Historic Irvington Home Tour May 21, 2006

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Great historic homes, inspiring restorations and renovations, these are the attractions which draw upwards of 1000 attendees to the annual Irvington Home Tour. This year?s homes, as always, present lots of variety of styles and decorating taste, coupled with plenty of historic character. We can't tell you exactly which homes will be on the tour this year (that would spoil the fun), but we can whet your appetite with a brief preview:

A Beautiful Bungalow

Noted Portland architect and historian Bill Hawkins says of this house: ?What is amazing is the quality that was incorporated in the house: large covered porches with balustrades, a fireplace, banked casement windows, rafter extensions, quality shingle siding, a glassed-in trellised bay, and beautiful interior amenities.? This singular home has never been on the Irvington Home Tour, but its elegant design ? almost seeming to float above its beautifully landscaped site ? has attracted the attention of local residents for many years.

A Perfect Type of New England Architecture

Ellis Lawrence had been in Portland only three years when he was commissioned to design this house. The association with Ellis Lawrence is the reason this home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the first of Ellis Lawrence?s designs after he struck off on his own as an independent architect and exhibits his extraordinary attention to detail. At the time of its construction it was referred to as ?A perfect type of New England architecture?, an accolade still fitting nearly 100 years later.

The Homes of the Rivals for the 1908 Race for U.S. Senate from Oregon

These two houses couldn?t be more different in architectural style, size, and feel, but they are tied together by a hundred year old political rivalry. Oregon?s Governor, George Chamberlain ran against Harry Cake in 1908 for the U. S. Senate ? Chamberlain as the Democrat, Cake the Republican? at a time when they lived barely a block apart. Chamberlain won and became a major national politician ? Woodrow Wilson asked him to be his Vice Presidential running mate in 1912. But Chamberlain refused ? preferring to return to his beloved house in Irvington -- thus ending his national political career.

A Home Never Before Open on the Irvington Home Tour

One of the many fine homes in Irvington built in the 1920?s this Dutch Colonial style home was the creation of architect/builder Robert Beat. Acquired a number of years ago by a top designer for one of the areas best-known corporations, this house features dramatic colors framing an extraordinary collection of fine 19th Century art. Tour goers will also be fascinated by the recreated recording studio with original equipment from the 1950?s in the basement.

A Mystery House from the Turn of the Last Century

This gracious house dates to 1901 and is a fascinating blend of Victorian and Arts & Crafts styles. Due to its age, there is no surviving record of its architect, but its elegant interior testifies to the skill of its designer. Both the father and grandfather of one of the owners of this house were stars of stage and motion pictures. Two generations of collecting art and crafts objects from their travels around the world mingled with the collections of the current owner?s jet setting adventures are on display here.

An Archetypal "Old Portland" House by an Inventor of the Style

When R. B. Rice designed this Craftsman Style home in 1910, little did he expect that nearly a hundred years later it would be a showcase for a collection of South Asian art brought from the current owners? native India. To frame their collection, they wanted the warmth of original Craftsman Style woodwork and undertook a major restoration throughout the house. The result is a fascinating blend of the best of two cultures.