Moorhouse Photo Collection: Part 3

2/12/25 12 Comments

Authored & Curated By

M.J.G.

The NeighborhoodThe homes within Lee Moorhouse's extensive collection are not all identified and are interspersed throughout. As we continue reviewing this collection, we’ll explore a few of the notable homes that were photographed several times in his collection. After some research, a "lightbulb" went on and I was able to finally identify the street we are looking at today as Water and Thompson. These three well photographed homes, to my amazement, were actually right next to each other.

See the map below and click the image to be taken directly to the Library of Congress site for the full view of the Pendleton Bird's Eye View map.

Bird's Eye View of Pendleton, Umatilla County, Ore. 1890

While no interior photos have surfaced so far, posts like this aim to revive these images through discussion, research, and local knowledge. If you share any insights in the comments, I’ll update the post with credit to you, helping to build a more detailed study and bring these photos back to life.

Don't forget, clicking the images on the page will get you even closer to the past.

House Number 1

This was the home of Dr. Fred Vincent. He lived there with his wife, son and daughter. The home stands proud, undergoing very few changes over the years aside from the typical paint updates and fence replacements. Like the other homes you’ll see, the public sidewalks are made of wood.

This is a plan book home by Palliser’s American Cottage Homes by Palliser, Palliser & Co. 1878.

Thanks to JimH for identifying the residents.

Average home costs were put in architectural plan books. However, the location of your home made a big difference in cost, materials, labor etc., just like today. This home was listed for $1500.

A full view of the page with floor plans can be found here.

Thanks to Kelly for snooping around my drafts folder and identifying this as a Palliser’s for me.

Sanborn Map; 1890:
Here we see the house with several outbuildings.

A closer view of the porch reveals its sawn balustrade and “Stick” style details just like the etching above. Vines are being trained up the porch, likely with the use of string or wire.

In this view, we can see an outbuilding, a man with a horse, a woman and child on a carriage, as well as the sloping hill in the background behind the river.

Behind the two on the carriage, we can see that the front door screen is open, and the door glass appears to be etched. The Queen Anne windows feature what looks like stained glass panes in the mullions, with lace curtains. I see the wheel of a bicycle on the porch as well.

The second floor features a small balcony. The roof is ridged, with wood roof ridge cresting adding to its design. Like the some of the other houses we have seen, this house has two wires running to it. Can you see the two glass insulators at the top? Telephone wires? Electrical wires? Anybody want to put their thoughts in?

Flint Glass Insulators can still be found on older poles and homes but can be found for sale at antique stores and online. They came in clear, as well as many colors.

A closer view of the man and horse allows us to see the state of the sidewalk more clearly, along with the home’s wood fence. It’s possible that this fence was painted in the same color scheme as the house. While it’s common today to assume all fences would be white, it was often recommended to choose ornamental fences in tones that complement the home. The bottom rail of this fence appears to be a darker color.

This latest photo shows the home painted a dark color. By this time the wood sidewalk appears to have been removed, and the fence replaced by a hedge.

Vincent Park is named after Fredrick W. Vincent. He was not only a doctor but was founder of Pendleton’s water system, started the first electric light plant called Pacific Light and Power Co. and was also elected Mayer, twice, of Pendleton. Fredrick died at the age 98.

House Number 2

Here is a stereoscopic view with a group of children and one adult standing on the corner of Water and Thompson, a streetlight over them, and the beautiful home behind them we will explore more of.

Sanborn Map; 1890:
This map shows the home at the corner of Thompson and Water. The house is absent from the 1888 Sanborn map but appears in the 1890 edition, suggesting it was built between 1888 and 1890. Notice the small one-story building labeled “room” directly behind the house. This structure was not on the original Sanborn map but appears in the photos. This location corresponds to the corner of Water and Thompson, though these streets have since been renamed—Water Street is now Byers, and Thompson is now 3rd.

Robert G Thompson was the owner of this home with his wife Leona Thompson along with five children. Perhaps some of these children were his?

As we zoom in on this beautiful home, we see two outbuildings—one labeled “room” on the Sanborn map and the other identified as a carriage house.

Thanks to JimH for identifying the family that resided in this home.

Mr. Robert G. Thompson

This home, just like the home we saw in Part 2, sits elevated on a tall foundation. This foundation appears to be a stucco-like material, perhaps Portland Cement? The exterior appears to have at least three or more colors, including the first-floor body, trim, and shingles. In the background, on the other side of the river, a home can be seen perched on the hill to the left.

Is that Mr. Thompson after shaving off his beard with the tilted derby? What do you think?

As close as we can get to the front parlor window, we can see a stained glass transom, a window shade in an undetermined color, and white or brightly colored curtains. Vines appear to be growing up the side of the house. The corner fan details are highlighted in two colors.

Typical Queen Anne windows feature square stained glass mullions around the perimeter. The roof ridge is wooden, adorned with a strikingly unique large finial design incorporating an open circle. The bold design adds to the home’s character. Notably, there are no attic windows on the front or side of the house. An iron railing appears to enclose a flat portion of the roof.

