Since the 1960s, Oregon’s state and local governments have conducted architectural field surveys of groupings of older buildings, each with varying levels of significance and importance, in order to document and understand Oregon’s historic places. One that was completed over the last year holds special significance to the history, people, and development of Oregon as […]
Portland’s Historic “511 Building” Awarded Loan For Adaptive Reuse
On November 13, the Portland Development Commission (PDC) approved a $20.3 million loan package for the adaptive reuse of the National Register-listed 511 Building as the new home of the Pacific Northwest College of Art. Built in 1918 as a replacement post office for the too-small 1875 Pioneer Courthouse, the 511 Building’s “size and decorative […]
Scholarships Available for Preservation Training
Dale Mammen from Eastern Oregon attended the League of Historic American Theatres Conference to learn about how to preserve the history Liberty Theatre in La Grande. Kimberly Fitzgerald from the Willamette Valley attended the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions Forum to gain insights for working with her local landmarks commission. Gina Drew from Portland attended […]
Petersen Rock Garden Now Officially “Historic”
Central Oregon’s Petersen Rock Garden was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on October 30 after two years of intensive historic research and documentation. Located between Redmond and Bend in Central Oregon, the quixotic man-made landscape has been the subject of considerable media attention since the property’s listing as one of Oregon’s Most […]
A New Prescription from Dr. Pierce
“I don’t want to relive this.” That was my thought when I pulled out the file and sat down to write this account of preservation accomplishments we’ve achieved in the wake of Cottage Grove’s loss of the Dr. Pierce Barn. Our effort to save the barn ended badly in September 2012. It was a painful […]
Vintage Barn-Turned-Tasting Room
A thoughtful remodel and adaptive reuse of a historic barn in Southern Oregon has provided space for a popular tasting room at RoxyAnn Winery and revitalized a local landmark. Both the barn and RoxyAnn Winery are located on Hillcrest Orchard, a National Register-listed farmstead complex in Medford, Oregon complete with house and out buildings that […]
The Carnegie Story in Oregon City
The Carnegie Building in Oregon City recently celebrated its 100th birthday with much fanfare, music, celebrated guests, and, the piece de resistance, Andrew Carnegie himself! It was a wonderful opportunity for the community to gather and mark the anniversary of an iconic and much loved Oregon City treasure. Coincidentally, on the same night that Mayor […]
Retelling the Stories of Portland’s Houses
In neighborhoods old and new, some homes come with bragging rights. That’s the theme of a recent Oregonian article on the excitement of researching the history of Portland houses, the vast majority of which have not been formally researched or designated as “Historic.” Statewide, there are 41,085 houses that have been documented to varying degrees […]