Overview

This was the residence of a notable Portland businessman, Frank Dekum, who arrived in the city in 1853, and developed successful confectionery and fruit distribution businesses. He later would become active in real estate and banking. Dekum developed at least four large commercial buildings in Portland's central business district between 1871 and 1892, but his fortune would be diminished during the Panic of 1893. He lived in this 3rd Street residence from 1863 until just after his first wife's death in 1878.

Building History

Franz (Anglicized as "Frank") and Francisca "Fanny" Reinig Dekum (born 1840 in Bavaria, Germany-d. 1878 in Portland, OR) married on 03/26/1859 in Saint Louis, MO, and resided at this address in 1866, with their four children, Edward (born c. 1860 in OR), Eloise (born c. 1861 in OR), Otto (born c. 1863 in OR) and Adolph (born c. 1865 in OR). (See Portland, Oregon Directory, 1866, p. 45.) Two other children, George (born c. 1868 in OR) and Rosina Dekum Strain (born c. 04/1870 in OR-1956) were born by the time the US Census was taken in 1870.

Frank Dekum (born 11/05/1829 in Deiderfeld, Germany-d. 10/19/1894 in Portland, OR) was by 1870 a prosperous confectioner, fruit seller and real estate owner. He had a personal estate in that year of $15,000, and real estate holdings worth an additional $67,000 according to the 1870 Census. Fanny passed away early in life, at 38 or so, and Frank would remarry following her death.

Frank Dekum channeled some of his wealth into real estate in Portland's central business district, builing four commercial blocks between 1871 and 1892. His first building, the Dekum Building #1, was completed in 1871, and stood on the northwest corner of Front Street (now SW Naito Parkway) and SW Washington Street. (See Portland, Oregon Directory, 1881, p. 117.) A decade later, he would erect an 8-story, commercial tower known as the "Dekum Building" on this plot of land in 1891-1892.

Building Notes

The address of the Dekum Residence in 1863 was 85 3rd Street in 1863. (See Portland Directory for the Year 1863, [Portland, OR: S.J. McCormick, 1863], p. 25.)

In 1866, the Dekum and Bickel Confectionery Store operated at 71 1st Street in 1863 and 77 1st Street. (See Portland Directory for the Year 1863, [Portland, OR: S.J. McCormick, 1863], p. 25 and Portland, Oregon Directory, 1866, p. 45.)

PCAD id: 22267