"Gus" AHC's Gallery Guardian
Gus in the AHC Lobby
The Atlas or Herculean wooden carved figural bracket was one of a pair of brackets adorning the main entrance to the Kamm Block built in 1884. The Kamm Block stood on SW Pine Street between Front and First Avenues and was demolished in 1948 to become a surface parking lot.
The Kamm Block (AHC Library)
The Kamm Block was designed by German-born Portland architect Justus Krumbein and the bracket was carved by John “Hans” Staehli, the grandfather of Portland architect Alfred Staehli.
The bracket has been lovingly referred to as “Gus” since William J. Hawkins III donated the piece and it was installed in the Architectural Heritage Center foyer.
Gus and his brother at the Kamm Block doors (Minor White)
The Kamm Block was built for Jacob Kamm who was a steamboat engineer and one of the owners of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company.
Jacob Kamm
Jacob Kamm's house in 1873
Jacob Kamm’s home was completed 1873 and designed by Albert H Jordan and the Firm of EM Burton and Warren Williams.
The Kamm House originally stood at SW 14th and Main Streets.
The Kamm House was salvaged and moved by Eric Ladd and is still standing in Goose Hollow near SW Jefferson.
