This may have been William Whidden's first independent commission in Portland, OR; he traveled to the city originally as McKim, Mead and White's construction supervisor for the ill-fated Northern Pacific Railroad Hotel Project of 1881-1889. (Whidden came to Portland came to Portland at least three times between 1881-1889 during the on-again, off-again planning campaign for Henry Villard's grandiose project for a Northern Pacific Railroad Terminal and Hotel.)

Altered; the widow's walk and side sun room were removed; porch additions were also made over time affecting the house's original Colonial Revival character; according to William J. Hawkins III and William F. Willingham, in their book, "Classic Houses of Portland, Oregon: 1850-1950," this was the first Colonial Revival Style house built in Portland, OR; it reflected the height of East Coast architectural fashion at the time. (See William J. Hawkins III and William F. Willingham, Classic Houses of Portland, Oregon: 1850-1950, [Portland, OR: Timber Press, 1999], p. 220-221.

PCAD id: 13943