Mosier, Oregon



REPORT

OREGON MAIN STREET PROGRAM

RECONNAISSANCE LEVEL SURVEY

REEDSPORT, OREGON

JUNE 25, 2009

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Circa 1920 historic view of Reedsport with Southern Pacific Bridge at the top, steeple of the Community Church at 390 Elm at the bottom and commercial building at 249 Fir Avenue in the middle.

Source: Umpqua Discovery Center

Historic background

Reedsport is located in Douglas County in the mid coastal region of Oregon off of the Umpqua Highway (Highway 38) at the confluence of the Umpqua, Smith and Scholfield rivers. The area was originally inhabited by the ancestors of the modern day Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua (Kuitsh), and Siuslaw Indians. Some of the first recorded contact between the Siuslaw and fur trappers from the Hudson’s Bay Company occurred in 1826. In 1828 conflict between the Lower Umpqua and fur trapper and explorer Jedediah Strong Smith resulted in the loss of many of Smith’s company. Fur trapping continued to grow in the area and in 1836 the Hudson’s Bay Company established a trading fort, Fort Umpqua, upriver near the modern day town of Elkton. In addition to fur trapping, the gold rush brought more Euro-American settlers to the area.

Reedsport was established in 1852 and was named after a pioneer resident Alfred W. Reed, a prominent businessman and member of the state legislature. The town was platted in 1911, the post office was established in 1912 and the town was incorporated in 1919. Alfred Reed’s nephew, Warren P. Reed, was elected the first mayor. Warren had inherited land from his uncle and owned 4,000 acres in and around the town. He donated land for churches, schools, lodges and mills to bring people and industries to Reedsport. It was through his efforts that the Port of Umpqua was organized and that the railroad was built through Reedsport in 1916. Before the railroad arrived, transportation involved taking a riverboat to Scottsburg and then transferring to a stagecoach that went on rough roads inland, or taking a riverboat to Winchester Bay and then transferring to a stagecoach that ran along the sand to a ferry at Coos Bay. After the railroad was completed, a traveler could go from Reedsport to Eugene or Coos Bay by train, fishermen could ship their catch fresh, and farmers had an outlet for the produce.

The Port of Umpqua was formed in 1913 by a group of successful business men interested in the development of the Lower Umpqua area. Three of those men were Warren P. Reed, Joseph Lyons and E. Sylvester Hinsdale. Joseph Lyons was the first postmaster in Reedsport and Mr. Hinsdale founded the Umpqua Navigation Company. The main function of the Port was to provide channel dredging and bar pilots to ensure safe navigation for all the water borne activities.

Reedsport was built on a marsh and subject to flooding from the tides and winter storms. Buildings were constructed on pilings; when the tide was in, people could travel between buildings by boat, but when the tide was out it was too wet to walk between buildings. In 1918 elevated wooden plank walk ways four to seven feet off the ground were built on pilings to connect the buildings that were on pilings. The Port of Umpqua deepened the bar crossing and the channel to Reedsport between 1917 and 1922. In 1925 the Port of Umpqua Commission levied a bond, built a 16-inch steam-powered suction dredge and, working with the Army Corps of Engineers, dredged the shoals in the river channel from Reedsport to Winchester Bay. The mud and sand that was dredged out of the Umpqua and Scholfield rivers was used to fill the town’s lowlands. Once the project was completed the old plank streets and shanties were torn down, modern buildings were constructed, and paved roads were laid on the newly filled downtown.

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Reedsport waterfront circa 1918 showing plank roads and the mudflats. Source: Umpqua Discovery Center.

Reedsport’s first industry was fishing, which was started in 1910 followed by lumber in 1917. The Reedsport Fish Company was established in 1920 and had one of the best equipped canneries on the Pacific Coast. Approximately 3,000,000 pounds of Chinook, silvers and steelhead was caught annually. The company shipped fresh salmon east in cold storage to Chicago, New York and Boston. By 1923 the cannery employed 100 fishing boats. Between 1917 and 1923 four lumber mills were built. The first mill was the Reedsport Lumber Company, built in 1917. The Winchester Bay Mill Company, located in Reedsport, became the largest mill in Douglas County. At first most of the lumber was sent to San Francisco, but soon Portland became the main market area for lumber. The dairy industry became important in the 1920s and 1930s with Reedsport’s butter being considered one of the best in the state.

In 1926 the road to Winchester Bay and Umpqua Highway (Highway 38) was completed between Scottsburg and Reedsport. In 1929 the Roosevelt Highway (Highway 101) was completed with the bridge across the Umpqua River completed in and 1936. The opening of the coastal highway helped to develop tourism as another major industry. In the early 1970s the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Areas was created which also attracted tourist to the area.

