Abbington Lion

Abbington Lion head, salvaged by Ben Milligan and Jerry Bosco

This cast iron medallion depicting a lion once adorned the 1886 Abbington Building. The Abbington Building stood on SW 3rd between Stark and Alder Streets. 

The Abbington Building was constructed for Simeon Gannett Reed and was named for Reed’s hometown of Abbington, MA. Much of Reed’s wealth came from his investment in the Oregon Steam Navigation Company. Reed’s estate helped found Reed College with a 3 million dollar donation.

Abbington Building, ca. 1920

Simeon Gannett Reed

A close up of the Abbington Lion

The large cast iron pilasters with lions on the capitals were cast at the Honeyman City Foundry in Portland Oregon. John Honeyman was a Scottish born immigrant that arrived in Portland in 1862.

Portland's City Foundry

There had once been a tower and mansard roof on the 5th floor of the Abington Building that was lost in a fire in 1908. The Abbington Building was torn down in 1967, but we're glad to have these features in our collection to remind people of Portland's history.