Historic Hood River
Doyle Sketches?
Notes
This is one of those “I could swear I shared this before” images. Perhaps I used it in a talk. Anyway, these appear to be preliminary sketches for the Eliot Building (Franz Hardware Building) at Oak and Second. I previously posted a blueprint for the facade. The story I was told was Dr. T.L. Eliot ran into architect A.E. Doyle in Florence, Italy, and asked him to design this building. The blueprint says, “Albert E. Doyle, Architect, Portland Oregon. Florence, Italy, 27th Aug 1906” which seems to back up the story.
Sally Donovan’s entry for this building in the Oregon Historic Sites Database says the building was designed by the firm of P.M. Hall-Lewis in 1906, then constructed in 1908-9 with additional plans and specifications by A.E. Doyle. This is the same account as in “Building at the End of the Oregon Trail”. A 1907 article in The Hood River Glacier announcing bids for the building construction cites Hall-Lewis as the architect. Additional articles in The Hood River Glacier indicate construction was completed in 1908, not 1909, so this is all a bit muddled.
Doyle is an important architect, so it would be good to know the full extent of his connection to the design of this building. I am comfortable the blueprint of the facade puts Doyle’s fingerprints on this in 1906 in Florence. It is possible this is a sketch Doyle drew for Eliot in Florence. Since the later article announcing construction bids lists Hall-Lewis as the architect, I suspect Hall-Lewis took over the project after initial design, and not the other way around.
Note the building as constructed was modified from this drawing. I sure wish they had kept the center window with the wrought iron railing, but I suspect the needs of the building tenants got in the way of aesthetic considerations. Did Hall-Lewis make this modification? I suspect we’ll never know.
In researching this building I ran across a fascinating discussion about “moving buildings.” In March 1907 the city council was discussing an ordinance to prohibit moving buildings from location to location without permits. Apparently all over town wood frame buildings were being moved from one site to another. This caused consternation during the planning of the Eliot Building, because a confectioner was planning to move his wooden building just north of this site. Why was this a problem? Adjacency to a wood frame building increased insurance costs, so brick building owners wanted to restrict moving wood frame buildings next to their buildings so their insurance rates wouldn’t be increased.
Tags: 1900s, 2nd Street, blueprint, Doyle AE, Eliot, Eliot Building, Oak Street
Buck Parker
Thanks, Arthur, it’s nice to have both the photos and your comments for the Historic Hood River walking tours. For others who are interested, Doyle was the architect of a number of Oregon’s best known buildings, including the Meier & Frank Building, the old Lippman Wolfe Building, the Benson Hotel, the Pacific Building (opposite the M&F building, south of the Pioneer Courthouse), the Multnomah Country Library, some or all of the early Reed College buildings, and Multnomah Falls Lodge. In Hood River he did the Butler Bank building and the house at 3820 Westcliff Drive that I believe is now for sale and was originally the summer home of the president of Reed College. He also designed the library in Goldendale. Pietro Belluschi joined Doyle’s architectural firm and eventually became known internationally.
ArthurB
Thanks for explaining why AE Doyle’s potential involvement in this building is significant.
nels
Thanks Buck Parker. Next trip to Portland will be to take a closer look at all that architecture by Mr. Doyle.
Buck Parker
Nels, I haven’t really studied it and dont know much about architecture, but I’ve been struck by the wide range of styles in Doyle’s designs, generally playing with older styles or combining elements from different periods. He must have enjoyed his work. It doesn’t seem surprising that Eliot encountered him in Florence.
nels
Googled GOldendale Library and was surprised at how ‘common’ it looked. So I guess you are right about multiple architectural styles. Thanks.
Arlen L Sheldrake
my favorite tee shirt is the one commemorating Franz Hardware that Pete had produced as he closed the store. I don’t wear it often but do often think of my friend and classmate.
Does the Museum have one? Arlen