Project Helps Save Portland’s African-American Historical Structures From Demolition

Project Helps Save Portland’s African-American Historical Structures From Demolition

Portland, Or. The Architectural Heritage Center announced an important update on a project that leaders say will protect culturally significant and historic structures within Portland’s African-American community from demolition. The Architectural Heritage Center has completed a draft of the National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation (MPD) form. The MPD will be reviewed at local, state, and national levels in order to protect important landmarks that have had a large impact in communities within downtown Portland and surrounding areas. The MPD form is available for public review and the Architectural Heritage Center encourages readers to contribute with their comments. Pictured above is Royal Palm Hotel, one of Portland’s first facilities to employ and accept African-American guests, which is listed on the MPD form. (Photo credit, Intisar Abioto)

Architectural Heritage Center. Photo provided by AHC’s 

Through a partnership between the Heritage Center and the City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning & Sustainability (BPS), the Multiple Property Documentation (MPD) form was created. This document is a National Register of Historic places that groups together resources associated with significant historical context so that property owners can easily list their property in the National Register.

The MPD includes a comprehensive list of different buildings and structures that were a part of the African-American community in Portland from 1865 to 1973. Some examples of the buildings are houses, churches, fraternal lodges, and more. Within the MPD record will also include photographs of selected African American properties commissioned from Portland artist, Intisar Abioto.

Golden West Hotel on NW Everett St., Portland
Courtesy Oreg. Hist. Soc. Research Library

Previously known as the All Nations Community Church in the 1970s, this church is now known as Mt. Gillard Missionary Baptist Church on NE Rodney Ave

A message from the Architectural Heritage Center: 

The over one-hundred page MPD draft is made possible thanks to the hard work of a team of people over the past three years. In 2017, the Bosco-Milligan Foundation/Architectural Heritage Center was selected through a request for proposals process by BPS to partner on the MPD. This work was led by Cathy Galbraith, our organization’s founding director and known expert on Portland’s African American history. Sadly, Cathy passed away in November 2018, with the study unfinished. However, with assistance from historical consultants and BPS staff—and with financial support from the Kinsman Foundation and from BPS—the MPD draft is now complete.

The Architectural Heritage Center’s mission is to “inspire people to conserve the art, craft, and context of historic buildings and places to promote our cultural heritage as a vital element of livable, sustainable, communities.” We seek to preserve the historic character and livability of our built environment and to promote sustainability through the re-use of period homes and buildings. Owned and operated by the non-profit Bosco-Milligan Foundation, we empower people in the Portland region to preserve both landmark buildings and the regular “vernacular” vintage homes and storefronts that collectively define our neighborhoods, traditional downtowns, culture, history, and quality of life.

Photo by Brian Johnson.

Preservation does not mean being frozen in time. New isn’t inherently “bad,” nor is old inherently “good.” But we believe a vintage building shouldn’t be demolished without careful consideration of its architectural, environmental, and cultural value, or without exploring possibilities for re-use. We also believe that in-fill construction should be compatible with the character, style, and scale of traditional neighborhoods.

Public Review
The MPD and Billy Webb Elks Lodge (Williams Avenue YWCA) nominations are published here for public review As a next step, the Portland Historic Landmarks Commission will review the MPD at its meeting on January 27. They will make a formal recommendation to the State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation, which will meet on February 28. The State Committee will then make a formal recommendation to the National Park Service to accept the MPD.

Bosco-Milligan Foundation’s 25th Anniversary Auction raises over $125,000 for Historic Preservation

Bosco-Milligan Foundation’s 25th Anniversary Auction raises over $125,000 for Historic Preservation

Portland, October 20th. The Bosco-Milligan Foundation kicked off its 25th year of service to Portland with a celebration at the Melody Ballroom in Southeast Portland. Auctioneer, Chris Sheik; Executive Director, Cathy Galbraith; President, Fred Leeson and Leland Hanson all worked to make the event a success. The Foundation is a local organization dedicated to the preservation of historic architecture and education about local history.

Master of Ceremonies, "Handyman Bob" Strong; Auctioneer, Chris Sheik; and Volunteer, Stephanie Downer. This photo is a raffle drawing.

Master of Ceremonies, “Handyman Bob” Strong; Auctioneer, Chris Sheik; and Volunteer, Stephanie Downer. This photo is a raffle drawing.

This year's auction had more attendees than any prior auction

This year’s auction drew more supporters than any prior auction.

from left to right are: Auction Committee Chair, Eileen Fitzsimons and Auction Manager, Barbara Pierce. This was taken after the auction completed.

from left to right are: Auction Committee Chair, Eileen Fitzsimons and Auction Manager, Barbara Pierce share a hug after the auction was completed.

MC Handyman Bob during the dessert auction

MC Handyman Bob during the dessert auction

 

The foundation, started by Jerry Bosco and Ben Milligan, two men who shared a zeal for preserving and caring for Portland’s cultural heritage, saw first-hand the incredible generosity and dedication of Portlanders towards their organization in a record-breaking evening.

The environment was festive as the night began with the Melody Ballroom decorated heavily in silver for the 25th anniversary theme. Prior to the auction’s start the organization had already broken one record by selling out of tickets for the first time in its history. As the night proceeded, the generosity of Portlander’s and their care for preserving their city’s cultural heritage was most impressive halfway through the live auction, during the collective bid. The goal of the collective bid was to raise $25,000 in order to be able to maintain and catalog the organizations collections of historic architecture. By the time the donations were all tallied, that goal was more than doubled, totaling over $50,000.

Immediately after the collective bid came a major announcement from Craig Kelly of Venerable Properties. During a teary-eyed speech he declared that in honor of the late Art Demuro, a prominent activist for maintaining the historic integrity of Portland and an important member of the Bosco-Milligan Foundation, an endowment for the organization is going to be established with further details to be announced later on. The collective bid along with Craig’s announcement inspired the room and as the auction continued bidding was higher than ever.

To find out more go to www.visitahc.org or call 503-231-7264