| 1927 Margaret and Ethyl Peacock to John L. Peacock 2-26-1927
1929 John L. and Jean R. Peacock to May E. Mackenzie 7-8-1929
1940 May E. Mackenzie to Ann Bitzer 4-13-1940
The commercial building was constructed for commercial real estate investor John L. (J.L.) Peacock. A. Hanson constructed the building for Peacock for $25,000 in 1927 (The Sunday Oregonian April 3,1927, 23). The building replaced an old frame dwelling owned by Ethyl L. McClure, who sold the land to Peacock in February 1927. Peacock had reportedly already leased one of the spaces to Piggly Wiggly by the time the property was acquired (The Sunday Oregonian February 27, 1927, 31).
Part of the building was designed to house a private garage with a 40-car capacity and is similar in layout and use as 1400 SE Stark Street. Though in style, the building is similar to another commercial building Peacock constructed in 1930 in the Laurelhurst neighborhood at E Burnside and SE 32nd Avenue. Barrett & Logan architects completed the design of the Laurelhurst building. There are enough similarities in Peacock’s two commercial buildings to surmise the subject building was also designed by Barrett & Logan (The Sunday Oregonian February 16, 1930, 24). Similarities include the use of buff brick, corbelled cornice, tile roof, and the cast stone peacock medallion centered over the main entry.
John Langford Peacock was born in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada in 1870, though he reported in many instances that he was born in Buffalo, New York. He and his wife Jean Robertson came to the United States in 1892, when he was 22. While living in Buffalo, Peacock achieved success as the inventor of a railroad hand brake known as the Peacock Hand Brake (UK Patent 19770-1903 1903). The brake was in great demand after it was invented. Money from the invention allowed he and his wife to travel. They lived in various locations in the U.S. and Canada before settling in Portland some time in the 1920s. He gained respect in the Portland community, was actively involved with the East Side Commercial Club,and he invested in commercial and ranch properties. Peacock died in 1944 as the result of an accident (The Oregonian May 18,1944, 8).
Peacock, though leaving his signature mark of the peacock above the main entry, quickly turned the commercial property to Miss May E. Mackenzie in July 1929. From this point, several women owned the commercial building. Minimal information was found related to May E. Mackenzie. Noted in the first deed as “Miss”, later when Mackenzie transferred the property title to Ann Bitzer in 1940, she was noted as a widow.
Ann Bitzer, a noted businesswoman was employed by Equitable Savings and Loan Association. She began her career ca. 1920, and retired from the company in the late 1950s. Bitzer worked in the loan department and was a notary. Upon her retirement, she was active in the Republican Metropolitan Club, and was honored for her work in 1969 (The Oregonian April 9,1969, 25). She died at the age of 80.
Several of the businesses occupying the spaces are listed. At the 1400 address: candy shop (1929), a restaurant (1950), Hi-Time Tavern from the 1940s into the 1960s. At 1408: Nichols Meat Market (1929), Piggly Wiggly Store (1934), Kienow Food Stores warehouse (1943). Variety Baker was located at 1412 in 1939. Pacific Telephone Garage was located in the garage area in 1947.
Hi-Time Tavern expanded into several of the other spaces in 1969. Architect Don Byers designed the expansion. Exterior modifications included modifying the corner entry door, and next west entry door to swing out, and fit them with panic hardware. Most of the modifications appear to have been interior changes (Don Byers 1969). |
