Barber Block facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Barber Block
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
The Barber Block in 2006
Location	532–538 SE Grand Avenue Portland, Oregon
Built	1890
Architect	Thomas J. Jones
Architectural style	Mixed late Victorian styles, including Italianate, Queen Anne, Richardsonian Romanesque, others
Part of	East Portland Grand Avenue Historic District (ID91000126)
NRHP reference No.	77001109
Added to NRHP	February 15, 1977

The Barber Block is a cool old building in Portland, Oregon. It's located at the corner of Southeast Grand and Washington Streets. This building was finished way back in 1890. It's so special that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site in the United States. The Barber Block is also part of a larger area called the East Portland Grand Avenue Historic District.

What Makes the Barber Block Special?

The Barber Block has a long and interesting history. It has seen many changes over the years.

A Look Inside: Past Businesses

Over the decades, many different businesses have called the Barber Block home.

• In the 1920s, there was even a nickelodeon theater inside. A nickelodeon was an early type of movie theater where you could watch short films for just a nickel!
• The ground floor has hosted all sorts of shops. These included a furniture store, a restaurant, and even a bank.
• The second and third floors have always been places where people live. They were mostly apartments. For a while, they were used as a single-room occupancy hotel. This is a type of hotel where people rent just one room, often for a longer time.

Surviving the Storm

The Barber Block has faced some tough times.

• In 1962, a huge storm hit called the Columbus Day Storm of 1962.
• This storm caused a lot of damage to the building's roof.
• The owners thought about tearing the building down because of the damage.
• But luckily, they decided to save it instead!

Renovations and the Future

Because the owners decided to save it, the Barber Block got some much-needed updates.

• It was renovated in the late 1970s.
• It got another round of renovations in the 2000s.
• Thanks to these efforts, this historic building is still standing strong today. It continues to be an important part of Portland's history and its community.