[Heritage] Oregon Heritage News 2011-10-06

[Heritage Info]

In this issue:
1. Powers Warehouse and Factory listed in National Register
2. “Riches of a City” Cinema Feature 


POWERS WAREHOUSE AND FACTORY LISTED IN NATIONAL REGISTER

The Ira F. Powers Warehouse and Factory in NE Portland is Oregon’s
latest entry in the National Register of Historic Places. The Portland
architecture firm of Claussen and Claussen designed the Warehouse and
Factory as a large, modern industrial plant that received and shipped
products by ship, train, and truck. 

Recognized for its association with Portland’s once booming furniture
industry, the waterfront building was the center of self-made
businessman Ira F. Power’s vertically integrated manufacturing
process, which involved the direct purchase of local timber and the
milling, assembly, finishing and final shipping of an unusually broad
range of home décor. Constructed in 1925, it is one of the last
remaining buildings associated with one of the city’s most important
early-twentieth century industries. 

Closed in 1933, the factory remained vacant until World War II.
Aggressive recruiting by Kaiser Industries brought thousands of workers
to the city’s shipyards in support of the war effort. Due to a
critical housing shortage, in 1943 the Housing Authority of Portland
converted the building into barracks-style housing and a reception
center for defense workers. One of three of such buildings, the Powers
Warehouse and Factory is the only one remaining and one of the very few
tangible links to Portland’s WWII history.

Oregon’s State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation
recommended the building’s nomination in February 2008. The National
Register lists more than 500 historic Portland properties and 14
historic districts. More information about the National Register and
recent Oregon listings is online at www.oregonheritage.org (click on
“National Register” at left of page). 


“RICHES OF A CITY” CINEMA FEATURE 

Public History Graduates will present “Riches of a City” as part of
the Lens on the Community series at 2 p.m., Oct. 9 at 5th Ave Cinema,
510 SW Hall Street. This film documents the development of the Skidmore
District and recounts the struggle to bring this downtown Portland
neighborhood into the modern era while preserving its cultural and
historical significance. Carl Abbott and Bill Hawkins will offer
insights into the film and the district, then and now. The Lens on the
Community series will feature films from the Center for the Moving Image
archive. Historically significant in their own right, these films
document and interpret the history of the many distinct communities that
constitute the greater Portland metropolitan area today. For further
information, visit http://www.5thavenuecinema.org/special-screenings .



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