Our 2013 Tour

The oldest home on the tour, this 1911 Colonial Revival is also one of the most historically intact. Walking through the house, you will get a true sense of the features found in finer residences of the era: the original (still operable) intercom system, dust chutes on every floor, servants’ staircase, original light fixtures, steam radiators, a laundry chute, secret panels, sinks and fireplaces in the bedrooms, custom shaped windows and screens, and plentiful built-ins. While retaining all of these elements, the home has been decorated with tasteful elegance that honors tradition yet infuses it with 21st century style.

While all of the homes on this year’s tour are impressive, the 1913 Geisy/Failing house is truly magnificent. Considered to be one of noted Portland architect Josef Jacoberger’s finest designs (with architecturally consistent modifications made in 1922 when two of Henry Failing’s daughters purchased the house), the original state of the home’s superior craftsmanship remains intact, having been maintained and cherished over the past century. From the expansive entrance to the impressive dining room to the grand staircase and private quarters above, the formality and grandeur of a bygone era remain intact in this Portland treasure.

Thoughtful design and careful landscaping serve to maximize this “Transitional English” home’s sweeping views of Montgomery Street below and Mount St. Helens beyond. A recent, extensive renovation preserved much of the home’s original character through thoughtful attention to moldings, cabinets, hardware and other details. Most importantly, the remodel maximized the site’s natural light and provided visual depth, connecting the home’s comfortable interior with the lovely back patio and garden, a welcoming spot for relaxing, playing and entertaining. You will feel right at home in this meticulously designed and beautifully finished family residence.

Built by Preston Smith in 1912 along the popular Council Crest streetcar line, this home has commanded a position of prominence on Vista Avenue for more than a century. The home retains many original elements, including the covered porch, a bay window and window seat, inlaid floors, box beams, built-ins, and even a fir-paneled “fur room.” Although the streetcar tracks are long gone, and mature trees and many other residences now surround the house on all sides, this magnificent craftsman continues to dominate upper Vista Avenue and impress passers-by, just as it did in 1912.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 1929 Jorgensen House (built for Portland hotelier Victor Jorgensen) showcases architect Herman Brookman’s innovative use of space and his renowned design skills. What appears to be a modest 1½ story house from the street is actually a complex and charming assembly of six levels above and below street grade, with exceptionally detailed spaces featuring fine finishes, vaulted ceilings, banks of windows, and seamless transitions. It is unmistakably the work of a skilled artist. As you tour the house, you will discover numerous surprises, including a cozy phone nook and a secret, moving bookcase.