A Romantic House on the Corner

Feb. 20, 2025
By: Cailee Cunningham

The Christine Becker Home

The Christine Becker home is a great example of Portland architecture. With its combined craftsman and Dutch colonial features, it's as vibrant and fun as Portland itself. Emil Schacht must have been emulating Portland’s vibe when he designed this home for Christine Becker in 1909. Seeing the home featured in Classic Houses of Portland, Oregon, by William J. Hawkins III and William F. Willingham makes it all the more impressive, but getting to tour the home was something truly special.

The Architectural Heritage Center and the Dan Volkmer team hosted AHC donors and members to have a nice look at the inside of the home on February 15th. Despite the cold weather, folks made their way to see the house and all of its special features. It was a special treat to share our love for old houses with our members this Valentine’s weekend and having that quality time to get to engage with these old homes and reconnect with each other.

Some tour-goers reminisced about how the house reminded them of their grandparent’s home, while others took the time to imagine their own lives in it, given that the home is currently for sale. The grand entryway from the porch certainly made people feel welcome and at home. Every piece of this home exudes detail, from the four columns lining the porch, to the elegant art glass panels that continue throughout the living room and office, to the little swirl design on the stairs’ banister. 

The Christine Becker home has been delicately preserved and sensitively updated to fit to contemporary living standards. One such change came in the kitchen, which today expands into two rooms. A bound book of the original blueprints to the house were on display. The second room originally was a “sewing room”. Comparing the contemporary home to its original blueprint was especially exciting. There was even space for a false wall into a small safe room in the blueprints. 

Upstairs the home boasts four spacious bedrooms with an updated primary suite and walk-in closet. One glance at the home and you can tell just how meticulously the house has been cared for and preserved, all without losing those contemporary touches we all would love in a home.

Finally, the basement was finished and gave the home yet another expansive room for opportunities. Every part of the home felt so homey and well-loved.

Surprisingly, despite its elegance throughout, many noted their favorite part was the giant vintage boiler in the basement! However, my favorite part of the home was the grand staircase with a dark wood railing. The staircase led up to a great landing where one could take in all of the rooms and settle into the warm light that the sleeper’s porch offered, even on a cold blustery day.

Thank you to the Dan Volkmer team for letting us host this home tour!