We had been working with Verne Olson, of Parkrose, and his wife to include their house on the upcoming Mid Century Modern House of Tomorrow Tour when his health took a turn for the worse several months ago. We were saddened to learn this week that Verne has passed away. Verne (with family and friends) designed and built their family home in 1962. […]
Mid-Century Modern House of Tomorrow
There’s a great future in plastics. Think about it. Will you think about it? – Mr. McGuire in The Graduate (1967) On May 14th Restore Oregon will present the Mid-Century Modern House of Tomorrow Tour. The tour focuses on the mid-century, but the “House of Tomorrow” premise has been with us since at least the early 1900’s. The […]
Workmen Temple Given 120-Day Reprieve; Plans Still Call for Demolition
January 20, 2016. After several weeks of negotiations, demolition of the Ancient Order of United Workmen Temple and Hotel Albion has been delayed until at least April 30, 2016. The developer, Arthur Mutal, voluntarily agreed to the delay period to settle a Land Use Board of Appeals case that Restore Oregon brought forward late last year. […]
The JS Cooper Block: From a Diamond-in-the-Rough to Main Street Gem
The JS Cooper Block is the architectural cornerstone of Independence’s well-preserved historic downtown. Built in 1895, the building represents Independence’s history as a hub for pioneers who arrived on the Oregon Trail, and its subsequent prosperity as an agricultural community. The building’s original owner, JS Cooper, was a prominent banker who later became a key […]
Double your donations for free, Oregon.
Keep track of your donations to our cultural nonprofits. Then donate this much to your Oregon Cultural Trust and get that same amount back as a tax credit. You can donate all you like to The Trust, but these are the limits for tax credits: $500 limit per person, $1,000 limit per couple and $2,500 for corporations. Your donation will be used […]
My Love Affair With Restore Oregon
When I was involved with efforts to save the Dr. Pierce Barn in Cottage Grove, I was in a highly charged, impassioned state most of the time. Darn it, I CARED about saving this old barn! We formed a group of ordinary citizens, called ourselves People Who Love the Barn, and set out to stop […]
Saving the Ermatinger House
When it comes to Oregon history, it doesn’t get much more significant than the Ermatinger House. In 1845, Francis Ermatinger built for himself a federal style residence in what is now downtown Oregon City. Ermatinger was a powerful and influential figure in early Oregon history, serving as a chief trader for the Hudson’s Bay Company, […]
WHAT A DONATION TO RESTORE OREGON CAN DO
My name is Rick Cook. For the past three years, I have served on Restore Oregon’s Heritage Barn Taskforce, a volunteer role that has led me down the path to restoring my family’s own heritage barn. I would like to convey a message in regards to your continued support of Restore Oregon. Ever wonder what […]
Saving the Powerhouse
We saw the Bull Run Powerhouse for the first time in 2008. Sitting on the Bull Run River northeast of Sandy, the generator room was roaring with four turbines generating 22 megawatts of electricity like it had since 1912. PGE was about to decommission the powerhouse by removing two dams that supplied its water. Due […]
Raise your Voice for Historic Preservation in Portland on November 18
The Portland Historic Landmarks Commission will present their annual State of the City Preservation Report this Wednesday, November 18, at the 2pm meeting of the Portland City Council. The presentation provides a unique opportunity for the public to show their support for historic preservation and testify in favor of several important initiatives that would better […]