11 units.

So you have heard of Kennedy School, you might have heard of Failing School, you will be hearing about Washington-Monreo High School. BUT I bet you never heard of Linnton School-I was a bit sad that lobby did not have any historic images from the school days. There are 11 units in the development and the developer still lives in the development. I really want to return there are a lot of lessons this building could teach developers of Washington-Monreo when they turn a school into homes.

The Omey House

2010-07-22T09:29:00.000-07:00

I learned about the Omey home in "Green Living" which comes in my CSA box. The house is at 2105 N. Webster Street.

So I'd like to get some comments how you feel about this house. I will not post my thoughts because I see this being a class assignment or a HP Club panel in some far off date. Please read these links:

http://www.ermunch.com/projects/omey_home.html

http://www.meetup.com/greenpdx/calendar/13643604/

http://www.ermunch.com/graphics/omey_home/omey_pdf.pdf

Questions I would ask:

Is this a good example of sustainable historic preservation?

Would Brian Libby like this house?

Corey was the architect and homeowner with help I think from Ernest R. Munch (partners?): if you have read "The Fountainhead" would the author of that novel admire this effort? why?

Can you find an image of the 1925 home from 1925, from pre-renovation at point through time? How would you research a house?

Should historic buildings have green roofs? Central Library has one?

Why has AHC not added solar panels to their property, does the Omey Home have alternative energy?

What happen to the old windows? Were they 1925 windows? The project used 90% recycled materials but what happened to the materials removed from the site?

Is this a good example of cradle to cradle or is this green washing? (I can not decide so I'm not asking a trick question. I seriously am very torn over this project.)

The reuse of mortgage signs reminds me of my childhood dollhouse my grandfather made me out of real estate signs. The watts towers come to mind as well. After you read the questions and links feel free to watch the video it really should add to your depth of knowlage: http://vimeo.com/6442371

Background on the Club Because You Asked...

2010-07-21T22:25:00.000-07:00

The first documents for the Historic Preservation Club were signed on July 13, 2006. This was an official funded PSU student group for two years. Charter Members were: Tanya Lyn March, Brandon Spencer-Hartle, Donna Harris, Kenya D. Williams. The budget for 2006 was $368.99.

The Constitution was signed by Lisa Durden, Tanya March, Brandon Spencer-Hartle and Donna Harris.

In the Fall of 2006 some great energy came from Robin Pipkin, Ryan Cloutier, Brendan Purkapile, Brittany Carey
Other great folks I can not recall when they joined or how official they were:
Nathan Pier, Julia Babcock, Wendy Ann Wright, [need more names]

I plan to ask around to expand this list these are just who I recall off my head-four of them I actually saw today oddly enough-basically we all graduated from PSU. A few have returned for master's degrees. So this is more of an journal and a place where I post things of interest to former club members and urban studies students. With the end of the SHPO Open House program there was much less for the group to do around town for "free".

Goals and Objectives:

Portland State University has no Historic Preservation Department this club will enable students interested in Historic Preservation to network with other students interested in Historic Preservation. The club will help expose PSU students to preservation practices in Portland and the region. This has the potential to lead to job and volunteer opportunities in the field of historic preservation. To learn about and advocate for the linkage of environmental sustainability to historic preservation practice. Facilitate best practices of stewardship of buildings in Portland over fifty years old, particularly those which qualify under the secretary of the interior's guidelines for national landmark status. To advocate for equity in historic preservation practices and law (city, state and federal). To promote the idea that historic fabric of our city helps create a sense of place which links us to our past.

Our program facilitates and adds to student life and student development by giving them hands on opportunities for public involvement and leadership opportunities in the field of Historic Preservation.

Tell your story about the White Elephant you inherited to the NYT

2010-07-21T11:22:00.000-07:00

So this request for person experiences was sent out today. I thought it was a very interesting issue and many a reader of this blog might want to share. I have watched in my own life many building be saved for sentiment reasons by friends. This non-economic lens on an economic issue might be of interest- better for you and the tax man to inherit in disrepair if you have capitol to fix it. I hope that some folks or at least one owner comes forward that inherited a property with a historic conservation easement on it-that would be worth reading.

"Greetings Preservationists,

We have once again been asked by our friends at the New York Times to help with an upcoming article - and we are seeking your help! Below is an overview of the article, as well as contact information for the reporter. Deadlines are always tight, and it would be ideal to send your story ideas for consideration this week or early next week.

