Ahh, the smell of fresh paint. Today we’re excited to share some updates to our newsletter design. We hope these changes will help us deliver an even better reader experience — but as with most remodels, we may experience a few hiccups along the way. If your email doesn’t look quite right or if you have feedback on ways we can continue to improve, please drop us a line. Bonus points for including the type of device and software/platform you’re reading our newsletter on.
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Honor Bilt houses, like The Glendale shown here from a 1921 catalog, were the priciest and highest quality kit homes offered by Sears. | Image by Sears, Roebuck & Co.
In the early 20th century, families across the US picked out new homes from catalogs as if they were shopping for clothes. They arranged financing, sent in their order form, and received their new abode in 30,000 pieces — assembly required, nails + screws not included.
Sears, Roebuck & Co. was the leader in mail-order kit homes, offering dozens of design plans until its Sears Modern Home division folded in 1940. Another popular company in the business, Aladdin Company, had a factory in what’s now the Kenton neighborhood and operated into the 1950s.
Mail-order houses are undoubtedly part of Portland’s architectural heritage, but it’s not easy to know if you’re looking at one. Kit homes were well made, oftentimes outlasting their conventional counterparts, and they came in many styles — like the popular American Foursquare found across Portland today.
This is where you come in. If you live in a mail-order home, we’d love to see a photo of it (bonus points for including a bit about its history) and potentially share it in a future newsletter.
Stamped lumber is a clue that your home might be a mail-order house; pieces like this one from a Sears kit were stamped to help builders assembly them in the proper order.
Here are some tips for determining whether your residence is one such gem:
Talk to your neighbors — if they’ve been around a long time, they might have a piece of oral history they’ve held on to over the years.
Does your house have a twin on the same street? Have you seen one nearly identical elsewhere in the city? If so, there’s a good chance they were built from kits.
Stumptown Coffee 25th Anniversary: Movie Nights | Friday, Oct. 18 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Stumptown Coffee Roasters (Southeast Division Street) | Free | The business is dusting off its projector for a screening of “Breaking the Crust,” a showcase of skateboarding + coffee with local ties.
Portland Juggling Festival | Friday, Oct. 18-Sunday, Oct. 20 | Times vary | Aubrey Watzek Sports Center at Reed College | $30+ | Jugglers from near and far will share their knowledge and show off their skills through workshops, games, open gym time, and a vaudeville performance.
“Wicked” | Friday, Oct. 18-Sunday, Nov. 3 | Times vary | Keller Auditorium | $59+ | See the theatrical origin story of Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West and experience its award-winning score ahead of the cinematic adaptation’s release.
Saturday, Oct. 19
Spirit of Halloweentown: The Ghostly Voyage | Saturday, Oct. 19-Sunday, Oct. 27 | 10:15 a.m.-5:30 p.m. | Caruthers Landing Dock | $110 | Listen to eerie local stories as you sail up the river to Halloweentown (aka St. Helens) where you’ll get to explore the haunted attractions on dry land.
Portland Water Lantern Festival | Saturday, Oct. 19 | 3:30-7:30 p.m. | Laurelhurst Park | $29+ | Connect with the community at this magical evening of food, games, vendors + music, concluding with the launch of thousands of personalized lanterns on the pond.
Sunday, Oct. 20
Portland Bridal & Wedding Expo | Sunday, Oct. 20 | 12:30-5 p.m. | Portland Expo Center | Free with online registration | Meet with wedding industry professionals, from DJs and makeup artists to florists and photographers, as you plan your dream day.
Howl-o-Ween | Sunday, Oct. 20 | 3-6 p.m. | Oregon Dog Rescue | $5 | Bring your pup for a costume contest, a pawprint craft, selfie booth, treats, games, and local vendors — all to support the nonprofit shelter.
