NOW AVAILABLE
CLICK TO ORDER
Conrad & Evelyn Gordon Residence, Wilsonville, Oregon (1956 - S.419)
Saved from destruction. The Move. March 14, 2001 and September 16, 2001 (Silverton and Wilsonville, Oregon)
The original 22 acre site that once was home to the Gordon House, was sold by the Gordon's son in September, 2000. The new owners were not interested in the Home, but the property and slated it for destruction, not knowing it was a Wright home. The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy was notified. Agreements were reached. The interior wood paneling, built-in furniture, doors, cabinets and shelves were carefully removed, packaged and marked to assure an accurate restoration and reassembly. The roof was removed, then the upper story was cut from the lower. The concrete red floor, many of the concrete blocks and interior shower tiles could not be saved. In February and March of 2001 the dismantled Gordon House was moved in pieces, 25 miles away to the Oregon Gardens in Silverton. The building was sited in the exact orientation as the original house. In September of 2001, the reconstructed but incomplete Gordon house was open for public tours. I had the opportunity to visit the original and new site on March 14, 2001, and tour the work in progress on September 16, 2001.
March 2001 & September 2001
1: Viewed from a South West angle, the Western Balcony of the second floor is seen in the foreground. March 14, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -1)
2: Viewed from a North West angle, the fireplace is boarded and secured for transportation. March 14, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -2) 3: The original vacated site in Wilsonville is viewed from the South West. The South Western corner stairs in the foreground leads to the Work Space entry and main Entrance. March 14, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -3) 4: Viewed from the North West, The base of the columns are visible in the pad. The North Western corner of the Terrace (seen in the foreground to the right) has been cut and moved to the new site in Silverton. March 14, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -4)
5: Detail of the Southern end of the Carport, viewed from the West. September 16, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -5)
6: Detail of the Western side of the Carport, viewed from the South. September 16, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -6)
7: Eastern side of the Living Room viewed from the Entrance. The four concrete columns are visible on the right, and just past that is the Fireplace. The seven foot grid design is visible in the concrete floor. September 16, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -7)
8: Scale model of the Gordon House, viewed from a South West angle. September 16, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -8)
9: Note left by the builder, “Oct. 10, 1963, E. J. Strandberg Cons. Co.” September 16, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -9)
10: A second note left for posterity: “3/8 Ply 41c Sq. Ft., House Cost $56,000, too cheap.” September 16, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -10)
11: Original perforated cut-wood light screen. September 16, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -11)
12: Reconstructed Living Room Fireplace. Vertical joints are flush, horizontal joints are raked which adds to the horizontal feel. September 16, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -12)
13: Living Room door detail. All doors and windows open outward. Raked horizontal joints are visible. September 16, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -13)
14: Detail shows door and jam construction. September 16, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -14)
15: Roof is resting on new concrete block columns. View of the West Terrace. Only one set of double doors have only been installed between the two columns on the far right. September 16, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -15)
16: Cantilevered trellised roof extends seven foot out over the Terrace. September 16, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -16)
17: West end of the Living Room before the perforated cut-wood light screen are installed. Fireplace and Living Room ceiling are seen past the concrete block wall. September 16, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -17)
18: The cantilevered trellised roof extends seven foot out over the Terrace. Of the five vertical columns, the column in the foreground is detached from the Living Room. September 16, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -18)
19: Construction detail of the North West corner of the cantilevered trellised Living Room roof. September 16, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -19)
20: Construction detail of the North end of the Living Room ceiling. September 16, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -20)
21: Construction detail of the North East corner of the cantilevered Living Room roof. September 16, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -21)
22: Construction detail of the North end of the cantilevered trellised Living Room roof. September 16, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -22)
23: Construction detail of the West side of the Living Room ceiling. September 16, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -23)
24: Reconstructed concrete Living Room wall and western columns before window and doors installed. Viewed from the North. September 16, 2001. (ST#2001.83.1020 -24) Text and Photographs by Douglas M. Steiner, Copyright 2001
