THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF filSTORIC PRESERVATION ASHP NEWS Volume Three, No. 1 Fall 1990 RESCUING A CARRIAGE HOUSE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY By Timothy Netsch In a Eu gene, Ore gon neighborhood, behind a slender, rural gothic home stands a small building, almost square with a steeply pitched roof and center cup ola. Ch ildren in the neighborhood believe it is an old schoolhouse. It is, rather, the carriage house and stable for the 1872 Peters-Liston-Wintermeier House. The whole s!te is something of a ,onderful oddity in this area of bungalows and other small homes of the early Twentieth Century. The Peter&-Uston•Wintermeier carriage house, Eugene, Oregon. house, of board and batten , with jigsaw-cut brackets and delicate window hoods, was moved to this his workshop and office. The latter The carriage house is cornered location in 1912 from downtown of these two is being restored first. by a well-trafficked alley and a Eugene, a common tradition as the As an intern for Gregg Olson, the public path leading to a park. commercial core developed. The restoration carpenter who has been Neighbors were surprised that any residence and its ornament are working on the project, I have attention was being given to this taken directly from a pattern in the witnessed the physical changes in dilapidated and curious structure. 1856 edition of Henry W. Cleaveland the project, and also the variety and Reactions varied: 'What's historic and William and Samuel D. Backus' evolution of the neighborhood about an old barn? Tear it downl ' Village and Farm Cottages. The interest in the restoration. Or "When will it be available for history of the carriage house is less rent?•, Or 'We're so thrilled with clear. It probably replaced an earlier The photograph illustrates what you're doing ...' carriage house on the original site the condition of the structure as the between 1902 and 1912, and was project began. Essentially, the Many weeks were required to moved with the residence to the new carriage house had been boarded jack up the building, replace the sill, location. Stylistically, it is similar to up and used only occasionally for patch studs and joists, and lay a those stable designs seen in storage since probably the late new concrete block foundation. Andrew Jackson Downing's The 1950s. The condition of the roof Regulars in the area stopped by for Architecture of Country Houses. had exposed the interior of the progress reports, happy to receive building to several rainy Oregon any tidbit of information. Some Stipulated in the recent purchase winters. When we trenched around brought cameras. Next came the he house was an agreement that the base of the structure, the sill most remarkable changes in the .~, ust be restored. The new owner which was below grade, existed only appearance of the carriage house. builds and restores violins. He and in some short sections. The rot and The box cornice was repaired and his family will live in the residence, infestation had worked its way into new cedar shingles nailed on the and the carriage house will become some of the studs and joists as well. roof. Then virtually all the siding was numbered and removed. Using issues. Barring any major SPEAK, PRESIDENT, a come-along, the building was catastrophy, we will attempt to follow squared. New shiplap siding was SPEAK! their lead. Book and conference milled to replace that which was too reviews on pertinent historic rotten, and the original siding went preservation issues will continue to First on ASHP's agenda for back on. As a novice in the area of be published, as will student and school year is our Tenth Annive carpentry, I, like those in the professional opinions. Celebration, recognizing the neighborhood, was a little amazed at founding of the Historic Preservation the transformation that was The focus of this publication Program at the University of Oregon. happening. Of course, there were covers historic preservation activity We began a year ago organizing still those less impressed, 'I hope to from several areas in the Midwest this homecoming for alumni, faculty, hell you got a BIG grant from the and PacHic Northwest. The articles and others affiliated with the government - you'll need it!' one might have delved into the 'what I program. Between internships and man shouted, laughing as he walked did on my summer vacation' classes this summer, the committee past. In fact, the project has category save for the fact that our continued to meet, ironing out received the largest matching loan experiences were professional in details of scheduling events and the ever given for restoration by the city scope, and allowed us to participate guest list. of Eugene. in many of the subjects and concerns that hitherto had only The big day is October 27. The By publication the carriage been the topic of classroom debate. Celebration will serve more than just house restoration will be complete. Two articles in particular deal with a reunion for this tight-knit group. The windows will have been rebuilt the concerns of structure Round Table discussions and and glazed, and the doors hung. preservation in our National Parks. speakers' panels will provide