The National Cash Register Building, commonly referred to as the St. Johns Theater & Pub, was a building that was first erected in
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...
, for the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904 and then moved to
Portland, Oregon
Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the list of cities in Oregon, largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, Columbia rivers, Portland is ...
, the next year for the
Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition
The Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition, commonly also known as the Lewis and Clark Exposition, and officially known as the Lewis and Clark Centennial and American Pacific Exposition and Oriental Fair, was a worldwide exposition held in Portlan ...
.
It was moved a third and final time to the suburb of
St. Johns, Oregon, which is now a part of Portland. It was given to the St. Johns Congregational Society by the
NCR Corporation.
It now houses a
McMenamins
McMenamins is a family-owned chain of brewpubs, breweries, music venues, historic hotels, and theater pubs in Oregon and Washington. Many of their locations are in rehabilitated historical properties; at least nine are on the National Register ...
theater and pub.
History
The
NCR Corporation constructed a $5,000 building for the 1904
Louisiana Purchase Exposition in
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...
.
The building was uprooted for $1,000 and transported to
Portland, Oregon
Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the list of cities in Oregon, largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, Columbia rivers, Portland is ...
, for the 1905
Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition
The Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition, commonly also known as the Lewis and Clark Exposition, and officially known as the Lewis and Clark Centennial and American Pacific Exposition and Oriental Fair, was a worldwide exposition held in Portlan ...
.
The building was constructed in sections so that it could be moved with ease.
The NCR Corporation passed out badges and sang songs on "NCR Day" at the exposition on September 4, 1905.
''
The Morning Oregonian
''The Oregonian'' is a daily newspaper based in Portland, Oregon, United States, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 1850 ...
'' reported that the building was "crowded all day".
After the exposition closed, the NCR Corporation donated it to the St. Johns Congregational Society of
St. Johns, Oregon.
On June 3, 1906, the National Cash Register Building was dedicated by Rev. Fred J. Warren of the St. Johns Congregational Society.
[ Several ministers and parishioners of other Congregational churches were in attendance.][ The First Congregational Church of Portland donated stained glass windows that read "The Bible and the Cross and Crown".][ Another donation of $1,200 was given by the Congregational Church Building Society for the purposes of moving the structure.]
By 1930, the building was occupied by the YWCA
The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is a nonprofit organization with a focus on empowerment, leadership, and rights of women, young women, and girls in more than 100 countries.
The World office is currently based in Geneva, Swi ...
. It is currently used as a theater
Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The perform ...
and pub
A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and was ...
by the McMenamins chain.
References
{{Theatres in Portland, Oregon
1904 establishments in Oregon
Buildings and structures in St. Johns, Portland, Oregon
Cinemas and movie theaters in Oregon
Churches in Portland, Oregon
McMenamins
NCR Corporation
Religious buildings and structures completed in 1904
Relocated buildings and structures in Oregon
Restaurants in Portland, Oregon
Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Theatres in Portland, Oregon
World's fair architecture in the United States
YWCA buildings
Portland Historic Landmarks
Former churches in Oregon
Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition