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NR Nomination
Inventory Form

LOCATION AND PROPERTY NAME
address:1337-1321 SW Washington St historic name:Hotel Ramapo
Portland, Multnomah County current/other names:Ramapo Hotel; Taft Hotel; Taft Home for the Aged Retirement
assoc addresses:SW Washington St
block/lot/tax lot:N1/2J / 5&6
location descr: twnshp/rng/sect/qtr sect:1N 1E 33
PROPERTY CHARACTERISTICS
resource type:Building height (stories):4.0 total elig resources:1 total inelig resources:
elig evaluation: eligible/significant NR Status: Individually Listed
prim constr date:1906 second date:1907 date indiv listed:10/31/1985
primary orig use: Hotel orig use comments:
second orig use:
primary style: Chicago School prim style comments:
secondary style: sec style comments:
primary siding: Brick:Other/Undefined siding comments:
secondary siding: Concrete: Other/Undefined
plan type: architect:Lazarus, Edgar M
builder:
comments/notes:
Additional documentation and name change approved 1/2/13
GROUPINGS / ASSOCIATIONS
Not associated with any surveys or groupings.
SHPO INFORMATION FOR THIS PROPERTY
NR date listed: 10/31/1985
ILS survey date:
RLS survey date:
Gen file date: 11/07/2012
106 Project(s): None
Special Assess Project(s): None
Federal Tax Project(s): None
ARCHITECTURAL / PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
(Includes expanded description of the building/property, setting, significant landscape features, outbuildings and alterations)
Refer to scanned documents links.
HISTORY
(Chronological, descriptive history of the property from its construction through at least the historic period - preferably to the present)
Franklin Hotel [Hotel Ramapo], 1906 NRIS # 85003474 Date Listed: 10/31/1985 2012 Amendment The purpose of this continuation sheet is to correct the erroneous identification of “Franklin Hotel” as the historic name of the building which today is commonly known as the Taft Hotel, 1337 SW Washington St., Portland, Oregon. The Franklin Hotel (historic name) is actually a nearby property addressed as 515 SW 13th Avenue. The name Franklin Hotel was used throughout the original National Register nomination for the subject building at 1337 SW Washington Street; a more correct historic name is the Hotel Ramapo. Summary The building at 1337 SW Washington Street was called the Nortonia Hotel when it first opened in 1906. It became the Hotel Danmoore in 1908, but held that name for only a year. The hotel re-opened as the Hotel Ramapo in 1909, and was known by this name for 47 years. It became the Taft Hotel in 1955. The building was converted to a residential care facility in 1987/88 and completed a seismic retrofit in 1993. Today the building houses the Taft Home for the Aged Retirement and Cassidys Restaurant and Grill, located on the ground floor. History The building at 1337 SW Washington Street has had four names – Nortonia (August 1, 1906-February 1908), Danmoore (February 1908- February1909), Ramapo (1909- August 1955), and Taft (August 1955 to present). The name change history can be tracked in the contemporary newspapers, The Oregonian, and the Portland Daily Abstract, hotel advertisements, Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, and historic building permit files.
RESEARCH INFORMATION
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: University Library:
Historical Society: Other Respository:
Bibliography:
“Portland’s New Hotel. The “Nortonia,” Handsomest Hotel in Northwest, Opens August 1,” The Sunday Oregonian, July 15, 1906, p. 7. This article notes that the “new Lazarus block” will open under the management of Mrs. A. B. Norton, and will be called the Nortonia. “Moore Gets Hotel. Leases Former Nortonia for a Period of Ten Years. Changes to Cost $10,000. Building Owned by E. M. Lazarus Will Be Brought Thoroughly Up-To-Date and Known as The Danmoore.” Morning Oregonian, February 19, 1908, p. 10. “Danmoore Will Close. Proprietor Finds Rent is Higher Than Business Will Justify.” Morning Oregonian, February 19, 1909, p. 16. “Hotel Ramapo,” in “City News in Brief.” Morning Oregonian, June 16, 1909, p. 9. The article describes the newly furnished hotel at the corner of 14th and Washington streets, with M. E. Foley as proprietor. “Portland Is Host for Fully 25,000…Hotels Taxed to Utmost.” Morning Oregonian, June 10, 1909, p. 14. Both the Franklin and Ramapo hotels are referenced respectively. “Brick to Replace Frames at Once.” Morning Oregonian, August 1, 1909, p. 5. Article describes erection of a new building owned by Richard Koehler at 14th and Washington streets, to be located across from the Ramapo Hotel, and which will adjoin the Franklin Hotel at 13th and Washington streets. “Name of Hotel Becomes Taft.” Oregonian, August 2, 1955, p. 8. Quote” “Name of the old Ramapo Hote, S. W. Washington street and 14th avenue, has been changed to the Taft hotel…” Shellenbarger, Michael. “Nortonia, The [The DanMoore], alteration,” An Index and Summary of Oregon Building Information in the Portland Daily Abstract (1906-1910). Eugene, Oregon: Historic Preservation Program, 1992. p. 867. Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, 1908; 1908 updated to 1950. Historic building permits, PortlandMaps, http://www.portlandmaps.com/, accessed November 2012.