a The interior adaptive measures, forum for the exchange of ideas on including insulation, plumbing, Future articles will include a pertinent issues of preservation and tongue and groove floor and report by our ASH P president, Tim preservation education. One of our wainscoting, and sheetrock are in Netsch, on his participation in the honored guests at the celebration their final stages. National Trust for Historic will be Michael Tomlin, Chairman of Preservation Conference in the National Council for Preservation This carriage house has become Charleston, and a synopsis of our Education. a part of the identity of the entire activities during the University of neighborhood, a point of pride. Its Oregon 's Historic Preservation Two years ago the found unique roof line rises above the low Program 10th Anniversary members of ASHP envisioned th houses, making a focal point for the Celebration. Thesis lists from eventual development of a nation- nearby park. I am eager to see how graduate preservation programs will wide network of preservation dramatic the reaction will be when also appear. students. An affiliation between the restoration of the house begins. ASHP and an already established The entire project is an illustration of As always, we are more than national organization is the most the powerful effect that community happy to hear from our readers, and logical step toward this end. We preservation efforts can exert on are eager to publish articles on your look forward to discussing with Mr. neighborhoods today. areas of interest. Our mailing list Tomlin such a relationship between extends across the nation to the NCPE and ASHP. The potential professionals and students of our signtticance of a nationally unHied profession, as well as to the and active block of student historically devoted and the merely preservationists is exciting. curious. EDITORS' NOTES Hugs, Dena and Donna Once again the editorship of the 'ASHP News• has changed hands as previous students graduate (yes, it actually happens!) and the responsibility of overseeing the creation of the newsletter passes to the next generation. Dave and Sohyun, editors of the expanded Volume Two newsletters, did an admirable job in creating a refined and professional publication which focused on both local and national PRESERVATION PLANNING FOR HISTORIC STRUCTURES IN ALASKA'S STATE PARKS By Sylvia Elliot What is the value of preserving a building of rather insignificant architectural design, built less than 50 years ago, and located in the midst of a popular recreational fishing area: The answers to this question are well illustrated by the Ernest Gruening cabin, acquired by the State of Alaska in 1989. During an internship with the State Office of History and Archaeology this summer, I was involved with a project which explored interpretation and management options for the newly Ernest Gruening cabin, northwest of Juneau, Alaska. created 13.2 acre Gruening State Historic Park, located 26 miles protect the landscape and cabin project, I spoke with the State northwest of Juneau. The 1 and 1/ 2 from problems associated with an Historic Preservation Officer, the story cabin, built in 1946, is anticipated increase in park state historian, the state architectural surrounded by stands of blue visitation. The issue of new historian. the regional manager o! spruce, western hemlock and alder, construction (boardwalks) within the parks in southeast Alaska, the park and overlooks Amalga Harbor. sight-lines of the cabin must be ranger currently living at the cabin, Because it is the only building other weighed against the need to protect DNR's landscape architect, a state than the Governor's Mansion which fragile root systems of the archaeologist, and Gruening's son. can be directly associated with surrounding forest from abrasion by Each person voiced different Gruening's years in Alaska-as increased foot traffic. Several use concerns regarding the use of this territorial governor, statehood options for the cabin were explored: cabin. And each of these concerns, proponent and senator-elect--the a park ranger residence (not open if reviewed and considered carefully, cabin presents an opportunity for to public), interpretation of the cabin will allow the Department of Natural the Department of Natural interior (year-round resident Resources to develop a successful Resources (DNA), Division of Parks caretaker), and interpretation limited master plan to insure the to visibly acknowledge Gruening's to the building's exterior (free- conservation of a building which has many contributions to the standing interpretive panels) . the potential of providing park development of Alaska by the Factors which must be considered visitors a glimpse into the life of thoughtful preservation and before any plan is implemented Ernest Gruening, one of Alaska's interpretation of this cabin for the include the problems of theft and great statesmen. public. Because the cabin exterior vandalism in this somewhat and surrounding landscape have secluded area, vehicular vs. foot been altered very little during the traffic within the park, the need for past 44 years, the site retains much an archaeological survey to be of its original integrity. This