| Constructed in 1880 for Morris and Annie Marks, the Italianate house known locally as the Fried-Durkheimer House was moved in 2017 to save it from developmental pressures, which were threatening demolition. Originally constructed between Main and Jefferson on what was then known as Tenth Street (currently 1224 SW 12th Avenue [Ave.]), the house now sits approximately 5 blocks east and 12 blocks south of its original location, at 2177 SW Broadway in Portland, Oregon. In its new location, the building becomes a showcase of the Italianate style, with a full 360-degree view available from the public right-of-way. The primary façade (historically west-facing, now pointed north), as well as the west and south faces, are largely at grade, as they were historically. An exemplar of an Italianate Town House, the approximately 2,668 gross square foot (gsf) historic building is constructed with balloon framing and sits on a new poured-concrete foundation, which will include an additional 1,319 gsf basement. The residential building features original exterior details that define the Italianate style, including the two-story (now on basement) asymmetrical massing with elaborately ornamented large bay windows; the low-pitched hip roof with overhanging eaves supported by decorative brackets; and tall, narrow windows with segmentally arched upper lights and elaborate frames. Interior details also remain, including the original floor plan, curved hall stair with niche, large pocket doors (two sets), marble fireplace surround, plaster medallions, and wood trim. Exterior alterations to the building were minimal, and simultaneous with the house’s relocation some (including nonhistoric roof vaulting and a nonhistoric porch on the south face) were removed to restore original configurations. Interior alterations were also minimal and largely confined to closet spaces, including subdividing the former butler’s pantry to create a closet in the dining area and adding a stair to the attic utilizing a portion of the closet space between two of the upstairs chambers. The building has experienced limited physical alterations since its initial construction, fully articulates the design theories of an Italianate Town House, and retains integrity of materials, design, workmanship, feeling, and association. |
