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Francis Ermatinger House

Coordinates: 45°21′20″N 122°36′20″W / 45.35556°N 122.60556°W / 45.35556; -122.60556
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Francis Ermatinger House
The Ermatinger House in 2009
Francis Ermatinger House is located in Oregon City OR
Francis Ermatinger House
Francis Ermatinger House is located in Oregon
Francis Ermatinger House
Francis Ermatinger House is located in the United States
Francis Ermatinger House
Location619 6th St.
Oregon City, Oregon
Coordinates45°21′20″N 122°36′20″W / 45.35556°N 122.60556°W / 45.35556; -122.60556
Builtc. 1843
Architectural styleGreek Revival, Federal Style
NRHP reference No.77001099[1]
Added to NRHP1977[1]

The Francis Ermatinger House is located in Oregon City, Oregon, United States. Built in 1843, it is the third oldest house in Oregon and the oldest house in Clackamas County. It was built for Francis Ermatinger, Chief Trader of the Hudson's Bay Company Columbia District, and later Treasurer of the Provisional Government of Oregon.[2]

The house, initially built on the waterfront near Willamette Falls, has been moved twice in its history, first in 1910 to the corner of 11th and Center streets, and again in 1986 to its current location at the corner of 6th and John Adams streets, adjacent to the Stevens Crawford House museum.[3] It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, and has since been operated as a museum.[1][3]

History

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Built in the Greek Revival style, the house was originally located near the Willamette River, in the downtown area near Willamette Falls. Francis Ermatinger, an employee of the Hudson's Bay Company, remained in Oregon City after the company abandoned its operations there in 1845.[4]

The house was moved in 1910 to the corner of 11th and Center streets, and again in 1986 to its current location at the corner of 6th and John Adams streets, adjacent to the Stevens Crawford House museum.[3]

Damage from being moved twice had left the house unstable, resulting in the windows being removed. In 2011, it was closed to the public.[5] After repairs, the house was re-opened on July 7, 2018 by the City of Oregon City Parks and Recreation Department.

The house is open for both guided and self-guided tours of Fridays and Saturdays, with various events held at different times.[6][7]

Portland naming site

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It is believed to have been the Ermatinger House's left parlor that the famous coin toss between Francis Pettygrove and Asa Lovejoy occurred, reputedly during a dinner party held in the house in 1845.[4] The two were arguing about whether the town they envisioned on their land claim, then called The Clearing, should be incorporated as Boston—Lovejoy's hometown in Massachusetts—or Portland—Pettygrove's hometown in Maine. Pettygrove won two out of three tosses, resulting in the city of Portland, Oregon.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Oregon National Register List" (PDF). Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. January 5, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 9, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2009.
  2. ^ "Portfolio | Francis Ermatinger House". Architectural Resources Group (ARG). Retrieved 2024-07-08.
  3. ^ a b c "Francis Ermatinger House". Waymarking.com. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  4. ^ a b Hawkins, William John; William F. Willingham (1999). Classic Houses of Portland, Oregon: 1850–1950 (First ed.). Timber Press. p. 37. ISBN 0-88192-433-4.
  5. ^ "Most Endangered Places 2011 - Ermatinger House". Historic Preservation League of Oregon. 2011. Archived from the original on 30 May 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  6. ^ Ogle, Wesleigh; KATU staff (2018-07-06). "Ermatinger House, where coin toss determined Portland's name, to reopen". katu.com. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  7. ^ "Ermatinger House | Oregon City, OR". www.orcity.org. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
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