Albany Monteith Historic District facts for kids
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Monteith Historic District
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 Location in Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by 2nd, Lyon, 12th and Elm Sts. (original) Elm St. SW to Calapooia and 19th Ave. SW to 11th and 12th Aves. SW (increase), Albany, Oregon |
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| Built | 1851 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/Craftsman, Late Victorian, Transitional Box |
| NRHP reference No. | 80003341 (original) 08001017 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 29, 1980 |
| Boundary increase | November 13, 2008 |
The Monteith Historic District is a special area in Albany, Oregon, where many old and important buildings are protected. It's also known as the Albany Monteith Historic District. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means its buildings and history are recognized as important to the United States. The district was made even bigger in 2008 to include more historic homes.
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Exploring Monteith's Past
The Monteith Historic District is on the west side of downtown Albany. It's named after Walter and Thomas Monteith. These brothers were the people who founded the city of Albany. They came to Oregon from New York in 1847.
In 1849, the Monteith brothers finished building the very first wooden house in Albany. Today, this house is a museum. People say it's the most truly restored pioneer home in Oregon. Much of the early history of Albany happened around this house.
Important Buildings and Styles
The Monteith district has many interesting buildings. One of them is a former United Presbyterian Church, now called "Whitespires." It's at the corner of Washington and Fifth streets. This church was built in 1891. It's famous for its beautiful stained glass windows. It also has special "Carpenter Gothic" details. The spire, or tall pointed roof, of Whitespires is the highest point in Albany.
In 1851, the Monteith family built the Magnolia Flouring Mills. This mill was located along the Calapooia River. When the mill started working, the first boat ever to travel the upper Willamette River arrived in Albany. This boat was named the Multnomah. Its arrival helped Albany become an important place for shipping goods. This was great for local factories and farms.
Protecting History: The National Register
The Monteith Historic District was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 29, 1980. This listing helps protect the old buildings. In 2000, the time period for historic buildings in Albany was changed. It went from 1849-1915 to 1849-1945. This change helped include more buildings from later years. These buildings show how Albany grew and changed.
In November 2008, the Monteith District grew even more. It added 78 properties on its southwest side. These new additions include many homes built in the early to mid-1900s. The district shows off many different building styles. These include Federal, Craftsman, Classical Revival, and Queen Anne. You can also see Bungalow, Colonial Revival, and many other unique styles.
Famous Places to See
The Monteith Historic District is home to many cool buildings. The Monteith House is one of them. You can find it at 518 Second Avenue. This house is now a museum. The City of Albany owns it. A group called the Monteith Historic Society helps take care of it. They also help run the museum.
Another interesting building is the Breckenridge House. It's located at 1122 Ferry Street SW.