is performed before any ground- significant, since many of the historic disturbing repairs are commenced buildings in the state have been on the building's exterior, and the moved from their original sites. State Park system's limited budget for historic preservation projects. The challenge in preservation planning for this park To design a successful lies in balancing the existing preservation plan for the Gruening recreational, sport fishing use of the cabin, the input of a variety of surrounding area , with a people will be crucial. During the preservation strategy which will course of my research for this KINGS HILL HISTORIC subsequent construction in the ROSENBERG'S DISTRICT, King's Hill neighborhood reflected a DEPARTMENT STORE, PORTLAND OREGON new emphasis on multi-family SANTA ROSA'S MODERNE buildings, and smaller lot sizes. JEWEL By Dena Sanford Many new buildings were in the American Renaissance and Mediterranean styles. Private home By Paula Cook On November 2, 1990 the King's designs in the 1920s and 1930s Hill Historic District National Register were more apt to be in the The Rosenberg Department nomination will come before the Craftsman style or one of the many Store building in Santa Rosa is the Oregon State Advisory Committee. Historic Period styles, such as city's last true 'Deco• period dazzler, The date marks the completion of a Norman, Jacobethan, or English a shining 'Streamline Moderne· three year project to recognize one Cottage. The architects active in the architectural jewel that arose from of Portland's most significant and neighborhood during this' the depths of the depression. unique residential districts. Secondary Period' included Pietro Belluschi, Carl Linde, and the firm of Fred Rosenberg was a Wh il e the King' s Hill Whitehouse and Foilhoux. visionary who sought to utilize neighborhood is not the oldest modern architecture to enhance his residential area in Portland, and I was fortunate to participate in family store and Santa Rosa's equally impressive homes can be the creation of this 133 building downtown. Many generations of found throughout the city, the district as a summer intern with Rosenbergs were in retail sales, but district is distinguished by its Demuth and Associates, the the Rosenberg building was truly a concentration of well preserved, consulting firm which prepared the monument to them and their architect designed mansions and nomination. The King's Hill Historic community. the significant Portland families who District nomination process began owned them. The wide range of two years before my short The building itse~ has an building styles document the involvement , and was the interesting pre-history which led to evolving popularlty of differing continuation of activity begun by its construction in the 30s. Max architectural styles in the United preservation minded King's Hill Rosenberg, after leaving his uncle States and Portland from the 1880s residents in 1977. In early 1989, the Rolf Rosenberg 's mercanr to the present. Oregon State Historic Preservation operation in Healdsburg in 1 Office awarded the largest grant to began his own department store ,n The historic district derives its date to the King's Hill Historic San Francisco. His business name from Portland pioneers, Amos Association for work on the operated as Rosenberg Brothers as and Melinda King, who filed a nomination preparation. was located between Third and donation land claim on more than Market Streets. The partner in his 500 acres of heavily forested hillside The proposed district recently first venture was Max's younger in 1852. Serious development of went before the Portland Historic brother, Isidore Rosenberg. The King's Hill, with its panoramic view of Landmark Commission, which brothers expanded, opening downtown Portland and the unanimously voted to recommend it additional stores in St. Helena and Willamette River, began in the 1890s to the Portland City Council at the Woodland. Max, however, soon following the completion of a status of local Historic District. In decided to locate a store in Santa streetcar line on West Burnside addition to this move, the Rosa. It's been said that he became Street, the northern boundary of the commission expressed the option impressed with the town while neighborhood. that the distinctive residential district attending the local Rose Carnival, as be accorded a high threshold of the Rose Parade was once named. King's Hill soon became the design review in keeping with the After Max's decision to open his fashionable neighborhood of choice integrity of the neighborhood. The Santa Rosa store, the brothers for the movers and shakers of turn commission recognized the closed both the San Francisco and of the century Portland . distinctive character of the St. Helena locations and brother Businessmen, politicians. artists, neighborhood, and noted its Isidor became the owner/manager of philanthropists, and physicians hired 'miracle' survival as one of the few the Woodland store. the city's most prominent architects remaining residential areas of its Max opened his new Santa to design their residences in the kind in the country situated next to a Rosa department store, The Red most popular styles. Within 