The road is a rough dirt path, and the sidewalks are made of wood. In later photos of this neighborhood, the wooden sidewalks are replaced with what appears to be concrete. The children in the image are unidentified, but they stand eagerly, excited to be part of the picture.

It was this electric streetlight that helped me identify the location of this home. Sometimes, it’s the small, subtle details off to the side that trigger the answer. In a future post we’ll see this same light but the other side of the street.

Here’s a different view of the house, featuring a woman on the stairs. The fence surrounding the home is beautiful and complements the house’s design perfectly.

A closer look at the fence, a woman in an 1890s puffy sleeved jacket, and possibly her two children. Note the fire hydrant in the foreground.

A closer look at the home, you can see the shades are drawn to exclude the sunlight. On the steps leans, perhaps the lady of the home.

The tall pipe suggests that this home possibly had an indoor bathroom, likely located just below the small window. By the 1880s and 1890s, middle-class homes often included at least one indoor bathroom. In this view, we also get a closer look at the chimney, which appears to be coated in some type of coating, as well as roof ridge, and iron cresting.

There is still a common misconception that indoor plumbing was only for the very wealthy, but that’s not entirely accurate. Several factors influenced this decision. Was city water available? If not, could rainwater be collected in a tank in the attic to create pressure? Even wealthy people might have resisted this trend, preferring older ways. Some lower-middle-class individuals splurged on the luxury, sometimes going into debt in the same way people do today. Numerous books from the late 19th century discuss “sanitary plumbing,” and I encourage those learning about this topic to read them thoroughly. You’ll discover that the reality is far more complex than the “very wealthy or very poor” stigma often attached to this era.

A summer photo of the house shows all the window shades drawn to block out the light. The vines, which once seemed to be growing wild, appear to have been tamed.

This side view of the home provides a good look at the side of the house and the small back wing. The detail above the second-floor window stands out, highlighted by a darker background that draws attention to the sunburst-like design. The girls sitting on a float for a parade add a fun touch. Each of the little girls is wearing a hat with a state written on it.

In this later photo, the house appears to have been painted with a monochrome color scheme. The foundation may have been painted in a darker color, or it could simply be the aging of the stucco or cement that gives it that appearance.

Judging by the location of this room and the small wing behind the building, this bay-windowed room is likely the dining room.

House Number 3:

Here is a view of the home we’ll be exploring next. This home was either turned and moved onto the lot behind it, or it was demolished later to make way for a larger home.

Here is an earlier view of the home before the House 1 and House 2 were constructed. This is taken from Panoramic View of Pendleton, Or., County Seat of Umatilla County 1884.

An online copy of the full map can be found here.

Sanborn Map; 1896:
Here is the map of this area. Also, notice in the street to the right, there is a “cistern flowing well” for horses to drink from.

Sanborn Map; 1903:
Sometime between 1896 and 1903, the one-story home was either turned and moved to the back of the property or completely demolished. A new two-story home was constructed, with partial stone on the first floor and shingles on the second and third floors. The house number is listed as 311 Water St. The shape of the home the used to be in this location is now surprisingly similar to the home on this image to the left of the new home with the exception of the porch which is no longer wraparound. Sometimes when buildings are moved, the porch configurations are changed.

A full front view of the home can be seen here. To the right, you can spot the barn behind the second home we reviewed today.

By this time, it’s clear that the wood sidewalk has been replaced with a modern concrete walk, and a stone carriage step has been added. An attractive iron fence and gate have also been installed, further complementing the home’s design.

A closer look at the house number, an electric light fixture, the stonework, leaded glass windows, and some very low railings.

Anyone else notice the shoes on the front steps?

The second-floor balcony features another electric light, a hammock stretched across, and possibly a jacket or blanket hanging from the hook.

We get a nice view of the lace curtains here, but we can also see the porch of the home behind the house. Interestingly, it looks quite similar to the house that was originally on this plot.

Another view of this home reveals a bit more of the other side.

A view of the third floor shows a false balcony. The pattern wrapping around below the small roofline is quite interesting.

A view of the home behind shows a very similar roofline and window placement to the original home, minus the shutters. Also, take note that the lower window sashes have screens, with one of them hinged and open.

Let’s go back and take another look at this fascinating photo from which we extracted the earlier image. It’s listed as “Ezra Meeker with wagon and ox team, Pendleton.” There are several pictures of this group we’ll explore in a later chapter.

Ezra Meeker was a pioneer, author, and advocate for preserving the history of the Oregon Trail. In the early 1900s, he retraced his original 1852 journey along the trail with a covered wagon and oxen to raise awareness about the trail’s historical significance. The reference to Ezra Meeker with wagon and ox team, Pendleton likely refers to one of his stops in Pendleton, Oregon, during his well-documented expeditions to mark and commemorate the Oregon Trail. Meeker’s efforts led to the placement of historical markers along the route and contributed to broader recognition of westward expansion history. He made multiple journeys across the trail, even taking to the skies in an airplane later in life to continue his advocacy.

Before & After Photos:

Demolished

Demolished

Put your research, thoughts, or ideas in the comments below.

The Lee Moorhouse Collection Chapters:
The Moorhouse Collection: Part 1
The Moorhouse Collection: Part 2

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