Restore Oregon Announces Oregon's Most Endangered Places For 2018

PORTLAND, OR – Nov. 10, 2017 – Restore Oregon will announce the 2018 Most Endangered Places list at the annual Restoration Celebration held on November 10, 2017 at the historic Sentinel Hotel in downtown Portland, Oregon. Restore Oregon creates the list based on nominations from residents and organizations across Oregon and each nomination’s historic significance, urgency, viability, and community support. The 2018 Most Endangered Places list covers 12 places across Oregon, including seven from previous years, as well as five new additions that represent Oregon’s agricultural roots, passion for the outdoors, iconic maritime heritage, and the continued need to revitalize Oregon’s main streets:

ASTORIA FERRY (TOURIST NO. 2), ASTORIA (1924) - Nearly 100 years after construction, the ferry retains a high-level of integrity, but the passenger deck leaks badly, the electrical system is shot, the engine is unsafe, and rot is proliferating.
BUTTE CREEK MILL, EAGLE POINT (1872) - Fire ravaged this National Registered-listed mill on Christmas morning, 2015. Luckily the mill stones and key structural elements survived the blaze to retain the mill’s listing in the National Register. A plan to reconstruct is underway.
CONCORD SCHOOL, OAK GROVE (1936) - One of 3900 schools built during the Depression by the WPA, Concord School closed its doors in 2014. The Clackamas County Park and Rec department is now poised to take ownership of the building, so victory is in sight.
ELKS LODGE, MEDFORD (1915) - New owners must address years of deferred maintenance and figure out how to repurpose the building to generate income. The City of Medford hopes its restoration and reuse will add momentum to its downtown revival.
HERYFORD BUILDING, LAKEVIEW (1913) - Built by a Pioneer ranching family – and listed in the National Register of Historic Places – the Heryford was the first steel-framed building constructed in Oregon outside of the Willamette Valley. The city of Lakeview and its Main Street organization see the Heryford as the centerpiece of a downtown renaissance.
JANTZEN BEACH CAROUSEL, PORTLAND (1921) - For five years, it languished on our list of Oregon’s Most Endangered Places, its whereabouts unknown. But recently Restore Oregon received this beloved icon as a donation and has since launched a campaign to “Re-TURN the Jantzen Beach Carousel.”
THE RED BARN AT THE EASTERN OREGON AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH CENTER, UNION (1914) – This Union County landmark has become structurally compromised and may be demolished unless a viable new use can justify investment in repairs. Ideally, there would be a complete renovation of the Red Barn, maintaining its historic exterior.
SANTIAM PASS SKI LODGE, SANTIAM PASS (1940) - After 46 years of operation, the lodge closed in 1986 and has been ravaged by deterioration and vandals. New operators are seeking a long-term lease to repair and re-open the beautiful lodge for tourism and events.
SUMPTER VALLEY R.R. DEPOT & DEWITT MUSEUM, PRAIRIE CITY (1910) - Benign neglect, ill- conceived repairs, and a wood pecker invasion put the structure at serious risk. Local leaders have determined the community is best served if the depot is restored and continues as a museum.
UPPER SANDY GUARD STATION, NEAR GOVERNMENT CAMP (1935) - The native stone and log cabin was erected along the Pacific Crest Trail as part of the 1930’s New Deal work relief program
THE WONG LAUNDRY, PORTLAND (1908) - Threatened by decades without maintenance, the property was sold last year, and the new owners have proposed demolition to replace it with a high-rise completely out of character with the historic district in which it stands. 
and is clearly in urgent need of repair. A recent court ruling cleared the way for restoration work to take place on historic wilderness area structures.
VALE HOTEL, VALE (1908) - One of the most prominent buildings in Malheur County, it’s currently without running water or electricity. The non-profit managers hope to revive the building, providing much-needed economic development for Vale’s Main Street.

Restore Oregon works to save Oregon’s at-risk historic properties and uses the Oregon’s Most Endangered Places list as an effective preservation tool to raise public awareness of historically and architecturally significant properties throughout the state that face threats such as deterioration, neglect, insufficient funds, in-sensitive public policy, and inappropriate development. “Over the past seven years, Restore Oregon’s Most Endangered Places Program focused on saving 44 historic places. Of these, only four have been lost.” said Restore Oregon Executive Director, Peggy Moretti.
To learn more about Restore Oregon and the Oregon’s Most Endangered Places Program, please visit RestoreORegon.org. Find full descriptions and photos of the 2018 Oregon’s Most Endangered Places: RestoreORegon.org/oregons-endangered-places�High-resolutionphotos available for download.

About Restore Oregon: Founded in 1977, Restore Oregon is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization which advocates for sound preservation policy and legislation. Our mission is to preserve, reuse and pass forward the historic places that create livable communities. Each year, we provide statewide educational programming and technical assistance, while working to save the sites and structures featured on our annual list of Oregon’s Most Endangered Places. We hold over 40 conservation easements on historic properties, thereby protecting them in perpetuity. Learn more at www.restoreoregon.org

About Oregon’s Most Endangered Places Program: Since 2011, Restore Oregon has delivered one of the most impactful preservation programs in the state: Oregon’s Most Endangered Places. Each year historic properties are at risk of being lost to demolition, neglect, hard times, poor public policy, or encroaching development. With support from The Kinsman Foundation and the Oregon Cultural Trust, Oregon’s Most Endangered Places program works to raise public awareness of the cultural value of these places, provides direct consultation, distributes seed grants, advocates for pro- preservation public policy, and helps owners leverage additional grants and private investment to support their restoration.

Passionate Oregonian’s nominate places in need of help and restoration guidance. From those nominations, Restore Oregon carefully curates the Most Endangered Places list based on significance, urgency, viability, and community support. It includes places from previous years, as well as new additions that are nominated by Oregonians seeking help and guidance.