20 significant business district. Front, on Fourth Street on the site years, such architects as A.E. Doyle, which was later occupied by Raymond & Lawrence, and Whidden Poulsen Department Store. & Lewis created imposing Queen Anne, Shingle, Colonial Revival, and In the 1906 earthquake, Arts and Crafts style buildings. In when Max Rosenberg's Red Front the years following World War I, Store suffered severe damage, the establishment relocated to The building is a steel-frame constructing a 10-story high-rise Mendocino Avenue (approximately structure composed of reinforced structure in its place. where the Press Democrat sits concrete with a large, glass- oday). This temporary building was enclosed tower. It has the style's Under the auspices of the eferred to as a "shack' and it was in characteristic rounded corners, flat Sonoma County Historical Society, a this store that Rosenberg received roof, and horizontal bands of committee was established in May 18 trunks which he used for windows and aluminum and 1990 to preserve Fred Rosenberg's counters from which to operate his stainless steel trim on an otherwise Moderne treasure. As Committee business. unadorned surface. Rosenberg's Chairman Jack Bookwalter explains, typifies the style's allegory to speed 'We're hoping to save the building; It wasn't until 1908 that Max and technology--the streamlined to educate the populace and to urge Rosenberg moved to a building he •wave of the future.• At the time of the city council to recognize the had constructed on Fifth near B its construction it was the tallest historic and architectural importance Street. At this location they awaited building in Santa Rosa with its of the Rosenberg's Department the completion of the Overton Hotel illuminated tower's neon-green glow Store building and to enact at Fourth and B Streets which was visible for miles. measures to preserve its to be the new home of The Red preservation.• Committee members Front Department Store. Upon Interestingly, a model of this Allan Nichol, Don Daken and Glenn moving into this building, Max Streamline Moderne structure was Burch are assisting in this worthy officially changed the name to exhibited at the 1939 World's Fair cause. Rosenberg's Department Store. held on Treasure Island, as it exemplified the technology of the The committee, to date, has Max retired in 1925, leaving future. operated an information/petition the managing of his business signing table at the Thursday Night interests to his son, Fred Shortly after the closing of Market opposite the building's front Rosenberg. Under Fred ' s the store in 1988, the Art Deco entrance on Fourth Street. Their management the Fourth Street Society of California presented its slogan is 'SAVE ITI DON'T TEAR IT Rosenberg's saw expansion and highest honor, the Preservation DOWN!' highlighted by a pen and extensive improvements, only to Award, to the building's owners: •as ink sketch of the building by local suffer a devastating fire in May of it was the largest and most modern artist and preservationist, Ross 1936 which completely gutted the department store north of San Parkerson. The committee hopes to building. Fred quickly re-established Francisco ...A DSC gives it an award raise public awareness and money the family store at 414 Fourth Street in fond hopes that it will be saved.• through the distribution of and promptly set about plans for Parkerson's pen and ink sketch constructing a larger, more modern Recently a development reduced onto note cards. structure. group has submitted plans to the City of Santa Rosa's office of Any and all support is gladly As headlines from the May Community Development that call for accepted, as the committed have 12, 1936, Press Democrat explained, destroying the Rosenberg's quite a large job ahead of them, if the plans for the new Rosenberg's Department Store building and the building is to be saved. department store were budgeted for Questions or comments can be $250,000-a tidy sum during the directed to the committee chair, Depression years! The building was Jack Bookwalter, at 767 Southwood initially designed by Cal D. Caulkins, Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95407. a local architect; subsequent construction plans were drawn by architects Hertska and Knowles. Caulkin's design exemplified the Moderne architectural style of the late 1930s and early 1940s. Fred Rosenberg no doubt saw architecture as a means of enlivening his community when he commissioned Cal Caulkins to design the new Rosenberg's apartment Store in the Streamline Moderne style. THE FATE OF PORT Today the Port Oneida area budgetary and management ONEIDA is composed of vacant, boarded up problems that are the burdens of the farmsteads whose once plowed Park Service. By Donna Hartmans fields are overgrown by advancing woodlands. Interspersed amongst A portion of Port Oneid these ghost farms are tidy farms of Sleeping Bear Dunes the form of sketch plans a few acres lovingly cared for by National Lakeshore is located in the farmsteads, plus inked drawings of retired longtime residents who have northwest corner of Michigan twenty two of the sites are now enshrined lease-back agreements from the five mils west of Traverse City (the