The 1925-26 fill project eliminated the tidal flooding in Reedsport, but not the winter river flooding. Over the years there have been many floods but the worst occurred in 1964. Called the “Ten Day Noah’s Flood”, between December 18-27, over 13 inches of rain fell. The water, compounded by exceptionally high tides and strong onshore winds resulted in flooding all low-lying areas. The depth at the intersection of 4th and Fir measured eight feet. Reedsport, with a population of 3, 935, had from 1,000 to 1,500 homeless during the flood. A dike was built in 1965 which has prevented major flooding since but has isolated the waterfront area from the rest of the town.

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Circa 1920 view of Fourth Street after flood. 249 Fir Avenue building on the right, 407 Fourth Street on the left. Source: Umpqua Discovery Center.

 Project Objectives and Justification: The reconnaissance level survey of the downtown commercial district of Reedsport was conducted to document the historic commercial core by photographing, describing the physical characteristics, and evaluating the eligibility of each building for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). This effort begins the process for better understanding the unique qualities of Reedsport’s downtown that speak to its sense of place, and provides the foundation from which the community can build upon the Main Street program’s comprehensive approach to downtown commercial district revitalization.

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Circa 1940 looking west on Fir Avenue from Fifth Street. 495 Fir Avenue is located on the left side. Source: Umpqua Discovery Center.

Boundary Justification: The boundaries are those established by the city of Reedsport, the Oregon Main Street program coordinator, and the professionals conducting the survey. The area is based on the historic part of Reedsport that is considered the downtown commercial district. The Main Street inventory include a irregular boundary that includes the buildings located between Greenwood Avenue and E. Railroad Avenue on the north, 3rd Street and Riverfront Way on the east, Winchester Avenue on the south and 7th Street on the west. Please refer to the attached map.

Survey Results

Fifty one (51) buildings were surveyed. Although not in the Main Street boundaries the most architecturally significant building may be the Safeway Mall Complex located in the newer section of town on Highway 101. Built c.1960, this complex exemplifies the Mid-Century Modern architectural style. It may be the only building complex like it in Oregon.

There is a core of commercial historic buildings located between Third Street and Fifth Street along Fir Avenue that may meet the eligibility requirements for NRHP as a Downtown Historic District; however some of the buildings need to have some restoration work. The other buildings indicated as eligible/contributing would be best suited for listing as part of Multiple Property Submission (MPS). See below for specific recommendations.

o Properties that were approximately 45 years and older are considered to be within the historic period if they retain their historic integrity, and therefore considered eligible for listing in the National Register. The age range in Reedsport for historic buildings is from 1910 to 1965. Of the 51 buildings inventoried:

o 37% (19 buildings) were evaluated to be eligible/contributing

o 49% (25 buildings) have been significantly altered and lost historic integrity

o 14% (7 buildings) were considered not eligible due to age

*For more specific information refer to the Historic Building Report/Counts list included with the database information.

Recommendations

To build on the existing built environment strengths of the city we recommend:

• Keep in contact the Oregon Main Street Center Office for additional information and training about the National Trust’s Main Street program. Check out the Oregon Main Street website at ECDD/mainstreet/index.shtml to find out about future trainings, and the National Trust’s Main Street website for background information on the revitalization strategy at .

• Contact the State Historic Preservation Office for information about becoming a Certified Local Government (CLG). This program provides grants for activities related to historic preservation, such as preparing National Register nominations, historic walking tour brochures, and much more. Visit their website at .ORPD/HCD/SHPO for more information.

• Prepare a MPS Nomination for Reedsport’s commercial properties that contributed to the development of the town during 1910-1965.

• Prepare a NRHP Nomination for the Downtown Commercial District on Fir Ave, roughly bounded by Third Street on the east and Fifth Street on the west.

• Prepare an individual NRHP nomination or Intensive Level Survey (ILS) for the Safeway Mall Complex at 1499 Highway 101.

• The Dike Wall is a significant structure in the community. It is recommended that an ILS be prepared for this structure.

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• Contact Cara Kaser at SHPO (503-986-3800) to get more detailed information about NRHP. Visit Oregon’s SHPO Webb site for more information, OPRD/HCD/SHPO/.

• The area around Rainbow Plaza provides a good opportunity to connect the downtown commercial core with the Riverfront. The proximity of the historic buildings at 250 Fir Avenue and 191 Riverfront on the southeast side and the historic railroad bridge on the northwest side may provide an opportunity for interpreting the growth of Reedsport as a mill and cannery town, and connect the downtown to the Umpqua Discovery Center. Additionally, the dike wall that protects the city from flooding also provides an important physical connection that could be utilized for interpretive purposes.

• Focus on storefront restoration rather than street enhancements. Contact the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) in Salem (503-986-3800) about possible historic preservation planning, grants and other historic preservation incentives to meet preservation guidelines for rehabilitation using the Secretary of the Interior’s Guidelines for Historic Preservation. Visit Oregon’s SHPO Webb site for more information, OPRD/HCD/SHPO/.

