Gone but Not Forgotten: The Enduring Legacy of the Delahunt House
Sept. 19, 2024.
By: Kristin Grant
The Delahunt House
If you were to ride around the Irvington streetcar in the early 1900s, you might have caught a glimpse of the Delahunt House on NE 15th and Tillamook. With its distinctive two-story turret, intricate facade and expansive porch, the home was a stunning example of Queen Anne elegance.
Now, that street corner is noticeably changed. In fact, the Delahunt House hasn’t graced NE 15th and Tillamook for almost 60 years.
While the home is sadly no more, its story didn’t end in 1965. The Delahunt House would go on to play a critical role in shaping Portland’s architecture preservation efforts for decades to come.
Delahunt House's south-facing facade
Its story began in 1892 when prolific lumber agent Marcus Delahunt selected the property as the site for his new family home. With its convenient streetcar access, the location was ideal for moving throughout the growing city. The home was completed two years later in 1894, and would remain with the Delahunt family well into the 20th century.
71 years after it was first built, the property was sold to developers who planned to repurpose the land for new apartments. When legendary architectural preservationist George McMath caught wind of their intentions, he knew he had to try to save the home.
With this in mind, McMath worked tirelessly with the Portland City Council to devise historic building ordinances that would protect the Delahunt house and others like it. The ordinance would eventually be passed in 1968… three years too late to save the Delahunt House.
Nevertheless, the home’s legacy lives on in the countless buildings that have been saved by this essential piece of legislation. According to the City of Portland, architectural preservation ordinances have since protected more than 700 landmarks and districts across the city.
Iconic buildings and neighborhoods such as the Pittock Mansion, the Paul Bunyan Statue, and much of North Mississippi Avenue have all been spared. Without the efforts of McMath and countless others, these landmarks may have been lost to history.
AHC Founders Ben Milligan (far left) and Jerry Bosco (far right) with a Delahunt House column
Aside from its intangible legacy, the Delahunt House left behind a physical one too. As the home was being demolished, AHC founders Jerry Bosco and Ben Milligan rushed to purchase some of the home’s facade for safe keeping.
AHC’s Preservation Programs Manager Norm Gholston next to Delahunt House artifacts
Due to their quick thinking, the majority of the home’s front porch and exterior ornamentation were successfully saved. All of these artifacts have since been preserved in AHC’s warehouse archive.
One of the many preserved ornaments from the Delahunt House. This one was located underneath the balcony by the front door
To this day, this collection features beautiful and timeless examples of late 19th century craftsmanship. But perhaps more importantly, it also serves as a reminder to cherish our architectural heritage for generations to come.