in a file at the Library of Congress in government. A few large scale cherry capital of the world}. This Washington, D.C. Perhaps these operating farms still exist. National Park Service unit includes a drawings are all that some tourists thirty mile stretch of shoreline 5-1 O to Sleeping Bear Dunes National The dilemma of the Port miles wide, plus two islands Lakeshore will ever see, rr the Park Oneida area currently lies within the approximately seven miles from the Service happens to display them. questionable and potentially mainland. This National Lakeshore For the fragility of many of the conflicting philosophy of protecting was established twenty years ago to vacant farmsteads increases each and restoring the natural year as these buildings endure the protect the fragile, glacially created environment while concurrently seasonal elements, vandalism, and dune environment in this area, and preserving the pastoral landscape of a minimum of stabilization by the allow this natural phenomena to these farmsteads. In the early Park Service. Until the National remain undisturbed for the 1970s the Park Service embarked Register nomination for the Port enjoyment of the public. The park upon a scheme for Sleeping Bear Oneida Rural Historic District is includes not only the sand dunes Dunes whereby all non-historic and completed and approved, the fate of and beaches of Lake Michigan, but some historic buildings were to be rolling woodlands, meadows, and this area remains in bureaucratic auctioned off and removed. This the evidence of humankind's limbo. would allow the area to return to its influence upon the land for the past pre-1850s environment. (I find it THE ENVIRONMENTAL 140 years. quite interesting that the mark of SECTION OF THE OREGON humankind can and should be Port Oneida is the name of a DEPARTMENT OF TRANS- community that once existed on a erased form the face of the earth, as PORTATION projection of land known as Pyramid rr this area was always wilderness) Then in 1976 a new idea of creating Point, a finger of steeply bluffed a rural historic district was By Joan Kelley shoreline about five miles square. developed for the Port Oneida area. This area was settled in the 1850s Research was begun to document As a second year graduate and its residents made their its history, architecture, and student in the Historic Preservation livelihoods by fishing and lumbering. landscape. program at the University of Oregon, Agricultural endeavors followed and I am currently involved with the the population increased with the This past summer, 14 years cultural resource division of the passing of the Homestead Act in into the project, the Park Service Oregon Department of 1862. employed a team of students Transportation, Environmental through the Historic American Section, in Salem. As an intern, I Many of the decedents of Building Survey to complete the work with geographers, biologists, Port Oneida's settlers continued to farm the land until the 1960s when architectural documentation of Port engineers, and historians. The Oneida buildings. As a team Environmental Section is involved in the Park Service began planning the any federal projects in which National Lakeshore. Many of the member I was involved with drawing residents took this opportunity to sell sketch plans of the farmsteads both properties are listed or eligible for vacant and occupied. A total of 25 the National Register. For example, their land to the government at a farmsteads and two schoolhouses a proposed highway project is an time when farming declined in were recorded. My teammates and undertaking financed with federal-aid profitability, and public knowledge of I lived in one of the farmsteads that matching funds administered by the the extent and possible control by the Park Service maintains for Federal Highway Administration, the government agency was seasonal employees. Therefore we United States Department of nebulous and uncertain. Some folks Transportation. The Environmental sold and moved away. Some had close interaction with some of people chose to sell their property Port Oneida's remaining residents. Section functions under the •section and lease-back the farms tax free for It became evident that there are 106' process, pursuant under the a 20-30 year period. Others refused various historical, political, National Historic Preservation A philosophical and emotional aspects 1966 and Section 4(1) of the to sell. involved with the preservation of Port Department of Transportation Act of Oneida, not to mention the 1966. The cultural resource division prepares repons in accordance with They're just some of the unparalleled resource for the procedures and requirements of questions asked daily by preservationists everywhere. the National Environmental Policy preservationists around the country-- Act of 1969 as well. Goal 5, pan of questions that reflect the varied New acquisitions have only regon's Statewide Planning Policy, concerns of people involved in enhanced the collection's reputation. one of the comprehensive land maintaining our tangible heritage. Recently, the U. S. Depanment of use goals that requires that full the Interior's National Park Service consideration and protection be