Moorhouse Photo Collection: Part 5

3/14/25 11 Comments

Authored & Curated By

M.J.G.

The Sommerville Residence

Located in Pendleton, Oregon, at the corner of Vincent and Lewis, the Sommerville Residence was built in 1899 for Edgar J. Sommerville and his wife, Clementine Cornoyer Sommerville. Edgar, a pharmacist and influential community member, served as Umatilla Indian Agent, Umatilla County Commissioner, and a member of the Pendleton City Council. Clementine was the daughter of Narcisse A. Cornoyer, a former Umatilla Indian Agent.

The couple lived in the house until Edgar's passing in 1932, after which Clementine remained there until her death in 1939.

The Sommerville House is a well-preserved example of Queen Anne architecture and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Detailed documentation of the property by the United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service is available at the NPGallery.

The House
Howard Brothers of Baker, Oregon, were the contractors hired to construct this home. The street, originally named Vincent, is now known as 5th St. The house was once enclosed by an attractive picket fence, with a wooden sidewalk separating it from the rough dirt road. It appears to have always been painted in a monochrome color scheme, possibly white.

It is a privilege to research and share details about a house that still stands today in excellent condition, with only a few modifications that do not compromise its original character. Many historic homes are altered beyond recognition or lost to demolition. Aside from the removal of the fence, wooden sidewalks, and dirt road, the house remains a proud landmark on the corner.

Historic Maps & Atlas
The 1896 Sanborn Map shows that property number 15 on the corner was originally a smaller, single-level home with both a front and side porch, along with two outbuildings—one specifically labeled as an outhouse.

The 1903 Sanborn Map suggests that the original house may have been demolished and replaced with the home that stands today. According to historical records, the current structure was built in 1899. The neighboring house appears to have retained its original footprint, though a wraparound porch was later added, and some modifications were made to the back right section.

The historic report I linked earlier incorrectly assumes that the back wing of the house is a later addition due to its simplicity and the way it appears attached. This is a common misconception. Kitchen and utility wings often resemble later extensions, but in historic homes, these service wings were frequently part of the original construction.

The 1890s map does not depict the house as it stands today but does show the original one-story dwelling.

The full Bird’s eye view of Pendleton, Umatilla County, Ore map can be found here.

The Photo Study
Intriguing small details can be seen along the top edges of the windows. Dark window shades and lace curtains adorn these openings, adding to the home’s historic character.

The detail still exists today, remarkably well-preserved. The scrollwork features an open design that rests over the clapboard. Painting the exposed clapboard within the open curve would better highlight the original intent, enhancing the scroll detail much like the polychrome houses of the era.

A simple curved bench is positioned in the corner of the porch, visible through the balustrade.

Today, the porch still retains its original railings and built-in bench.

The back veranda leads into the kitchen. All of the porches on the home remain in place today, having withstood the test of time relatively unscathed.

The only thing we’ve really lost on this home are the railings on the staircase. Due to the street angle I needed to capture this from, you can see more of the back wing of the house.

Here, you can see the front door and the doorbell, but if you look to the far right, you’ll catch a glimpse of the neighbor’s house, which has since been demolished.

Through the trees, you can spot the eyebrow window that adorns the top of the stair hall.

Amazingly, the eyebrow window has not suffered the fate that many do. These windows are often removed for various reasons, such as rot or the difficulty of roofing smoothly around them. Some roofers even recommend their removal. As seen here, the roof is sharply cut around the window. Originally, these windows were typically roofed over without sharp edges, with the roof flowing seamlessly across the top.

This is an example of how the window would look if restored with a modern roof, while still honoring the original intention of a cohesive roofline across the entire dormer.

The roof ridges on this house are all quite interesting, featuring cylindrical shapes that add unique character to the structure.

The complex beauty of rooflines from this era never fails to impress. A closer look reveals the many rooflines and gables, showcasing intricate design details. Also noteworthy are the original wood shingled roof patterns and the striking bold finials.

While this is not an exact perspective match, you can see that two of the large original finials have been retained and reinstalled on the roof, thankfully. Unfortunately, when new roofs are installed, these finials are often lost. Sadly, though, the unique roof ridges and the original variegated patterned shingles on the roof have been eliminated.

Zooming in, we can see the wires, a common feature found on many homes in Pendleton.

The original brick chimneys are striking with their unique pattern. They feature recessed portions in the center, which, while not uncommon for brick chimneys of the time, taper into a distinctive design at the top.

The original chimneys still retain most of their original details. The tops have been repointed at some point, but the taper effect remains intact. The screen door is also beautifully preserved.

Here, we can see one of their three daughters, Elizabeth Esther, Sydney or Evelyn. standing next to the flowers in front of the home.

Not surprisingly, the fence and gardens are gone, along with the front stair railings. However, thankfully, the house remains mostly in excellent historical condition.

Attractive summer wicker porch furniture is arranged on a beautifully shaded porch. The screen door is very attractive with its scrollwork.

In the front garden, one of their daughters seen up close, with the flowers appearing to be Hibiscus, perhaps?

Another view shows one of the daughters sitting in the grass on a hot summer day.

Porch vines create a fantastic, soft, and shaded spot on the porch. Training vines up and across the porch was a popular and welcomed trend during the 19th century, even though it often led to risks such as rotting and mold on the delicate porch details. If you look closely on the right side of the photo, you can spot what appears to be chicken wire attached to the porch, providing support for the vines to cling to.

The daughter is seen in the front garden, surrounded by flowers and plants in full bloom.

You can see that at some point between 1903 and 1910, according to the Sanborn Maps, a sunroom was added to the back of the home. A small balcony was also installed at the same time (though it isn’t shown on the 1910 Sanborn Map). Views of this room are available on the realtor site here.

This home was featured on OldHouseDreams a few years back. You can see it by clicking here.

The Lee Moorhouse Collection Chapters:
The Moorhouse Collection: Part 1
The Moorhouse Collection: Part 2
The Moorhouse Collection: Part 3
The Moorhouse Collection: Part 4

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