Here is the article overview:
"I'm working on a story for the New York Times on people who have been left or bequeathed a property that they just don't know what to do with, specifically an odd structure -- like a windmill or a warehouse or compound-- or a building that is in disrepair or just oddball, but you can't bear to part with it. Preferably you live in the structure or house, but it can also be a place that you haven't yet decided what to do with. I look forward to hearing your stories."

Contact information: Please email Sarah.Maslin.Nir@gmail.com"

HPLO is going full steam ahead. Historic Preservation League of Oregon is like a phoenix.

2010-07-19T22:30:00.000-07:00

So, I joined the HPLO back when the National Trust for Historic Preservation held their annual meeting in Portland. I learned at that conference that they held many historoc easements. I was excited to learn a while back when I updated my membership that they have been around for three decades protecting Oregon's historic places, in 2009 the Historic Preservation League of Oregon Board and friends met with stakeholders across the state to set a course for the future of the organization and revitalize their membership and reconnect with communities across the state. They even reached out to this blog but I failed to unearth those comments under all the junk comments until this week-very sorry. The board and leadership was motivated by the loss of historic buildings, the need for additional financial incentives, and the broad support for preserving those places that make Oregon OREGON, the Board hired Peggy Moretti to lead the HPLO into a new era of preserving the state's unique heritage. In September 2009 the HPLO sponsored a 'State of Preservation' event to kick off the 2010 agenda. Since that event, the Board, committees, and members of the HPLO have been hard at work, delivering educational programs on the value of preservation, weighing in on key policy issues across the state, monitoring the organization's 40 conservation easements, and assessing the health and viability of Oregon's commercial districts. Additionally, as a 'league,' the HPLO supports preservation organizations and friends across the state, helping advocate for important issues and share the positive success stories that routinely energize and enhance neighborhoods, main streets, and rural landscapes in every corner of Oregon. While 2010 is far from over, the HPLO is actively anticipating 2011 and continuing to work on issues, large and small, for the benefit of Oregonians of all backgrounds.

Jantzen Beach Bather at PGE Park

2010-07-18T18:19:00.000-07:00

So I'm asking you to check out this website:
http://www.pdxhistory.com/html/jantzen_beach.html
Do you think the gal hanging in PGE park is from the entry arch to Jantzen Beach? With everything going on to make this into a soccer field for all I know she could be at risk its not like I can find any information on her at the location or online.

I guess Dan Haneckow's interest in elements of historic structures on new buildings has been rubbing off on me. So I less than pleased that our dear home baseball team the Portland Beavers in its last season in Portland was already down 6 in the first inning today against Colorado Springs Sky Sox so I selected to explore a bit of history in the halls. I might have been inspired by the bounce house tickets that were from an old reel that were intended as admission tickets for games at the old Civic Stadium $4 for a game.

So as much as I'm sure you will love the historic marker focusing on Tanner Creek. Or the historic marker outside that I'm matching up with the photograph of the 1953 ski jump exploits. What I'd love to learn more about is the Jantzen Beach Bathing Beauty hanging from the ceiling. I never put it all together before, but I know I correct as I ran in to our Chet Portland's walking encyclopedia who chided me for not sticking it out through the game.

He was purchasing elements for a City Club dinner he is hosting on the Museum of the City. I really think City Club should do a report on the State of Historic Preservation in the City looking to the level of ethnic inclusion etc...

So as I trail off again the topic of the tanning vats under the stadium came up. It seems an effort to encourage the soccer retro fitters to explore the architectural record might be spinning its wheels. I was thinking that to create the current bowl they must have destroyed any evidence of the tannery and the Chinese vegetable gardens. Enjoy these images but remember that history is often white washed no images on the wall of the KKK at the stadium where they once held rallies. For the less pretty history to the pop culture history (Okay all the non sports history) check out these sites:

Flooded in 1904 as well as a number of other images I saw up on the walls today. Sweet extra including a postcard image of Morris Whitehouse's design for the MAC club as built, Elvis preforming etc.. great site:

http://www.scottymoore.net/portland57.html

KKK in general info
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/entry/view/ku_klux_klan/

Now more of my images:

Gone to the Last Brick-PSU update

2010-07-17T09:08:00.000-07:00

So the current theory why the modest building at 1633 SW 11th Ave. was torn down is that the proposed central city Urban Renewal Area will not negatively impact historic structures. PSU is according to a few former club members rushing to demolish structures prior to the pending creation of a new urban renewal area. There an now a few more buildings up to be demolished on campus. For the record the club itself is defunct as most members have graduated, so this should soon be retitled alumni club hanger ons.