And they're just some of the designated the library as the central given to significant and questions routinely answered by the repository for all research repons archaeological and historic nation's single greatest source for relating to historic preservation. resources. After learning about the preservation information, the Previously no one national library structure of both federal and Oregon National Trust for Historic held a significant number of these preservation laws in an Historic Preservation Library Collection of the limited-run publications. And earlier Preservation class last fall , it is University of Maryland at College this year, Charles Hosmer, the noted instructive to actually be involved in Park. historian of the preservation the procedure and seeing the movement, turned over to the library results first hand. The largest collection of its the tapes and transcripts of The Environmental Section kind in the United States-with nearly interviews he conducted with eighty- consists of a group of 50,000 items spanning every aspect two of the nation's leading environmentally conscious and of historic preservation- the library's architectural historians and culturally sensitive individuals who impressive holdings draw students preservationists. Once accessioned, work hard to preserve our heritage. and scholars, urban planners and they'll become an invaluable primary I share an office with Maxine Banks, old house owners alike to the source material for anyone known for her interest in University's College Park Campus. interested in the history of archaeology and Rosalind Clark They come to search through the preservation in America. Keeney, author of Architecture more than 11 ,000 volumes covering Oregon Style. (By way of osmosis preservation topics ranging from the Keeping up with what's alone . I should learn something.) technical to the aesthetic, from being published in the field is an on- Dwight Smith, co-author of Historic general guides to American going concern of the library staff. Highway Bridges of Oregon, architecture to specialized studies of Each month they comb the more upervises my internship projects. individual buildings. They pore over than 300 preservation-related eedless to say, I am fonunate to the clippings, brochures and other periodicals to which the library be under such astute and scholarly special references contained in subscribes, and ident~ anicles of influence. I can truly say Oregon's nearly 2,000 venical files. And they current interest. The result of their built environment, as well as our discover such unique resources as labors is The University of Maryland cultural and natural resources are in the library's extensive architectural Index to Historic Preservation good hands. postcard collection, with over 18,500 Periodicals, the first such pre-World War I views of notable comprehensive listing created. buildings and sites across the U. S. Published by G. K. Hall Library Catalogs of Boston, the volume lists As its hybrid name implies, more than 5,500 anicles published THE NATION'S SOURCE the collection was begun by the in a broad range of journals, FOR PRESERVATION National Trust for Historic museum bulletins and preservation Preservation, the private, non-profit newsletters issued since 1979. Many INFORMATION: THE organization chanered by Congress of the entries provide bibliographic UNIVERSITY OF in 1949 to encourage public information on unpublished repons MARYLAND'S NATIONAL panicipation in the preservation of not found in any other index. TRUST FOR HISTORIC sites and structures sign~icant in PRESERVATION LIBRARY American history and culture. Over COLLECTION the years, however, the collection The collection is open to the outgrew the limited space afforded public from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. by the Trust's downtown washington Monday through Friday. For tunher What is the best way to offices. In 1986 the library was information, contact Sally Stokes, repair the stucco on an aging donated to the University of Curator, the University of Maryland craftsman bungalow? Who is Maryland, which now has full National Trust for Historic bringing the glory back to movie responsibility for managing and Preservation Library Collection, alaces of yesteryear? How are expanding the collection. Now Architecture Library, College Park, vitalized Main Streets helping to housed in the University's School of Maryland 20742, (301) 405-6320. bolster sagging local economies: Or Architecture and substantially model sign ordinances. reshaping expanded in its campus setting, the the look of small town America? collection today forms an N .W. FtAND0tS ST ~ l~I 11 I \ N .W . EVERETT ST l§JI w u ~ ~I I~ ~ u j Q 0a N. W. DA 1/tS ST a I;; ~ ;; -,: § ~ -,: " z i. z ~ z ~ 0:: < c.. z 0 E-- 0 -z S.W. PA.RX PLACE . :r: . tn al < < > ~ < S.W. MAINST. ~ ~ I;; •• ·••••• 0 ; liI?:: ; - .....,,"-'-, ~ Ca:npad.ble~g r~-= -Obaid &o-i.mdar)' ~ -"""""""' EJ Non..c.oa,p.dblitNo,.,.Canaibu&,g N ~ ~SO' Hlslcric Nca-Contribwmg . ~V~t w l(X, KING'S HILL HISTORICAL DISTRICT KING'S lilLL HISIORIC ASSOOATION • DEMUTH & ASSCXJA1ES The Associated Students of Historic Preservation (ASHP) PO Box 3407 Eugene, Oregon 97403 You've Got the News!