|
 |
|
|
|
HAP's historic headquarters building, New Market West, is in downtown Portland at the heart of the Skidmore (Old Town) National Register Historic District. HAP purchased the building and began moving into its "new" headquarters in 1990. Built in 1889 as a warehouse, forge, and annex to the New Market Theater next door, the building was originally called "New Market Annex." Nearly 100 years later adaptive re-use encouraged retail/office uses and in the 1980s the building briefly became a retail mall named "New Market Village." Today the five-story building actually has seven interior levels, housing a mezzanine on the first floor as well as a basement. Richardsonian Romanesque features are displayed in the massive rough-cut stones on the ground floor, the large arches of windows, and the ornamental rough-cut stone belt course below the parapet. With its brick arches and rusticated stone, the building was at the time of its construction an abrupt change from its neighboring Italianate cast-iron facades. New Market West has many unique architectural features, including the brick and stone exterior walls, large arched windows in brickwork, the massive rusticated stone base of the forge, wrought-iron balconies and fire escapes, cast-iron wall ties, engraved street names on the southwest corner, and an ornamental corner flagpole support. New Market West is designated as an historic landmark by the city of Portland's Historical Landmarks Commission and the Oregon Historical Society. Many believe the basement at one time was connected to Portland's infamous mid-19th century tunnel network. Massive stone and brick-arched passageways extend underground – below the public sidewalks all the way to the street – which is the reason why no street trees are planted along the sidewalks adjacent to the building.
New
Market West's builder and original owner, David
P. Thompson, served in the Oregon State Legislature and was Territorial
Governor of Idaho from 1875 to 1876. He was twice elected Mayor of Portland,
once in 1879 and again in 1881. Active in
his community, Thompson served on the board of Portland Public Schools for at
least eight years, was president of Portland Business College and regent
of the University of Oregon for 10 years. Thompson made generous financial
contributions to schools and demonstrated his love for animals by giving money and moral support to the Oregon Humane Society.
National Register Historic District
The Skidmore (Old Town) Historic District once was Portland's center of commerce and entertainment and encompasses the largest remaining collection of mid- to late-19th century business buildings. Foremost among the historic structures is the New Market Theater building which is located next door to HAP. Visit Us
- click photos for a larger view -
- click photos for a larger view -
|
| |
