McDonald+House

McDonald House, c. 1872 1803 Pacific Avenue City of Forest Grove, Washington County Cultural Resource Inventory, 1985

"__Contextual Description__

At the time of this writing (September, 1985) this house is located on a corner lot at the northeast corner of the intersection of Pacific Avenue and 'B' Street.The current owner intends to remove the house to build a parking lot and has offered the house to anyone who would be interested in acquiring and moving it. A number of people have expressed interest in doing that, and it appears that the house will be relocated in the near future.

__Historical And Architectural Significance__

The builder of this house, Harley McDonald, was born in Rhode Island in 1825. He was trained as an architect and builder in Providence, Rhode Island where he lived and worked until 1848. At that time he went to California to find gold. He had some success in this and established a business in San Francisco making sash doors from redwood logs. Among his customers was Civil War General William T. Sherman.

In 1850 McDonald moved to Portland and worked as an architect for the next eight years. During this time he designed the First Congregational Church in Portland and the fist steamboat to be used on the Willamette River, the 'Hoosier'. He lived in Salem from 1860-1870, then returned to Portland for two more years. In 1872 he returned to Forest Grove where he built this house and remained. In his later years he worked as an architect and construction superintendent for the government.

This house is a good example of the style and is in unusually good condition for its age. Preservation architect Alfred Staehli has examined the house and termed it a 'jewel'."

Here is a photo of the house before it moved: McDonald House