Jackson Tower 1912

2010-07-17T08:24:00.000-07:00

Facing onto Pioneer Courthouse Square is the Jackson Tower. This building was first occupied by the Oregon Journal from it's opening day in 1912-1948 and in those years was known as Oregon Journal Building. I think I've been teased on FB for saying that night lighting on buildings is wasteful. This lovely white terra cotta structure has some decorative lighting that I hope has LED modern technology, seriously 1,800 light bulbs. This plaque was in good shape one of the twenty around town that Chet Orloff wrote the text for too bad they never made a map of the sites, this is quite a hunt created by the man who has now moved onto the virtual world of the Museum of the City. I have attempted to link to Dan Haneckow's Cafe Unknown post from June 30, 2010 which has a nice postcard with a night view. Funny enough the NR listing uses yet another name: "Journal Building". The clocks no longer chime but since I carry no cell phone nor watch I often find these large clock faces on the tower most useful.

New PDC Historic Marker in Pioneer Square

2010-07-16T18:36:00.000-07:00

I am always backlogged on locating and documenting historic markers in the city of Portland. This marker is worth noting today because with everyone heading to Sand in the City this weekend it is a great time for you to checkout the new markers with color graphics. The very modern material enables for a graphic design that looks like a page right out of a coffee table book. I think it odd that it was not placed with the other markers it is on the North/West corner of the square facing west. Typically markers face the MAX cue this marker lacks a prominent placement. I hope that the marker weathers well, and I am curious how it will hold up to tags and tag removal chemicals.

Marker not in Portland or in Oregon but why is it anywhere?.

2010-07-14T15:45:00.000-07:00

So there are a number of markers I have noticed about town which I need to get posted but this out of town marker just haunts me. It is the sort of marker that makes me wonder: "Why was this marker created?" "Why is a marker for a hero of the South still standing?" So this marker was installed in the 1940s so it must be so out of the way that it has been left alone or it was made of materials that we should use in Portland.

The United Daughters of the Confederacy still operates, and is celebrating 150 years. They actively watched these markers.
http://www.hqudc.org/
Their library is in Richmond, VA
So why is there a marker to Jefferson Davis on I-5? (I had some help to answer that.) http://www.livinggoldpress.com/jeffdavis.htm
The image was taken as Brooklyn is collecting weeds, I'm cleaning up after a sick kid-hence why we were off the highway. This is not at a rest area nor a safe spot to hang out. But I must say in general that rest areas are full of historic markers of all types and they are worth stopping at to learn odd facts. It seems that as I-5 went in various markers were placed in rest stops this one was not placed in a rest stop because it was not part of Route 66 the Lincoln highway but of Route 99 the Davis highway.
I did not learn much from this 1944 marker in the field, it just sort of bothered me and I had some questions to deal with once back in Portland. Why was this marker on this site? Was this once a real stopping place or did the marker get moved here to ditch it? What did Jefferson Davis have to do with rural northern California? Why would a marker commemorating the President of the Confederate States of America not be vandalized? I understand he is a Civil War hero to some Southerners. Perhaps just no one has a clue who he is that has to stop here. Perhaps people just don't read markers? (I think I'm right about this since the Davis market at the Peace Arch lasted so long). He did sell his Mississippi estate to one of his former slaves which I find confusing as well. His funeral was widely attended but not this marker.
Additional info:
There were two markers in Washington State for the historic Jefferson Davis Highway. This marker I photographed was moved in early 1970 from the 1944 location as highway 99 was repaved and made into I-5

The Great Concrete Building @ 733 SW Oak Street

2010-05-11T20:32:00.000-07:00

Just as I'm struggling to replace the toilet that fell through the floor of my own beloved Morris Whitehouse building/home I went out to see another restoration effort that actually removed a floor permanently. We had a great spontaneous tour of the Balflour-Guthrie Building. This was the first Reinforced Concrete Building on the West Coast and is just a couple blocks away from Emerson School where the students as part of a multi week architecture study asked me to at as their guide for a neighborhood walk.

