Triumphs Were Celebrated Across Oregon for Our Most Endangered Places Program!
Restore Oregon’s MEP program works to share our technical expertise and network of resources with preservation efforts around the state. This program has anchored our free technical assistance services and advocacy work since 2011. As its name implies, the places in this program are under threat and need sustained assistance and advocacy to find their path to success. Our generous donor, the Kinsman Foundation, enables Restore Oregon to offer these free services, helping historic places throughout the state develop plans and launch their projects.
Pictured Above: In 2025 a new roof was put in place following the architectural design developed by preservation architect Sue Licht.
Historic Gates School
(Gates, OR)
The only remaining structure on the grounds of Upward Bound, a children’s camp nonprofit, was the historic Gates School after the 2020 wildfire swept through the rural community of Gates. This year they were able to get a new roof put in place following the architectural design developed by preservation architect Sue Licht (done with a seed grant from our MEP program).
Pictured Above: Windows are among the completed exterior restoration from 2025!
Santiam Pass Ski Lodge
(Sisters, OR)
Ongoing work by dedicated volunteers happens mostly during the summer months due to the elevation and seasonal weather conditions. Most of the exterior restoration work is now complete including windows! Next up is turning to the interior work.
Pictured Above: Blue Ribbon Committee Tour July 2025; This year, the coveted national 11 Most Endangered Places listing with the National Trust for Historic Preservation was secured for the Chateau. Standing from left to right: Nicole Possert/Restore Oregon, Oregon Representative Noah Robinson, Sue Densmore/Friends of Oregon Caves & Chateau during tour of the Chateau (summer 2025).
Oregon Caves Chateau
(Cave Junction, OR)
Restore Oregon is now participating in the Friends of the Oregon Caves & Chateau’s Blue Ribbon Committee and we worked with the Friends to secure the coveted national 11 Most Endangered Places listing with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It brings national focus and attention to places of significance all across the nation and this designation was the first time an Oregon place made it onto their program.
Pictured Above: Restoration on the historic windows and a listing in the National Register kept the nonprofit volunteer group busy in 2025!
Cumberland Community Events Center
(Albany, OR)
Finished all the restoration of the many windows in this former church after its relocation a few blocks away to save it from demolition. The nonprofit volunteer group leading this effort also successfully listed the property in the National Register of Historic Places, no small feat for a relocated historic resource.
Billy Webb Elks Lodge
(Portland, OR)
After a devastating fire in 2021, the only Black-led and run Elks lodge in Oregon completed the Phase 1 repair work this summer and has now started on the Phase 2 work with the goal of re-opening in 2026 – the building’s 100th anniversary year.
Concord School
(Oak Grove, OR)
With an official open date of November 17th, the Concord Community Center is a friendly and inviting space where residents throughout the district can come together for a variety of recreational and social activities. Originally built in 1936, this former school building has a rich history and has been thoughtfully preserved for public use, receiving improvements focused on enhancing safety and accessibility for all community members.
Historic theaters
(statewide)
Since 2015, Restore Oregon has been working to bolster the revitalization of theaters, knowing how important these places are to serving as vital community assets especially in smaller and rural communities.
The Gem in Athena:
After 20 years of volunteers leading the preservation of this special place on “main street” it has re-engaged several generations of people in the work of historic preservation.
Pictured Above: An impressive restoration effort at the Holly Theatre was awarded with a DeMuro Award this year!
Elsinore Theater in Salem:
Undergoing a major exterior rehabilitation with the re-creation of their main “blade” sign and securing capital funding from the state for necessary renovations. community driven effort to save and restore one of Medford’s original theaters, the Holly re-opened and received a 2025 DeMuro Award from Restore Oregon for their efforts.
Pictured Above: As part of a larger exterior facade restoration project, a new exterior blade sign was fabricated and installed. It was designed to look like the original 1928 sign which had been missing since a big weather event in 1962. Photo courtesy of Elsinore Theatre.
Holly Theatre in Medford:
A community driven effort to save and restore one of Medford’s original theaters, the Holly re-opened and received a 2025 DeMuro Award from Restore Oregon for their efforts.