Beer lovers and preservationists rejoice! SteepleJack Brewing Co. owners Brody Day and Dustin Harder have lovingly restored the former First Universalist Church of Good Tidings at NE 24th and Broadway in Portland. Thanks to sensitive adaptive reuse, this century-old building retains many historic features including colorful stained glass windows, a historic bell tower, carefully restored […]
In a Precedent-Setting Decision, Demolition of the Historic Yamaguchi Hotel is Approved with a Token Nod to Cultural Heritage
The Portland City Council voted unanimously to approve the demolition of the historic Yamaguchi Hotel, also known as the former Blanchet House, picture above. On July 28th, the Portland City Council voted unanimously to approve the demolition of the historic Yamaguchi Hotel (former Blanchet House), a rare and very significant building to the Japanese American/AAPI […]
Historic Oregon Cemeteries by Abby Warren
If you like historic cemeteries and discovering the diverse history of our state, keep an eye on the Oregon Commission of Historic Cemeteries which is working to discover and share the stories of interesting Oregonians who have passed on. The Commission’s Cemetery Stories project aims to illustrate all the ways that cemeteries hold value and […]
Board Member Profile: Brett Estes
Brett Estes’ passion for historic preservation — and the City of Astoria — shine through in both the words he speaks and the stories he tells. Jovial and charismatic, he’s no rookie. He has spent over a decade serving in public office in Astoria, and started on his historic preservation journey long before that. Originally […]
Welcome Brittany Hobbs – Our Summer Intern
Restore Oregon is delighted to welcome our new intern, Brittany Hobbs, to the RO team! Midway through her coursework for a Master’s Degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Oregon, Brittany is relatively new to the preservation field. While she has been working to restore and preserve a 1893 Queen Anne Victorian home in […]
Something Old, Something New…
Sponsored post by Ariel Grace Design The Victorian Belle, built in 1885, was a marvel of modern amenities. It was one of the first houses in Portland, Oregon, to have running hot and cold water, central heating, interior electricity and a windmill-powered water pump. Since the 1990s, it has been operated as a wedding and […]
East Portland’s Mid-Century Modern Neighborhoods
East Portland’s Mid-Century Modern Neighborhoods Contributors: Christina Walker, Jonathan Konkol, and Katelyn Weber Little else altered the American landscape quite like the automobile. With homeowners no longer bound by fixed transportation or the need to live within walking distance of it, land-use patterns became much more diffuse during Portland’s post-war years. By 1951, home shows, […]
Juneteenth Celebrations and Remembrances in Oregon
Clara Peoples, founder of Portland’s Juneteenth celebrations Juneteenth Celebrations and Remembrances in Oregon Juneteenth celebrates both the end of slavery in the United States and the contributions Black Americans have made to our country. Less than three weeks ago, the Oregon Senate unanimously voted to make Juneteenth an official state holiday, and yesterday, President Biden signed legislation declaring it […]
Renewal of Special Assessment for Historic Properties is A “No-Go” this Legislative Session
Renewal of Special Assessment for Historic Properties is A “No-Go” this Legislative Session by Peggy Moretti At the June 7th House Revenue Committee work session, the committee chair, Representative Nancy Nathanson, decided not to move HB 2447 forward. This decision ends the bill moving in this 2021 legislative session. Special Assessment – Oregon’s only state […]
Historic Yamaguchi Hotel Deserves a Better Fate than Demolition and Erasure of its Cultural Heritage
Historic Yamaguchi Hotel Deserves a Better Fate than Demolition and Erasure of its Cultural Heritage by Peggy Moretti A primary contributing building in the Portland New Chinatown-Japantown Historic District, the historic Yamaguchi Hotel/former Blanchet House has seen better days, and now stands alone surrounded by surface parking lots. A demolition application has been filed with the […]