A bit of a change from touring third grades around downtown for Portland history. The atrium of the Portland Rubber Stamp Co. building was cut out of the structure and all of the concrete exposed to show just how technologically advanced the bones of this 1913 building were all scoped out and re-designed by Thomas Hacker Architects in 2001 who I believe are the current and only tenant and acted as gracious hosts to a gaggle of quite 4x5 grade students. I have since learned that 500 sandstone blocks were added to this Silver LEED project to enhance the building's seismic capabilities. Students enjoyed seeing the evidence of the massive cuts between the floors, which did not require collapsing the 900 square feet of cement to create a massive atrium, in sort of an explosion of cement as some students had predicted only to learn that the creation of the atrium was a much more cautious process. They enjoyed looking at the facade with the simple faux column design such a fantastic Classical Revival building. We then headed out for the rest of the tour as planned. I wonder how much of the atrium was salvaged as an early LEED building there was the requirement to salvage 75 percent of construction debris?

Lost. At Portland State

2010-04-14T12:03:00.000-07:00

Well friends the fence is up around the structure. This remaining remnant of the residential past might not be as grand as the enduring and actively used building it stands beside. Filtering theory I still think is the rule of the land. Portland State has owned the house since 1963. That's a decade before they reached the current Helen Gordon Building across the street. As Fruit and Flower moved out they did an end run and had that building placed on the national register. The house on SW 11th was listed in Portland's Historic Resource Inventory in 1984 and the the city requires a 120-day demolition delay. That delay timeline was completed months ago. Portland State University applied for a permit to demolish the c.1885 house located at 1633 SW 11th Avenue on August 26, 2009. Time to bring out the bagpipes.

Washington Park Memorials.

2010-04-10T20:23:00.000-07:00

We stopped by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and found a few other markers there a couple of weeks ago. One thing I would like to replicate was asking for funding. On the Portland park department marker at the entrance to the Memorial was a taped on contact number to help support the site. I think the Campbell memorial should do the same thing.

Is brown the new black?

2010-04-04T13:54:00.000-07:00

The Admiral Apartments, at 910 SW Park, are textbook example of blending historic preservation tax credits and low income tax credits. Reach CDC operates this building exclusively for low income residents 62 and over. I might not like the new brown color but I love the treatment of this National Register Property. A DJC article has an image with the old color that I adored.
http://djcoregon.com/news/2010/02/02/admiral-apartments/
So SERA architects did the remodel of the 37 apartments.

So the universe of historic preservation keeps focusing on paint colors this week. From I liked a friend who knew that she had found the right color for her house (well the right one of the five needed) because it bore the name of a New Order song to having anothe friend hire an out of state consultant to do her house colors. She never windowed her own paint to select the original color she is going with I guess the new in vogue color which I hope really is not brown. (See below the house is now earth tones it was a blue gray.) One of my very favorite downtown buildings in going brown (that was the top picture), and another building near PSU and no I was not even going to talk about the Ladds Carriage House has a zillion colors of brown/tan. (Okay not a zillion I'll find out the real number soon.)

I finally found an image of 910 SW Park I took in January 2010. I liked this color so much better I had to add it to this old post!

Back on the Block.

2010-03-13T17:11:00.000-08:00

Well once again the Custom House is empty with no established feasible future. Ouch this building did not get rehabilitated during the bubble the DJC says it is going to go to auction. No statement of stating bid. Old buildings are not the only thing going on the auction block fifty units in the John Ross on South Waterfront are also going out for bid. Seems like e-bay has been inspiring. At least it is not like the days when the auction for lots at the F.M. "Borax" Smith estate in Oakland, CA were advertised with an estate burning (as in they burned the look out tower to attract buyers). The mansion "Arbor Villa" designed by Walter J. Mathews could not be saved from financial empire collapsed with the East Bay real estate market in 1913, in Wiki they blame 1929 so I might have to pull my info in the files. I was once lucky enough to live in an apartment building he financed as "a home for friendless girls" on Park Blvd. and had designed by Julia Morgan (he built thirteen such dwellings).

