National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet
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NFS Form 10-900a OMB No. 1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES CONTINUATION SHEET Section ___ Page __ SUPPLEMENTARY LISTING RECORD NRIS Reference Number: 03001477 Date Listed: 1/23/2004 Reid's, Wilbur & Evelyn, Alderbrook Lodge Clackamas OR Property Name County State N/A Multiple Name This property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places in accordance with the attached nomination documentation subject to the following exceptions, exclusions, or amendments, notwithstanding the National Park Service certification included in the nomination documentation. / Signa/tur/e of the Keeper Date of Action Amended Items in Nomination: Location: The "Not for Publication" box was inadvertently checked and does not apply to this nomination. Period of Significance: The period of significance (1914-1935) coincides with the date of construction and the end of the initial phase of recreational residence construction in the area. Significance: Architecture is added as an area of significance under Criterion C. These clarifications were confirmed with the OR SHPO office DISTRIBUTION: National Register property file Nominating Authority (without nomination attachment) NFS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0011 (Rev. 10-90) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES REGISTRATION FORM This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual propertfes-a^d districts. See instructions in How to Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the information requested. If any item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional entries and narrative items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 10-900a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all items. 1. Name of Property historic name Wilbur and Evelyn Reid's Aiderbrook Lodge other names/site number n/a 2. Location street & number 26863 E. Rolling Riffle Lane_______________ not for publication X city or town Boring___________vicinity Rhododendron state Oregon code OR county Clackamas____code 005 zip code 97009_____ 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1986, as amended, I hereby certify that this _x_ nomination __ request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property y meets __ does not meet the National Register Criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant __ nationally __ statewide Y locally. (__ See continuation sheet for additional comments.) Signature of certifying official Date /Deputy SHPO State or Federal agency and bureau/ Oregon State Historic Preservation Office In my opinion, the property __ meets __ does not meet the National Register criteria. (__ See continuation sheet for additional comments.) Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 4. National Park Service Certification I, hereby certify that this property is: Signature of Keeper Date of Action entered in the National Register See continuation sheet. ' _ determined eligible for the National Register __ See continuation sheet. _ determined not eligible for the National Register _ removed from the National Register other (explain): 5. Classification Ownership of Property (Check as many boxes as apply) _X_private __ public-local __ public-State __ public-Federal Category of Property (Check only one box) ^X_ building(s) __ district __site __ structure __object Number of Resources within Property Contributing Noncontributing 2 ___ buildings ___ ___ sites ___ ___ structures ___ ___ objects Total USDI/NPS NRHP Registration Form Alderbrook Lodge Clackamas County, Oregon Number of contributing resources previously listed in the NationalRegister ___Name of related multiple property listing (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing.) __________N/A USDI/NPS NRHP Registration Form Alderbrook Lodge Clackamas County, Oregon 6. Function or Use Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Cat: Sub: Domestic Camp (seasonal residence) Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Cat: Sub: Domestic Camp (seasonal residence) 7. Description Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) ___ Prarie School_________________ Craftsman Materials (Enter categories from instructions) foundation wood and stone roof asphalt walls ___wood: shingle other USDI/NPS NRHP Registration Form Alderbrook Lodge Clackamas County, Oregon NFS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Section 7 Page _J_ Wilbur and Evevin Reid's Alderbrook Lodge name of property Clackamas County. Oregon county and State Background and Physical Description Wilbur Pelton Reid (1888-1956) commissioned the construction of Alderbrook Lodge in 1914 as a wedding present to his wife, Evelyn Farrington Hitchcock. Alderbrook was the first private summer home constructed in Rowe (now known as Rhododendron). Its name reflects the babbling brook atmosphere of its sleeping deck, which lay directly adjacent to the Zig Zag River, and the numerous surrounding Alder trees. Reid never utilized it nor intended it to be a public inn. In fact, he purchased the first and largest tract of land for Alderbrook from the Rhododendron Mineral Springs Company, a Portland City corporation for 200 dollars in 1911. Under terms of the purchase, the City forbade Reid from using the property as a "shop, saloon, store, hotel, boarding house, livery stable, laundry, foundry, factory, or other place of business" for ten years after the purchase date. It was, according to the conveyance, solely for "residential purposes."! A similar restriction was placed on Reid's purchase of an adjoining tract in 1914 from H.S. and Agnes Rowe, who were eager to preserve the monopoly of the nearby Rhododendron Inn.2 None of these restrictions bothered Wilbur Reid. He wanted the land for a private family vacation home near the site of his first meeting with Evelyn. Wilbur and Evelyn had courted during family vacations to Rowe while staying at Emil and Suzette Franzetti's Rhododendron Inn, which attracted some of Portland's most affluent families.3 The Alderbrook property encompasses approximately two acres of flat, heavily wooded land on the north bank of the Zig Zag River, on the west side of present-day Rhododendron. The parcel is sandwiched between the Zig Zag River and highway 26, directly west of the pedestrian suspension bridge. However, at the time of its construction, Alderbrook stood across the Zig Zag (and to the north of) the principal highway. A 1954 project condemned a northerly portion of the Alderbrook and rerouted highway 26 through it. In contrast to summer homes that would subsequently be built in the Still Creek Summer Home Tract (see section 8), Reid wanted a summer home 1 Clackamas County Recorder's Office, Index of Deeds, 14 September 1911: 122/259. Also see photocopies of these records in accompanying documents. 2 Clackamas County Recorder's Office, Index of Deeds, 8 July 1914: 135/266 Also see photocopies of these records in accompanying documents. 3 Jack Grauer, Mount Hood: A Complete History (Grauer, 1975), p. 82. USDI/NPS NRHP Registration Form 5 Alderbrook Lodge Clackamas County, Oregon United States Department of the Interior National Park Service NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES CONTINUATION SHEET Section 7 Page _2_ that reflected prevalent architectural movements. He chose Francis Brown who was simultaneously at work on the Reid's main residence on Portland's Stark Street. Brown, who had worked with the Greene brothers in California, made an instant reputation for himself with the Stark Street house. It is now considered the best remaining example of a Craftsman style home in Oregon.4 Although much less extravagant, Alderbrook was nonetheless a remarkable achievement considering its location and function. At Alderbrook, Brown mixed his penchant for the Craftsman and Prairie School styles. The house possesses a single level floor plan that is roughly rectangular in shape, allowing for a massive hip roof that covers approximately 1200 square feet. The home's post and pier foundation was originally entirely concealed by a wrap-around wooden sleeping deck. The exterior walls are of split shingles. Casement windows, often set in doors, line all sides of the home. Prominent roof overhangs over Alderbrook's western sleeping deck were made possible through the use of off-angle wall contractions that define the interior great room, bedrooms and dormitory. The roof, which was originally of cedar shingles, is capped by a large river-stone chimney. An asphalt roof was installed during the 1960s. A 300 square-foot outbuilding, also dating from 1914, lies 25 feet to the northeast of the main house. Built originally as a garage, it possesses no foundation, and is presently used for storage. Alderbrook's interior is marked by a large gathering room at its center, which divides