Comments on: The Builders

By: Doug

Doug — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:49:32 +0000

Hi Erin. I’ve responded via e-mail. Good luck with the remodel.

By: Erin Flynn

Erin Flynn — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 01:32:55 +0000

Doug,

Hi there. We recently purchased a home at 2935 Hancock. You verified earlier for me that the house is a Birkemier. We are going to do some renovations and I’m wondering if you know how we might find the original architectural drawings for the house. Any ideas? Thanks for your help!

By: Linda Hayden

Linda Hayden — Thu, 27 May 2010 01:21:47 +0000

Thanks again for your information about our neighborhood builders.

Since the entire pocket window single pane goes down into the wall, I have great ventilation. There are four of them in my bedroom. Unfortunately, it’s a real pain when the sash cords break. I had to remove the casing and the window sill just to get the pane out to replace the sash cords. I’d gone to window and door places, hardware stores and Rejuvenation looking for advice after finding none online. No one had ever encountered that type of window before. Of course, the window and door places felt I should replace them, but I love the uniqueness and ventilation…let alone the history. Again, thank-you for all the info you provide…love the website.

By: Doug

Doug — Fri, 07 May 2010 16:18:56 +0000

Hi Linda. Thanks for dropping by the website. I’ve done some looking into these two addresses and will send you an e-mail with permit and census information that you’ll find of interest.

I’m interested in learning more about the pocket window…

-Doug

By: Linda Hayden

Linda Hayden — Thu, 06 May 2010 01:56:31 +0000

My next door neighbor and I were both told the builder of homes on our block lived in our homes. Do you know who built homes at 2734 and 2744 NE Bryce Street? My home has pocket windows, single panes that drop down into the wall, that I’ve only heard about in one other home on Alameda.

By: Dan Johnson

Dan Johnson — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:22:43 +0000

Hello. I am the Editor for the BWNA Newsletter, and I’ve been wanted to include an article on the history of the Beaumont-Wilshire area. Specifically, how was this area named Beaumont-Wilshire? Can you help us? The next issue will be distributed in January, so the middle of December is our deadline. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Dan.

By: tobin teichgraeber

tobin teichgraeber — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 22:09:36 +0000

Hello –
we’re researching the builder of our 1942 home at 2332 NE Alameda and have been told it’s a Birkemeier. I see on your list of Ken Birkemeier’s homes that there is a Birkemeier home at 2372 NE Alameda – but today, there is no home with that address on Alameda. Can you clarify?
Is there any way for us to verify the builder of our home at 2332 NE Alameda?
Thanks,
Tobin and Danielle

By: teresa mcgrath

teresa mcgrath — Sun, 03 May 2009 15:37:00 +0000

hi doug, thx for your insightful articles on home history. we’ve been researching off and on for a brief span of time, and appreciate all your tips. haven’t found the builder of our place yet, but the process is fascinating. the oregon historical society was a great 4 hour launching post in our quest. we’ll have to look up the building permits and deed info next. if you have any further tips, feel free to share thx, teresa and nat

By: Peter Brown

Peter Brown — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:05:03 +0000

Hi Doug,

I restored a 1930 English Cottage style house in Vancouver and researched the history of its builder, William P. Moore.
Moore was born in Sweden and moved here with his parents to So. Dakota, then relocated to Vancouver as a young adult. He specialized in English Cottage homes, and
I’ve identified about 50 here in the older part of Vancouver that appear to be his. He built from 1907 until his death in 1937.
I’m guessing that he also built in Portland.
I recognize his house design style on your side of the river! What I don’t know is whether he was the designer or perhaps his English Cottages came from a series of stock plans by yet another person.
Any feel for that?

Thanks.

Peter

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:53:40 +0000

Hi Dawn. Thanks for visiting. I’ve had a look back through my database and don’t find any homes by Benjamin B. Brumwell in the Alameda Park subdivision. I’m not aware of any resource that references builders by plat, since the construction period spanned so many years. The database I’ve built comes from examining by hand all of the building permits for this neighborhood. If you haven’t delved into the permits, I’m sure you would find that helpful (if a little tedious). I’m betting you’ve seen the book by the Rose City Park Association which sheds life on the early life of the neighborhood. Lots of history there. Good luck with your research and let me know if you find any higher-level tools like the one you’ve mentioned.