The Portland Branch Meetinghouse, also known as the Portland Stake Tabernacle, is a lovely tudorbethan style building that was completed in 1929. The original Portland Branch building, completed in 1915, was outgrown, and so this large building was completed, and the old building was sold to the local RLDS (now Community of Christ) branch.
This building still stands and it's lovely, although in 2019 the local ward stopped meeting here (I'm unsure if it was discontinued or relocated) and the building became a family history center (similar to what happened to the historic Las Vegas Ward).
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| (Image Source: Church History Library) |
The building looks very much the same.
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| (Image Source: Church History Library) |
The front of the building originally had a large mural, done by J. Leo Fairbanks, showing Christ watching over the armed forces. It was commissioned by the stake president in the 1940s, whose son died serving in WWII. The President used the money to commission the mural.
This beautiful building is another example of the issue many historic buildings face--they are located in inner-city areas, such as Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and other areas, where LDS demographics are decreasing, as family-oriented members tend to move to the suburbs. Therefore, these older buildings, already threatened just because of the cost of their upkeep and maintenance, are even more at risk of their congregations being discontinued or moved and the building becoming useless. While I'm glad the building is still preserved as a family history center, it has been closed for nearly 2 years due to the pandemic, and even when it's used, that would hardly use much of a very large building.
In the past 7 years since I started this blog, several buildings that I documented have now been razed, sold, or abandoned. I plan to do a post in the upcoming month about these buildings.
Thank you for the updates. On this blog.
ReplyDeleteThe 30th and Harrison building in Portland is a treasure. It was patterned after the Highland Park Ward chapel in Salt Lake City and contains many of the same design details on both the interior and exterior. Built at the same time as many of the homes in the adjacent neighborhood, it blends seamlessly with their stately brick architecture. But unlike many other unique chapels of it's generation built by the Church, the 30th & Harrison building is not a victim of a degrading or changing neighborhood. It's primarily being impacted by shifting demographics.
ReplyDeleteI can see the similarities to Highland Park, especially in the chapel.
DeleteI grew up attending church here in the 1960s and 70s, first in Portland First Ward (Twelfth Ward also met there) and then the Colonial Heights Ward. I just found out the building is for sale. I have lived in NY State for decades, so I was unaware of the recent developments. Thank you for posting this.
ReplyDeleteI also grew up in the Portland 12th ward, had lots of good memories,and still stay in touch with a few others that grew up in that building
DeleteWe raised our family in the Colonial Heights neighborhood from 1975 through the 1990s. I played the organ and my husband led music. I taught Sunday School, Primary, and Relief Society in this building. Our son’s Eagle Scout ceremony and Wedding reception was held there.
ReplyDeleteMy son just turned me onto this blog. It’s a good work you are doing so thank you. I live in inner city Portland and recently learned that several buildings in PDX are being sold or have been sold including this one. I am really sad about it and wish there was a way to preserve it. The other buildings are at NE 37th and NE Going, SE Taggart and 70th (or thereabouts), and NE 106th and NE Thompson.
ReplyDeleteThere's been a lot of contraction of the Church in this area, unfortunately.
DeleteActually the building on NE 37th and Going is still a strong ward (the Alameda Ward). The other buildings though are. The Tongan Building (NE 106th an Thompson) is being sold as the two Tongan wards were combined into one and moved to the Glendoveer building one NE 162nd near Sandy, and the Portland Ward which met at the building near 70th and Taggart was relocated to the Stake Center on Division and 101st. Unfortunately they also recently announced that the Moreland building on SE 17th is also being sold since they dissolved the Milwaukie Stake a few months back and the Moreland and Milwaukie Wards were combined.
DeleteSo sorry a building like this is lost. I am sure it has a pipe organ and that too will be thrown out. Rather than tear it down it could be an arts centre, museum or some other cultural centre. I don't like church buildings being turned into condos but rather that than being destroyed. I fear that will be the fate of the beautiful University Ward chapel in Salt Lake City. It doesn't look as if the University of Utah will do anything with it.
ReplyDeleteHey! Curious if there's any way to contact the church? I want to do a video here and showcase how cool these old churches/ meeting centers are.
ReplyDeleteThe Cherry Park Ward which most recently met here was relocated to the Portland Stake Center on SE Division Street. The Colonial Heights Ward which met here for the longest was dissolved about 10 years ago and combined with the Cherry Park and Portland Wards.
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