By year’s end, it is estimated that a record 400 Portland houses will be lost to demolition. With modern McMansions and high-density apartments quickly filling lots that once housed single-family homes, the recent demolition trend means millions of pounds of waste are going to the landfill, the character of established neighborhoods is rapidly changing, and tangible reminders of […]
Historic Menucha – From a Country Estate to a Treasure for Nonprofits
Wright Hall, the main lodge at Menucha Retreat and Conference Center in Corbett, began its life as the centerpiece of a country estate owned by former Oregon Governor Julius Meier. Built in 1926-27, the 6,000+ square foot home designed by architect Herman Brookman, was a comfortable retreat from Meier’s work managing Meier & Frank, the […]
Morrow County Courthouse Clock Tower Restoration Complete
After waiting nearly a year, the historic Morrow County Courthouse in Heppner is complete once again. On June 26, a crowd of eager spectators watched as the courthouse’s domed cupola, which houses an original turn-of-the-century Seth Thomas chiming clock, was hoisted back into place atop the venerable structure’s clock tower. Built in 1902–03, Morrow County […]
Addressing Portland’s Demolition Epidemic
UPDATE: On July 31st the Portland City Council heard three hours of presentations and public testimony regarding the state of preservation in Portland. Commissioners promised to return to the demolition issue at a future meeting. This Thursday, July 31, the Portland Historic Landmarks Commission will present their annual State of Preservation report to the Portland […]
Historic Church’s Bell Tower Faces Costly Restoration
From the time of its 1895 construction, Portland’s First Congregational Church has stood as one of the city’s grandest and most imposing buildings. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975, the church is a rare example of Venetian Gothic architecture—few others exist in America—and its 175-foot-high bell tower stood as the tallest […]
Join Restore Oregon’s Campaign for a State Rehabilitation Tax Credit
Many of Oregon’s traditional downtowns are at a tipping point, half-empty, their historic facades in decay. Since 2010 Restore Oregon has hosted workshops across the state seeking solutions to revitalize these economic and cultural centers, and we believe the single most important thing we can do to revitalize Main Streets across Oregon is to pass […]
Rebirth of Egyptian Theater—Many More to Come?
After three years of intense community advocacy, Coos Bay’s beloved Egyptian Theatre is shining bright once again. The downtown landmark was listed as one of Oregon’s Most Endan gered Places® in the spring of 2011 fol lowing its closure due to structural safety concerns. At the time of its listing as an Endangered Place, the theater […]
A Case Study in Preservation Law: Christie School
Only 62 designated Landmark buildings remain in Lake Oswego. Today, the community faces the sixth public hearing in three years regarding the delisting or major alteration of a Landmark property: the 106-year-old Christie School. Until recently, delisting applications were based on city code which allows removal of designation only if specific criteria are met. However, […]
135 Years at Burns Municipal Historic Cemetery
Burns Cemetery was established in January 1879 with the burial of George Baker, an early pioneer to Harney County, located in Southeast, Oregon. A lot has happened at the Burns Cemetery in its 135 years. Long gone are the traces of the Willamette Valley and Cascade Wagon Road. In 1929 Mrs. Archie McGowan worked with […]
Seeking Information About Oregon’s African American Historic Places
The Oregon Black Pioneers, in partnership with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), has launched a new property survey project entitled Preserving Oregon’s African American Historic Places. The purpose of the project is to protect and preserve significant sites related to Oregon’s African history from the time period of 1844 to 1984. Who Are the […]