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Overview

The Italianate business block, the Corbett Building, stood on the west side of 1st Street between Washington and Alder Streets in 1873.

Building History

The Corbett Building was owned by Henry Winslow Corbett (1827-1903), a partner in the wholesale hardware business of Corbett, Failing and Company, which occupied space at 53 and 55 Front Street in 1873. Corbett resided on 5th Street between Taylor and Yamhill Streets at this time. (See Samuel´s Directory of Portland and East Portland, 1873, p. 134.) This office building at 1st and Washington Streets, reputedly cost $40,000 to build in 1870. According to historian G. Thomas Edwards, Corbett became a successful merchant, investor, and politician, who served in the US Senate from 1867 until 1873: "Corbett invested wisely and widely in woolens and salmon, property, stage coaching, railroading, and banking and hardware with his brother-in law, Henry Failing, who had married Corbett’s sister, Emily, in 1858. Among his corporate roles, he was a director of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company." (See G. Thomas Edwards, Oregon Encyclopedia.org. "Henry W. Corbett (1827-1903)," accessed 06/05/2018.) Corbett was also very active in civic affairs, leading efforts to create a public library, a public school system, a muncipal waterworks, and the Portland Art Museum.

Building Notes

In 1873, the Multnomah County Auditor's Office occupied space in the Corbett Block, as did the Union Insurance Company, Buchtel's Gallery, and J.B. Miller Watchmaker and Jeweler. (See Samuel´s Directory of Portland and East Portland, 1873, p. 57 and p. 131.) The Portland 1st National Bank also operated in the building in 1873, its address, 93 1st Street. Corbett's hardware business partner and brother-in-law, Henry Failing (1834-1898), served as President, James Steel, Cashier. (See Samuel´s Directory of Portland and East Portland, 1873, p. 160.)

PCAD id: 22086