Middle School and Upper School Open House | Sunday, Oct. 20 | 1-4 p.m. | Oregon Episcopal School | Free | Families and students in grades 6-12 are invited to this open house at a school where your child is known, valued, and celebrated, with an ever-evolving, innovative, and expansive curriculum.*
A one-of-a-kind, 4,281-sqft “treehouse” is for sale in the Hillsdale neighborhood. The wood-and-glass structure — originally built as the personal residence of Portland architect James Oliver — spans six stories and has a trestle bridge driveway, a spiral staircase, elevator, floating fireplaces, and treetop views. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Biz
The Portland Art Museum announced the largest corporate donation toward its campus expansion + renovation project: $500,000 from Bank of America. Museum Director Brian Ferriso said the gift “signals this belief in our city, which is so important at this moment.” (Portland Business Journal)
Cause
Local social justice nonprofit Sisters of the Road is looking for a new home base after plans to buy + renovate a space in Chinatown fell apart. The organization previously operated a cafe on Southwest Davis Street that provided meals for $1.50 or 15 minutes of work. (KOIN)
Trending
Reddit user bkd_eddyg did some digging into the unidentified stench that wafted through Southwest Washington and Portland late last month. A lengthy post detailing their communication with the Southwest Clean Air Agency + WA Department of Ecology alleges Longview’s WestRock Paper Mill was the source; the official investigation is ongoing.
Closing
Slabtown coffee shop Queue Coffee is calling it quits. Stop by on or before Tuesday, Nov. 12 to order one last seasonal drink like a butterscotch latte, a pastry, or a sausage omelet breakfast sandwich. Pro tip: There’s plenty of room to get some remote work done while you’re there.
Furry Friday
Do you have a particularly cozy + quiet home with lots of warm blankets? If so, 7-month-old kitty Dahlila would love to meet you. Canine sisters Sadie and Penny are searching for someone to spend their golden years with and they’re open to sharing space with kids, other small dogs, and respectful cats.
Answered
Last week, we asked how often you attend a show at Keller Auditorium. It turns out we have many theater-goers in our midst, with 42% saying they go once or twice a year. Nearly the same amount see a performance several times a year and 6% never miss a show. Bravo.
Sports
Scoot Henderson and Deni Avdija played their best preseason game this week, demonstrating their potential ahead of the NBA’s tip-off by lifting the Trail Blazers to a win over Germany’s Ratiopharm Ulm. Get the biggest local basketball stories every day from the experts with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Wellness
Did you know?Dave Lowe, MS, LPC, a member of the Couples Clinic of Portland team, is one of the few Gottman Certified Therapists in Oregon. Learn more about Dave + schedule a session with him. Pro tip: He has evening availability for both in-person or online sessions.*
Finance
If you have outstanding credit card debt, getting a new 0% intro APR credit card could help ease the pressure while you pay down your balances. Experts identified these top credit cards for anyone looking to pay down debt with no interest until 2026.*
Drink
Staying hydrated is easy (and delicious) with NativePath’s Hydrate drink mix. Each serving includes essential amino acids + electrolytes that foster optimal hydration with zero added sugar.*
Category
Outdoors
🍄🟫 Find the fun in fungi
“Respect the fungi along urban and popular hiking trails,” said @fungifinderpdx, even if they’re delicious chanterelles like these. | Photo by @fungifinderpdx
Fall is the best time to look for edible mushrooms in our region. While it’s crucial to be 100% certain that the variety you’re foraging is safe to eat, getting started doesn’t have to be daunting.
Here are some upcoming events to put on your radar:
2024 Oregon Mycological Society Fall Show | Sunday, Oct. 27 | 12-5 p.m. | World Forestry Center’s Miller Hall | $15 | Look at carefully curated displays of fungi from around the region, browse books for sale, try mushroom cooking samples + chat with experts.
Tryon MycoBlitz 2024 | Thursday, Oct. 24-Tuesday, Oct. 29 | Tryon Creek State Natural Area | Free | Help document fungi throughout the park by taking + uploading mushroom photos to the iNaturalist app.
These best-selling flameless floating candles. Transform your living room or entryway with a touch of October magic, thanks to these candles that appear to be floating in midair.
Tsunami risk is something I’m reminded of whenever I visit family on the Oregon Coast and see the hazard zone + evacuation route signs. Researchers at Oregon State University aren’t sitting idly by though — for decades, they’ve studied the potential impact of a tsunami using an indoor wave simulator. Check it out.