• Four buildings in the surveyed area appear to have strong potential for rehabilitation (if the work can be done according to the Secretary of the Interior Standards):

• 353 Fir Ave. The changes that could return the building to having sufficient integrity for listing in the NRHP as part of a Downtown Historic District would include replacing the awning and removing the wood siding.

• 379 Fir Ave. This building could be eligible for the NRHP as part of a Downtown Historic District if the second story windows were replaced with wood frame and the metal awning was removed.

• 242 4th St. Removing the wood siding on the front would restore much of the building’s historic integrity and make it potentially eligible for listing in the NRHP as part of a Downtown Historic District.

• 262 4th St. If the concrete block that has been used as an infill was removed and windows installed, this building could potentially be eligible for listing in the NRHP as part of a Downtown Historic District.

• Because some Main Street buildings need some level of rehabilitation it is recommended that a program that includes a grant or incentive program be developed to provide funds for rehabilitation of storefronts and awnings in the Main Street area, as well as low-interest loans. Contact SHPO staff for examples and city contacts of existing loan programs around the state to learn about the programs and how to set one up in Reedsport.

• For good information about basic rehabilitation projects refer to the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior’s Preservation Brief #11, “Rehabilitating Historic Storefronts,” available on line at . Additional guidance is available through the Oregon SHPO and other internet on line articles. To ensure potential rehabilitation projects meet the Secretary of Interior Standards for Rehabilitation so that applicable tax credits and other incentives may be applied contact Joy Sears at the SHPO (503-986-3800) for more information.

• Some basic information about rehabilitating downtown buildings includes:

▪ Become familiar with the style of your buildings. Look at historic photos of your buildings to see what they looked like before changes were made. Don’t “early up” a building to make it look like something different. Avoid stock “lumberyard” Colonial, Frontier Western or Victorian” detail elements.

▪ Preserve the building’s character. Retain or recreate the original storefront or rebuild the storefront if necessary.

▪ Avoid use of materials that were unavailable when the storefront was constructed; this includes vinyl and aluminum siding, anodized aluminum, mirrored or tinted glass, artificial wood and brick veneer. If those items have been added to your building prepare a preservation plan to remove those materials to expose the original facade.

▪ Choose paint colors based on the building’s historical appearance. In general do not coat surfaces that have never been painted. For 19th Century storefronts, contrasting colors may be appropriate, but avoid too many different colors on a single façade.

• The most important thing to do to a historic building however is to physically maintain it! It is important to evaluate the physical condition to help determine the best course of action for actual rehabilitation work. Mild deterioration like surface repair, paint flaking or rusting metal components require only maintenance level treatments. Moderate deterioration, such a rotted, rusted or broken sections of materials, or brick that needs repointing generally requires patching or splicing of the existing elements with new pieces to match the deteriorated elements. Severe deterioration may require an overall rehabilitation plan to tackle each issue in a timely and affordable fashion. Contact Joy Sears at the SHPO (503-986-3800) in Salem (503-986-3800) or visit OPRD/HCD/SHPO/ for more information.

Explanation of Fieldwork Techniques: The Oregon Main Street Program funded the project. The survey was conducted by Julie Osborne and Rosalind Keeney architectural historians/historic preservation planners who meet the professional qualifications outlined in 36 CFR 61 during the week of June 15, 2009. They:

• Obtained the SHPO database.

• Obtained a map from the City of Reedsport.

• Obtained background information, including the town’s history and historic photographs to help determine dates of development at the Reedsport Public Library and the Umpqua Discovery Center.

• Prepared a project description handout for the city contract to help with inquiries while conducting the field work.

• Met on June 15 with Scott Somers, Reedsport City Administrator to discuss the project.

• Met with Diane Novak and Portia Harris of the Umpqua Discovery Center to locate historic photos.

• Took field forms, map and camera into the field.

• Systematically documented each property, covering both sides of the streets.

• Photographed each building to illustrate the architectural qualities, taking into consideration the angle of the sun and other weather-related issues

• Labeled the photographs according to SHPO labeling convention

• Prepared a final map with address and eligibility determination according to SHPO guidelines

• Entered the data into the Oregon Historic Sites Database according to SHPO guidelines

• Prepared a final report.

References:

Judy Fleagle, “Reedsport, Building on the Past”, Oregon Coast Magazine, March/April 1990.

Henderson, Roy W. “Roy’s Stories, Accounts of Reedsport and Vicinity”, 2000.

Linda Noel, “Reedsport”, article on file at the Reeds Public Library. Date unknown, viewed June 2009.

Reedsport Oregon profile, Northwest Fisheries Science Center National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (access date June 23 2009)

Preservation Brief 11, National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior, accessed at . htm.

Appendices:

Cover Sheet

Printed Summary Reports

Printed Data Sheets

Marked Survey Map

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