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Oregon Historic Sites Database

address:503 Prospect Ave historic name:Davidson House
Hood River, Hood River County (97031) current/other names:
assoc addresses:
block/lot/tax lot:36 / 8 / 07301
location descr: twnshp/rng/sect/qtr sect:3N 10E 36 BA
resource type:Building height (stories):1.5 total elig resources:1 total inelig resources:0
elig evaluation: eligible/contributing NR Status:
prim constr date:c.1925 second date: date indiv listed:
primary orig use: Single Dwelling orig use comments:
second orig use:
primary style: English Cottage prim style comments:
secondary style: sec style comments:
primary siding: Stucco siding comments:
secondary siding:
plan type: Period Cottage architect:
builder:
comments/notes:
Survey/Grouping Included In: Type of Grouping Date Listed Date Compiled
   Hood River Heights ILS Survey & Inventory Project
   Hood River Heights Neighborhood RLS Survey & Inventory Project 2008
NR date listed: N/A
ILS survey date: 08/01/2008
RLS survey date: 04/08/2008
106 Project(s): None
Special Assess Project(s): None
Federal Tax Project(s): None
(Includes expanded description of the building/property, setting, significant landscape features, outbuildings and alterations)
Stylistic Summary The Davidson House at 503 Prospect Avenue is a good example of the English Cottage style. Completed ca. 1925, the house displays characteristics of the style in its cross-gabled plan, asymmetrical design, stucco siding, exterior brick chimney, and grouped double-hung multi-pane, wood sash windows. There were only a few English Cottage style buildings cited in the 2008 Hood River Heights Historic Survey. Setting Located on the south side of Prospect Avenue, the one-and-a-half story English Cottage residence was built ca. 1925. Sited on a berm slightly above grade on a rectangular lot, the house is in a residential neighborhood. The house has a small rock wall and a hedge that extends along the front (north) sidewalk. There are a few small shrubs and bushes in the north lawn. A small cement driveway, is on the east side of the house leading to the small single car garage. Physical Description The house, cross-gabled in plan, has a composition asphalt roof, shallow eaves, stucco siding, and three-over-one, double-hung wood sash windows finished with simple wood trim. The projecting front gable has minimal decorative half timbering. Newer, non-functional shutters have been added to the windows on the north façade. The front entryway of the house is centered on the north façade and is covered by the half-width front porch. The simple porch supports and railing appear to be of newer construction. There is an exterior running bond brick chimney on the west façade with smaller square fixed pane windows flanking both sides. The foundation is covered by the stucco surface. Building Permits Fireplace insert 12/2006, reroof 12/1971
(Chronological, descriptive history of the property from its construction through at least the historic period - preferably to the present)
Occupant History The house was constructed ca. 1925 by the Vera Davidson family. The Davidsons were living outside Hood River in Pine Grove area in 1920, working as orchardists. Their son Lewis was living with the couple. Vera, a native of Michigan born in 1884, sold the house in 1928 to Harold and Bess Blackman. Born in Wisconsin about 1898, Harold was the Hood River County Clerk in 1930, living with Bess and their two young sons, Gordon and Richard. Bess was a native of Michigan. The Blackmans lived in the house until 1945 when William Galantha purchased the property. In 1952, Lloyd Davis purchased the property and immediately sold the house to John Inglish. (See chain of title for more recent ownership history). Chain of Title 1914: Owner of record: Vera Davidson 1928: Purchased by Harold J. Blackman, deed recorded 2/28/1928, Book 20 Page 593 1945: Purchased by William S. Galantha, deed recorded 11/29/45, Book 32 Page 373 1952: Purchased by Lloyd L. Davis, deed recorded 12/3/1952, Book 49 Page 142 1952: Purchased by John R. Inglish, deed recorded 4/27/1952, Book 50 Page 103 Break 1984: Owner of record: Terry J. Parchuck, deed recorded 6/25/1984, Book 841 Page 259 2002: Purchased by Ruth S. Olin, deed recorded 12/6/2002, In Assessor File 2006: Sold to current Owner: Paul & Alexandra Dezurick, deed recorded 11/20/2006, In Assessor File
Title Records Census Records Property Tax Records Local Histories
Sanborn Maps Biographical Sources SHPO Files Interviews
Obituaries Newspapers State Archives Historic Photographs
City Directories Building Permits State Library
Local Library:Hood River County Library University Library:
Historical Society: Other Respository:Hood River County Historical Museum
Bibliography:
Ancestry.com. Genealogy, Family Trees and Family History Records. 2008. www.ancestry.com. Blythe, S. F., and Bradley, E. R. “A Pen Picture of Hood River and Hood River Valley.” County of Hood River,” 1900. City of Hood River Building Permit File, Building Department, 8/2008. Clark, Rosalind. Architecture Oregon Style: Architecture from 1840 to the 1950s. Portland: Professional Book Center Inc., 1983 “Directory Hood River, Odell, and Parkdale Exchanges.” Oregon-Washington Telephone Company, January, 1924. Donovan, Sally. “Historic Context Statement: City of Hood River, Oregon.” City of Hood River, OR. 1991. Hood River County Assessor’s Office. Property files and City Ownership Tax Book, 1913–1914. Hood River County Historical Society. History of Hood River County, Oregon: 1852–1982, Volume 1. Hood River: Hood River County Historical Society, 1982. Hood River County Historical Society. History of Hood River County, Oregon: 1852–1987, Volume 2. Hood River: Hood River County Historical Society, 1987. Hood River County, OR. Hood River County Historical Museum. Family biographical files. “Hood River Directory.” Portland: R. L. Polk & Co., 1910, 1917, 1920, and 1925. McMurray, William. “Hood River, Oregon.” Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company, pamphlet, ca. 1909. Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps. City of Hood River, 1905, 1908, 1916, 1928, and 1942. “Telephone Directory for Hood River, Oregon.” Pacific States Telegraph and Telephone Company, September, 1905. United Stated Federal Census. Census reports for 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930. Western Cities Illustrated. Hood River County, Oregon, Hood River, Odell, Parkdale, Cascade Locks, Mt. Hood, Bridge of the Gods, Columbia Gorge. Promotional pamphlet. Western Cities Illustrated, 1955.