Nestled in the hills of Portland, Oregon stands a large chateau-like home, the Pittock Mansion. This home, built in 1909, was a unique masterpiece for its time. The owners of this marvelous private residence? Mr. Henry and Mrs. Georgiana Pittock. The home boasts 46 rooms, including a state-of-the art kitchen (for its time) and sewing room.
The heart of the home is a grand white marble staircase, that would be a statement in any home, even today.
The attention to detail in the home is evident, from the screened in porch bedrooms to the ornate fireplaces.
How was this mansion constructed?
Large blocks of Tenino Sandstone were removed one at a time from a sandstone quarry located in Tenino Washington. Horizontal cuts in the quarry walls were about one foot wide and six feet apart.
Workers on the quarry floor then operated a steam-powered channeler to cut the sandstone into large blocks.
Steam derrick lifted rough-cut stone blocks out of the quarry and into the quarry yard. The blocks would then be moved to the saw house for additional cutting and carving. Inside the saw house, stonecutters carved architectural details into the easily worked sandstone.
The heavier sandstone blocks were loaded onto a rail car. Notches had to be cut along the edge of each block in order to prevent the blocks from slipping from the cables.
Why did they choose Tenino Sandstone? The fine-grained stone was relatively soft when quarried and hardened as it dried. I also learned that sandstone is fireproof and resistant to Pacific Northwest rains. Along with these practical advantages, stone buildings like the Pittock Mansion stood for prosperity and longevity in the early 20th century.
(Want more information about Sandstone? Click here.)
This was quite a production for one home in the early 1900’s! Unfortunately, after deaths in the family and damage to the home caused by the Columbus Day Storm in 1962, the home fell into disarray. The community didn’t want to see this local landmark demolished and they raised $75,000 in three months in order to help the city purchase the property. The City of Portland stepped in and purchased the estate in 1964. It took 15 months to restore the Pittock Mansion, but following this restoration, the Mansion opened to the public in 1965.
Today, the home is owned by the city’s Bureau of Parks and Recreation and is still open to the public. Needless to say, my visit to the Pittock Mansion was a pleasant way to spend an afternoon in Portland, Oregon.
