Located at 47th and Stark is the most beautiful stone wall with carved entrance columns. "LINDETH" on one side and "COTTAGE" on the other. Today the wall is in front of a rather modern church structure. What ever could this Lindeth Cottage be? I figured I'd start with the Sanborn maps. These maps were created for fire insurance purposes and exist for Portland in various years (1889, 1901, 1905, 1908-09, and 1924). Up until 1909-1910 this land would mostly have been farmland that later became Laurelhurst and surrounding developments. Checking the 1908-09 maps show no structure as suspected. The next available year of 1924 also shows no structure. Something that lived there had a very short life. The last piece of the puzzle I was able to determine was from the City of Portland itself. The current property address, when searched, shows a construction date of 1917. Odd given the modern church but that must in some way be tied to the original structure. I still have no idea what the building looked like. Just a block away is the Wilbur Reid house built in 1914. It's a rather famous Arts & Crafts residence. Does anyone have photos of this cottage?
The 1924 map shows a "dilapidated" cabin and what appears to be an accessory building on the north side of the lot. I live nearby in a house that was built in 1907. It doesn't show up on the 1908-09 Sanborn map, nor does the Reid "Green Gables" house which was later torn down and now has the Unity Church.
ReplyDelete60's and 70's: What is now the Unity Church parking lot on the NE corner of 47th and Stark was known to the neighborhood urchins as "Green Gables" and looked like it may have been a long neglected orchard - with no buildings. Kids occasionally road mini-bikes but mostly went there to hang out and smoke cigarettes. At least one of the trees in the parking lot has carved graffiti that is over 40 years old
ReplyDeleteI live close and have been checking. I too thought Green Gables was where Unity church us niw. But I found it listed as being located at 1343 E Stark. The Wilbur Reid house originally included 50 acres. I think it is currently one acre and for sale at $1.65 million.
ReplyDelete1343 E stark was the original house numbering system. The Wilbur Reid house was originally 1355 E Stark.
ReplyDeleteWe moved to Portland in the mid 60's. My father was called to be the pastor of Holy Sacraments Lutheran Church. Green Gables was on the church property. Dad's office was upstairs, the main floor was used for Sunday School rooms. There were apple, pear and cherry trees on the property. There was a walkway that went from Green Gables to the Wilbur Reid house next door. A short cut for the Reid family to use between their homes.
ReplyDeleteGreen Gables was in bad shape and was condemned by the city and had to be torn down. Holy Sacraments sold half the property to Unity Church (across the street) to use as a parking lot...with the stipulation that the big tree on the north end of the property stayed. It's still there. Holy Sacraments closed and now the church building is a Romanian Church.
Wow! That is so interesting! I live across the street from the Romanian church now, so that building used to be Holy Sacraments Lutheran Church? And the Green Gables house was on that side of the street? I would love to see pictures of this. Incidentally- the Romanian church CHOPPED DOWN two huge old trees from their parking lot this summer, without permits, and to the dismay of the neighbors. I don't think it is the tree that you are talking about though.
ReplyDelete