Arbor Village image:
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/13030/tf4h4nb6fx/?brand=oac4
Obit:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1977&dat=19310825&id=IiYiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9KMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4872,5256341

Morris Whitehouse Part Two Gus Solomon Courthouse

2010-03-12T16:08:00.000-08:00

There are fifty stars around the three entry doors-- I counted see picture #2. There is this one odd window see picture #4. Any ideas as to what is the story of this window? I think this is the window Brandon was chatting with a few club members about last night.

Morris Whitehouse Part One

2010-03-12T15:52:00.000-08:00

So I know that Morris Whitehouse only adapted the Ladd's Carriage House but I find it amazing the evolution and breath of work of this master architect. He is certainly my favorite Portland architect. I love how these various buildings are in such a tight cluster yet would never be assumed to all be the work of the same designer. His greatness was in his masonry buildings which are all uniquely woven each with its own unique shade of brick in these images.

Also, the University Club replaced a number of historic windows. Earlier this week there was activity that led me to think they might be up to additional changes. I went back to check this out and I noticed my exterior pet peeve an exterior air conditioner-yuk-I prefer pink flamingos and rear car seats used as porch furniture. My interior pet peeve is recessed 1970s lighting, if you include that remodeling in your Irvington Home and I walk in and see it on the home tour please let be return the booties at a later date because I must make a most hasty exit.

A broader view road signs etc...

2010-03-11T06:54:00.000-08:00

Well I noticed that the Public Historian gathering has a nice blog that details not only their conference but also road signs. http://ncph2010.blogspot.com/2010/03/vintage-roadside-tour-stop-6-st-johns.html

There is a home restoration project that has me ticked pink. I was so happy when I learned that the long term resident was alive and well when the project started. He never had the white faux white brick siding removed because he feared that the wood was bad under it. A great success story on the corner of SW 19th and SW Main.

Well I found the 9/11 marker.

2010-03-07T17:47:00.000-08:00

Memorial was tagged again last night.

So our former president was correct there is already a memorial to the victims of 9-11 in the fair city of Portland. It is in front of a historic firehouse on Belmont. We also went and cleaned trash up at the Campbell Memorial today. Planning to get a bigger crew together next month to work with the cleaning team of Goose Hollow.

Award winning Eastbank Esplanade Markers (and one older westside one)

2010-03-06T17:00:00.001-08:00

Historic Markers in Portland include grave markers, hero of the city mini-bios on plaques, interpretive historic panels, poems etc... The large markers on the Esplanade provide the opportunity to see historic images and read pro-livability text about the evolution of the city and its river.

http://www.segd.org/design-awards/2002-design-awards/eastbank-esplanade-urban-markers.html
Stephen Beckham did all of the historic research for the text on these markers. I have always felt that the creation of a single website that had the text and images of every markers in the city and allowed for additional text by the creators and public comments would assist in these markers working as teaching tools. Also we seem to loose the memory of markers, history is often lost I wonder if there is any comprehensive inventory of markers.

I was unable to see if the results of the effort to save the memorial wharf dedicated to Murnane, located on the Willamette River at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, which was slated for demolition in 2009 as part of the new Saturday Market vision. Saturday market opened after a two month break today. Brooklyn and I saw no results from the effort to restore the Murnane memorial.

There are national efforts to inventory that I have thought of posting on in the future.
Ex: www.hmdb.org

For Labor Markers
http://www.laborheritage.org/?p=247

I think I posted one earlier on this blog about the historic markers dedicated to nurses.

Well here is the west side marker...

Now to the east side
http://www.asla.org/meetings/awards/awds02/eastbank_esplanade_urban_markers.html

"These 20-foot tall, stainless steel, structures mark thirteen intersections where city streets historically met the riverfront. Designed to evoke the industrial character of the historic Willamette River bridges that cross over the trail, the markers incorporate street signs, luminaries and interpretive story panels."

Well we found one of these 20 foot tall markers and a few other markers today, now that I know what we are looking for I will search for more soon.

IMG_7908
Originally uploaded by kittenpsu

Railroads and the River. Newer style. This was taken with my camera by Brooklyn much easier to read.

Wow a marker gets hit by car.

2010-03-04T20:59:00.000-08:00

Now I posted an image of this marker on the 24th of last month and already it is in worse shape. I'm posting the Couch Park marker as well but seriously I never thought this other larger marker was at risk now things are a bit ugly.