| The Johnson Barn is located at 490 G Avenue in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Originally built c1910 in the First Addition neighborhood, this barn has retained good historic integrity and has become a prime example of Vernacular style structures common during Lake Oswego’s early development and is the last urban barn in the First Addition neighborhood (Foster 93).
The Johnson Barn sits on land originally owned by Josiah and Sarah Franklin as part of the Franklin Donation Land Claim (DLC). Josiah and Sarah Franklin “crossed the plains in 1847 and came to the Oswego area the same time the Bullocks were settling. They went north of the townsite but wanted to be sure that their land had some water frontage” (Goodall 28). Franklin made his claim in 1850, just north of the 640-acre Albert Durham claim, which later became part of the First Addition neighborhood. In 1855, the Durhams started to sell parts of their land. By 1888, a segment of this land claim was purchased by the Oregon Iron and Steel Company “who cleared the land and put it on the market” (Goodall 71). In 1888, the site was platted and named First Addition. After selling lots at the average price of $50, “the residential and business center shifted to this new neighborhood and First Addition became known as ‘New Town’” (Lake Oswego Preservation Society “1888 First Addition”). In 1909, the “residents of First Addition voted to incorporate the City of Oswego. The City Charter was adopted in 1910 and this signaled the end of Oswego as a company town” (Lake Oswego Preservation Society “1888 First Addition”).
Prior to becoming part of the City of Owego, in 1892, Frank Dhooghe purchased lots 6 through 10 of block 9 from the Oregon Iron & Steel Company for the price of $540 (Oregon City Enterprise 1892). Five years later, in 1905, the Dhooghes sold the lots for $1200 to E.S. and Georgiana Howe and John and Clara Stewart. (Oregon City Courier). Howe, et al, sold the same lots at the same price to C. R. Johnson in 1908 (Oregon City Enterprise 1908). By 1910, Ella Johnson, a widow, is listed in the U.S. Federal Census as residing in the immediate area, presumably in the house, with her six sons. In 1917, all five lots were sold to Guy F. and Emma M. McCurdy for only $10.00. The McCurdys did not occupy the property until 1922, but owned the property until 1926, when Guy McCurdy sold it, again for $10.00 after the death of his wife (Oregon City Enterprise 1917 and 1922; Clackamas County Deeds of Title v199 503). At the end of 1931, Carl Vose purchased the property from Guy L. and Marie D. Wallace (Clackamas County Deeds of Title v146 484). The house was then sold to Emily Vose Wittauer (Carl Vose’s younger sister), the Vose family had come to Lake Oswego in 1922, first living at Fourth and G and later at 841 Fifth Street where the family had “a big orchard” (Lake Oswego Public Library, 219).
According to the 1900 Census, Frank Dhooghe and his wife Virginia had emigrated from Belgium in 1883, and were listed as residing in Oswego with their six boys. At that time, Frank was a house painter and three of his boys were in school. By 1920, the Dhooghes had moved to a farm in Clackamas County and Mr. Dhooghe’s occupation was listed as a farmer. Frank Dooghe died on January 20, 1927 (Oregon Historic Sites Database). According to the last survey conducted on this property in 1989, the barn was built to house horses for Clifford "Happy" Johnson. “Johnson was the first early postal carrier to procure a delivery wagon. Reportedly, the first day Johnson’s team of buckskins saw the bright white wagon they kicked the $90 vehicle to pieces; after it was rebuilt they got used to it. Later, Johnson was the first postal carrier to use an automobile” (MacDonald 4). Carl Vose “was superintendent for the First Congregational Church in the late twenties and worked as builder and painter in Oswego until his death in 1967. He played violin in the Portland Symphony Orchestra” (MacDonald 4). “Carl E. Vose was born on April 11, 1900, in Michigan and died in November of 1967 in Lake Oswego. Carl Vose was listed as a painter in the 1940 census. For several decades he was also secretary of the local Odd Fellows Lodge” (Oregon Historic Sites Database).
Today, the building continues to reflect many of the character-defining features associated with Vernacular style dwellings used in the early development of Lake Oswego. These features include board-and-batten siding, small multi-light wood windows, basic forms, and reserved window cases. Currently, the Johnson Barn retains good historic integrity and continues to embody many of the Vernacular style characteristics used during its time of construction and agricultural utility, making it a prime example of its style and type. In addition, it is a rare building type due to the fact that it is one of the last remaining barns of its type in the area. |
