| The Walker Naylor Historic District is comprised of mostly mid-nineteenth to mid-twentieth century single-family housing located in north Forest Grove, Washington County, just west of Pacific University. A sense of the historic period is conveyed through original block-and-street design, intact landscaping, as well as the existing contributing resources that exhibit a high degree of original material and workmanship that span the period of significance. The irregularly-shaped district encompasses 33 mostly-level acres divided by rectangular blocks. Street and sidewalk treatments vary throughout the area, and mature trees and shrubs, ornamental lawns, and foundation plantings covey the sense of a well-established neighborhood. Most of the 145 primarily one- and two-story wood-frame buildings in the district retain their setback, massing, and form. Of the total number of resources, eighty-six percent were constructed during the period of significance spanning from 1858 to 1959 in the Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, English Cottage, Bungalow, Minimal Traditional, World War II Era Cottage, and Ranch styles. Many residences are associated with contributing period garages or other structures. The majority of the buildings are set on concrete foundations, and brick, concrete, wood, and stone are used for decoration and accent. Early construction in the Walker Naylor neighborhood was concentrated in the eastern part of the district, close to downtown and along current-day Gales Way, a diagonal street that terminates in the northwest corner of the Walker Naylor district and a highly-traveled nineteenth-century route that linked the town with near-by communities. Most of the buildings from this period are modest examples of the Queen-Anne style set on large lots, and three are already listed in the National Register. From its initial development, the district maintained a moderate but steady pace of development through 1959 as lots were subdivided to make room for additional residences, creating irregular lot sizes and shapes. Taking into account the prevalence of contributing resources and modern and commercial intrusions into the original town plats, the Walker-Naylor Historic District is generally bound by A St. on the east, C St. on the west, 23rd Ave. on the north, 21st Ave. on the south, and Gales Way on the northwest corner. |
