Hoar+House

The Hoar House 1623 Ash Street //Forest Grove Inventory of Cultural Resources// (1985)

"The I. J. Hoar house well displays many of the major characteristics of the Bungalow Style which was popular in the United States during the first third of the 20th Century. These include the medium pitched gabled roof, wood shingle siding, wide window openings, the long porch supported by tapered porch posts, the rock faced surfaces and the exterior chimney.

I. J. Hoar had this house built by a Portland concern in 1912. Mr Hoar had a confectionery where the old Coast to Coast Store now sits (vacant) on Main Street. He and his wife lived here until 1920 when it was sold to a man named Fisher. Fred Watrous bought the house in 1923. Mr Watrous owned the Star Theatre, which is now the Grove Community Theatre. Upon his death Mr. Watrous' son, Don, acquired the house. He is the current owner. Tradition has it that the garage was once a stable for a horse and cow and the shed was originally a chicken coop with stairs to the "second" story."

See also Hoar House (2002), by City of Forest Grove; a photo of the Watrous family can be found here.