Portland’s “Renovize” House

July, 30. 2025
By: Norm Gholston

Recently, AHC was asked to find out more about the history of SE 24th Avenue in the Colonial Heights, Hosford-Abernethy neighborhood as part of a 100-year celebration of the street. Not only did Norm Gholston share some great history with the community that gathered to mark the occasion, we also discovered some fascinating Portland stories about one of the houses on the block that had been moved. The house’s claim to fame was as Portland’s Renovize Home and is just as relevant a model of inspiration for the opportunities today that renovation can provide.

William Church House SE 24th Ave

English born William Church arrived in Portland in 1853. William built two houses for his daughters in 1888. This house was erected at 132 SW Sheridan Street.

In 1934 during the depression, this house was moved to SW 6th and Morrison next to the Pioneer Courthouse by the First National bank and the Oregon chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

The house was used as a demonstration of how older homes could be modernized for much less money than new construction. They called it “Renovize”. Once the house was Renovized more than 175,000 people toured the home. The design work was overseen by architect Herman Brookman and architects Kenneth Legge, Harold Doty, Harold Marsh, Frank Potter, W.H. Crowell and Harrison A. Whitney participated in the work.

The home was then auctioned off to the highest bidder. The home was purchased by Kenneth A. Loukes for $1,750. The money all went to the Portland Art Museum and the Sunshine Division.

The house was put on the back of a truck and moved by Lebeck & Son over the Ross Island Bridge to SE 24th where it still stands as proof that “Renovizing” can be a viable alternative to demolition.