Comments on: Alameda Library? Unlikely. http://alamedahistory.org/2008/01/13/alameda-library-nope/ Connecting Past and Present in Northeast Portland's Historic Homes Sun, 04 Jul 2010 15:52:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Doug http://alamedahistory.org/2008/01/13/alameda-library-nope/#comment-1726 Doug Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:34:01 +0000 http://alamedahistory.wordpress.com/2008/01/13/alameda-library-nope/#comment-1726 Thanks, Eric, for your observations from your time in the home. These are persistent stories from some: your comments are very helpful in that they place the "meeting place" aspect of the building into the late 1920s or early 1930s. While I have researched all of the building permits on this property, I haven't looked back through tax records, which as you suggest could be helpful. (In fact, it would be insightful to identify all tax foreclosures in Alameda in the early 1930s.) I've also not found any reference in <em>The Oregonian</em> or the <em>Oregon Journal</em> related to a more public function of this property. Still, the stories persist. I do feel confident the building was constructed as a single family home and was always intended to be a residence, but there may have been a moment--a foreclosure induced opportunity--to use the building briefly for some other purposes. It's clearly back functioning as a single family residence by the early 1940s according to the family that grew up across the street during that period. My most recent blog posting about protests related to the construction of the Alameda Park Community Church (just one block north of the house) is clear indication of just how focused early residents were on prohibiting anything that wasn't residential. I had a chance to go through the house during the remodel process this spring, and when it was completed this fall, and your assessment is right on: it's essentially an entirely new house wrapped in an envelope of an older home. All of the interior partitions have been rearranged, among many other changes. It appears to be first class work. Should you get down to Portland, I'll bet the current owners would welcome an opportunity to visit with you, and maybe even want to walk through the house with you. If you are interested, I'd be pleased to connect you with them. Do keep an eye on the blog...maybe you've started something. -Doug Thanks, Eric, for your observations from your time in the home. These are persistent stories from some: your comments are very helpful in that they place the “meeting place” aspect of the building into the late 1920s or early 1930s. While I have researched all of the building permits on this property, I haven’t looked back through tax records, which as you suggest could be helpful. (In fact, it would be insightful to identify all tax foreclosures in Alameda in the early 1930s.) I’ve also not found any reference in The Oregonian or the Oregon Journal related to a more public function of this property. Still, the stories persist. I do feel confident the building was constructed as a single family home and was always intended to be a residence, but there may have been a moment–a foreclosure induced opportunity–to use the building briefly for some other purposes. It’s clearly back functioning as a single family residence by the early 1940s according to the family that grew up across the street during that period.

My most recent blog posting about protests related to the construction of the Alameda Park Community Church (just one block north of the house) is clear indication of just how focused early residents were on prohibiting anything that wasn’t residential.

I had a chance to go through the house during the remodel process this spring, and when it was completed this fall, and your assessment is right on: it’s essentially an entirely new house wrapped in an envelope of an older home. All of the interior partitions have been rearranged, among many other changes. It appears to be first class work. Should you get down to Portland, I’ll bet the current owners would welcome an opportunity to visit with you, and maybe even want to walk through the house with you. If you are interested, I’d be pleased to connect you with them.

Do keep an eye on the blog…maybe you’ve started something.

-Doug

]]> By: Eric Enquist http://alamedahistory.org/2008/01/13/alameda-library-nope/#comment-1725 Eric Enquist Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:34:32 +0000 http://alamedahistory.wordpress.com/2008/01/13/alameda-library-nope/#comment-1725 Doug, I came across your blog when doing a search for this address as I had heard from friends in the area that the house had recently been totally redone. I owned this home in the early to mid 1990's. A number of elderly neighbors used to talk to me about the library and activities that they recalled attending in the building during their childhood. I am going off of my memory of the title abstract and recall that sometime around 1929 the property was foreclosed by the county for back taxes. Apparently after it was foreclosed the county could not find a buyer and for several years it did actually serve as a local library and neighborhood meeting place. There is a large party room in the basement and my neighbors talked about their parents attending ballroom dances that were held there. This was a great and gracious home. By all accounts it still, is however in looking at the realtor website for the newly remodeled building a lot of the details and floor plan have been modified to more contemporary tastes. I now live in Seattle but still have fond memories of living in the area. I really enjoyed visiting your site and will bookmark and revisit it in the future. Regards, Eric Doug,
I came across your blog when doing a search for this address as I had heard from friends in the area that the house had recently been totally redone.
I owned this home in the early to mid 1990′s. A number of elderly neighbors used to talk to me about the library and activities that they recalled attending in the building during their childhood. I am going off of my memory of the title abstract and recall that sometime around 1929 the property was foreclosed by the county for back taxes. Apparently after it was foreclosed the county could not find a buyer and for several years it did actually serve as a local library and neighborhood meeting place. There is a large party room in the basement and my neighbors talked about their parents attending ballroom dances that were held there.
This was a great and gracious home. By all accounts it still, is however in looking at the realtor website for the newly remodeled building a lot of the details and floor plan have been modified to more contemporary tastes. I now live in Seattle but still have fond memories of living in the area. I really enjoyed visiting your site and will bookmark and revisit it in the future.
Regards,
Eric

]]> By: Bonnie http://alamedahistory.org/2008/01/13/alameda-library-nope/#comment-67 Bonnie Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:45:12 +0000 http://alamedahistory.wordpress.com/2008/01/13/alameda-library-nope/#comment-67 Carroll Waller, great grandson of missionary and pioneer AF Waller, was about the age of the century I think--probably too young to build a Portland house in the 20's. It just seemed so surprising--Carroll's grandfather was Orrin A. Waller--one of the first children born in Oregon to the missionaries. Portland today sometimes seems a small world, but no doubt was smaller in the mid 1920's. Thanks for the website Doug, it's interesting. Carroll Waller, great grandson of missionary and pioneer AF Waller, was about the age of the century I think–probably too young to build a Portland house in the 20′s. It just seemed so surprising–Carroll’s grandfather was Orrin A. Waller–one of the first children born in Oregon to the missionaries. Portland today sometimes seems a small world, but no doubt was smaller in the mid 1920′s. Thanks for the website Doug, it’s interesting.

]]> By: Doug http://alamedahistory.org/2008/01/13/alameda-library-nope/#comment-66 Doug Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:00:20 +0000 http://alamedahistory.wordpress.com/2008/01/13/alameda-library-nope/#comment-66 Hi Bon. I thought of you when I saw the Waller name. Unfortunately, the convention on 1920s era building permits was to put the person's initials. There is nothing further here. I did a little looking into my genealogy tools and see a Cleo O. Waller in Portland, but much later. I also see a C.O. Waller in the Salem Polk directories from 1974 til 1988. Any suggestions? Hi Bon. I thought of you when I saw the Waller name. Unfortunately, the convention on 1920s era building permits was to put the person’s initials. There is nothing further here. I did a little looking into my genealogy tools and see a Cleo O. Waller in Portland, but much later. I also see a C.O. Waller in the Salem Polk directories from 1974 til 1988. Any suggestions?

]]> By: Bonnie http://alamedahistory.org/2008/01/13/alameda-library-nope/#comment-65 Bonnie Wed, 23 Jan 2008 06:50:36 +0000 http://alamedahistory.wordpress.com/2008/01/13/alameda-library-nope/#comment-65 I'm wondering what C.O. stands for in Mr. Waller's name? I'm a Waller family historian. I’m wondering what C.O. stands for in Mr. Waller’s name? I’m a Waller family historian.

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