The Frank Silas Doernbecher House is a Tudor-Revival mansion located in Northeast
Portland
Portland most commonly refers to:
* Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States
* Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...
,
Oregon
Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
, United States. It is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
.
The house was built circa 1903 for Portland businessman Frank S. Doernbecher (1861–1921), who founded the Doernbecher Furniture Company in
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma ( ) is the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. A port city, it is situated along Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, Washington, Olympia, and northwest of Mount ...
, and upon moving to
Portland
Portland most commonly refers to:
* Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States
* Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...
in 1900 established the Doernbecher Manufacturing Company. Doernbecher also made a $200,000 donation to build the
Doernbecher Children's Hospital
Doernbecher Children's Hospital is an academic teaching children's hospital associated with Oregon Health & Science University located in Portland, Oregon. Established in 1926, it is the first full-service children's hospital in the Pacific Northw ...
in Portland.
Article Body
Frank Silas Doernbecher
Born in
Kewaksum, Wisconsin in 1861, Frank Silas Doernbecher, born to Silas Doernbecher, a German political exile, spent his first 27 years learning about the furniture industry from his father. After moving to
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma ( ) is the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. A port city, it is situated along Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, Washington, Olympia, and northwest of Mount ...
, Doernbecher established the Doernbecher Furniture Company. In 1900, Doernbecher set his sights on a rapidly growing city along the Willamette River named
Portland
Portland most commonly refers to:
* Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States
* Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...
where he would take his business and become a leader in his industry.
Frank Doernbecher died in 1921 at the age of 59 in Portland. As a final act of goodwill, he portioned off a quarter of his estate to be donated to the City of Portland to continue his work in growing the city after his death. His two children, Edward and Ada Doernbecher, decided to give the money to the University of Oregon Medical School on Marquam Hill (now
Oregon Health and Science University) to create the first dedicated children's hospital in Oregon. The
Doernbecher Memorial Hospital for Children opened in 1926 and has been serving the children of Portland, Oregon, and the nation ever since.
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]
Architecture
The Frank Silas Doernbecher House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
on March 14, 1978. The Tudor Revival mansion is located in the Irvington neighborhood in Portland, which is lined with maple trees has a park-like setting that was the custom during the 20th century in that area. The home is rectangular and was built with a front porch, porte-cochère and several bays and projections. The walls are made of cedar shingles, and the gable ends are made with stucco
Stucco or render is a construction material made of aggregates, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as a decorative coating for walls and ceilings, exterior walls, and as a sculptural and a ...
. Other notable features include brick chimney stacks, leaded window panes, and a pointed window arch. The Doernbecher House is also known for its wood paneling and hand-carved decoration throughout. The house was registered in 1978 because of the significance of the entrepreneur who built it. It was occupied by the children and grandchildren of Frank Doernbecher until it was sold in 1976. it continues to be a private residence. The house has since had its utilities updated but maintains its architectural significance.[Walter, Poida J]
"NPGallery Asset Detail".
National Park Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, 1978.
See also
*
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Doernbecher, Frank Silas, House
1903 establishments in Oregon
Houses completed in 1903
Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Portland, Oregon
Buildings and structures in Irvington, Portland, Oregon
Tudor Revival architecture in Oregon
Portland Historic Landmarks