John and Sarah Sheffield House
Encyclopedia
The John and Sarah Sheffield House, also known as Paradise Springs Farm, in southeast Portland
in the U.S. state
of Oregon
, is a two-story dwelling listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. Built in 1866 as a farm house, it was added to the register in 1991. It is one of the oldest remaining homes in its neighborhood.
Located on the western slope of Mount Tabor
, the house is in a residential part of the Sunnyside
neighborhood. Built in a Classic Revival
architectural style with Italianate decorative elements, the two-story structure was augmented in the early 20th century by two single-story additions to the rear. The original house plan is based on two gable
s set perpendicular to one another. Constructed of heavy timbers, the house is balloon-framed and is supported by brick columns and by timbers that rest on bricks and stones. Most of the original sash window
s contain wavy glass with air bubbles. Interior features include the six original rooms, three on each floor, with ceilings that are 107 inches (271.8 cm) high downstairs and 103 inches (261.6 cm) high upstairs. These rooms have original baseboard with crown molding
and four-panel doors. A staircase with a banister and a turned newel
post connects the two levels.
of 620 acres (250.9 ha) in East Portland
. In 1866, the Sheffields bought 10 acres (4 ha) of this property from the Prettymans and built the T-shaped house, which they sold in 1872. At the time the Sheffields bought the property, East Portland was sparsely settled except for businesses along the east bank of the Willamette River
. Most residents further east were farmers who lived in small cabins or were engaged in building the first homes. Though many changes occurred in the neighborhood after the house was built, the Sheffield house has retained most of its original features.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, is a two-story dwelling listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Built in 1866 as a farm house, it was added to the register in 1991. It is one of the oldest remaining homes in its neighborhood.
Located on the western slope of Mount Tabor
Mount Tabor, Portland, Oregon
Mount Tabor is the name of a volcanic cinder cone, the city park on the volcano, and the neighborhood of Southeast Portland that surrounds it, all in the U.S. state of Oregon. The name refers to Mount Tabor, Israel. It was named by Plympton Kelly, son of Oregon City pioneer resident Clinton...
, the house is in a residential part of the Sunnyside
Sunnyside, Portland, Oregon
Sunnyside is a neighborhood in the south east section of Portland, between SE Stark St. and SE Hawthorne Blvd. and from SE 28th Ave. to SE 49th Ave....
neighborhood. Built in a Classic Revival
Neoclassical
Neoclassical may refer to:General:* Neoclassicism, any of a number of movements in the fine arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture beginning in the 17th Century...
architectural style with Italianate decorative elements, the two-story structure was augmented in the early 20th century by two single-story additions to the rear. The original house plan is based on two gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
s set perpendicular to one another. Constructed of heavy timbers, the house is balloon-framed and is supported by brick columns and by timbers that rest on bricks and stones. Most of the original sash window
Sash window
A sash window or hung sash window is made of one or more movable panels or "sashes" that form a frame to hold panes of glass, which are often separated from other panes by narrow muntins...
s contain wavy glass with air bubbles. Interior features include the six original rooms, three on each floor, with ceilings that are 107 inches (271.8 cm) high downstairs and 103 inches (261.6 cm) high upstairs. These rooms have original baseboard with crown molding
Crown molding
Crown molding encapsulates a large family of moldings which are designed to gracefully flare out to a finished top edge. Crown molding is generally used for capping walls, pilasters, and cabinets, and is used extensively in the creation of interior and exterior cornice assemblies and door and...
and four-panel doors. A staircase with a banister and a turned newel
Newel
A newel, also called a central pole, is an upright post that supports the handrail of a stair banister. In stairs having straight flights it is the principal post at the foot of the staircase, but it can also be used for the intermediate posts on landings and at the top of a staircase...
post connects the two levels.
History
In 1849, Perry and Elizabeth Prettyman settled a Donation Land ClaimDonation Land Claim Act
The Donation Land Claim Act of 1850 was a statute enacted by the United States Congress intended to promote homestead settlement in the Oregon Territory in the Pacific Northwest...
of 620 acres (250.9 ha) in East Portland
East Portland, Oregon
East Portland was a city in the U.S. state of Oregon that was consolidated into Portland in 1891. It was founded on a land claim by James B. Stephens in 1846, who bought a land claim from John McLoughlin of the Hudson's Bay Company...
. In 1866, the Sheffields bought 10 acres (4 ha) of this property from the Prettymans and built the T-shaped house, which they sold in 1872. At the time the Sheffields bought the property, East Portland was sparsely settled except for businesses along the east bank of the Willamette River
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
. Most residents further east were farmers who lived in small cabins or were engaged in building the first homes. Though many changes occurred in the neighborhood after the house was built, the Sheffield house has retained most of its original features.