Protecting Portland’s history

Brandon Spencer-Hartle is a basement fanatic. As president of the Historic Preservation Club of PSU, he sees a lot of them. The club holds weekly tours of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places list to enjoy the architecture and ensure that the pieces of history are being properly maintained.

“We just want to make it apparent that there are people interested,” said club member Tanya March.

On a tour last Friday, the group met outside the Haseltine Building across from a row of bars in Old Town.

There was a sign advertising the open house. This is unusual, said Spencer-Hartle. Most managers and owners of the buildings are surprised when people actually show up to the legally required open houses.

The manager took the group on a tour of a space for rent. On the way back down in the elevator, Spencer-Hartle asked to view the basement.

In the basement, littered with empty cardboard boxes and paint cans, Spencer-Hartle quickly disappeared into the darkness.

Buildings on the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) list are required by law to open the main parts of the building to the public for four hours a year. In return, the owners get tax incentives, recognition and sometimes waivers on building codes.

Lists of open houses are publicized on the SHPO website. If the club shows up on the proper date at the proper time, and the manager refuses to open the door, they call it in to SHPO. They then have two years to hold an open house. March is keeping a list of those who refused.

The club is currently making an effort to help save the Morris Marks House. The house, built in 1880, is located near PSU at 1134 S.W. 12th Ave. The club will have a lecture by two prominent historians, Clem Ogilby and William J. Hawkins. They hope someone will save the building and move it, much like the Simon Benson House was moved in 2000.

The new group already helped save a Cedar Hills apartment building. SHPO was not aware that the building was to be torn down, and when the group showed up for a tour they called the state.

Formed last summer, the club has about 10 people who regularly attend its meetings and 35 people on the mailing list. The group welcomes anyone on their tours, including non-PSU students.

“I think it’s part of being sustainable,” March said. She noted that since older buildings were much more high labor, they are built to last.

All sorts of places are toured, from commercial buildings to single-family homes. Robin Pipkin joined the group because of her interest in preservation. She likes to see how the characteristics of the people are reflected in the houses they built.

“I just go on as many tours as I can,” Pipkin said. “I think there’s something interesting about everything we see.”

The second stop of the day didn’t get off to a very good start. It was at the W.L. Brewster apartments in Northwest Portland, built in 1908. There was no sign suggesting an open house.

Spencer-Hartle said it is not unusual for a building to have no sign. The group proceeded to ring every bell and knock on every door. Finally one buzzed open.

“We’re here for the historic open house,” March said.

“I don’t know anything about that,” came a voice from above, and the door swung shut. Finally, a woman coming down another stairway opened up a door and the group hiked up a long stairway.

On top was an apartment under construction. A man looking slightly surprised at the invasion of six damp students greeted them. Shock turned to welcome, and pride.

They used to keep the building open all day on open house days, he said, but they stopped since no one showed up. Questions were answered, and the club peered at wainscoting and windows and walk-in closets. Spencer-Hartle looked around, perhaps for some sign of a basement.

The Morris Marks House lecture will be held Friday, April 13, from 1 p.m.–3 p.m., on the second floor of the Urban Center Building. The Historic Preservation Club of PSU meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. They can be contacted at [email protected].