Blaine Smith House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Blaine Smith House
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The Smith House in 2008
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 Location in Portland, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5219 SE Belmont Street Portland, Oregon |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1909 |
| Architect | MacNaughton, Raymond & Lawrence |
| Architectural style | Arts and Crafts, Jacobethan, Tudor Revival |
| MPS | Architecture of Ellis F. Lawrence MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 91000798 |
| Added to NRHP | June 19, 1991 |
The Blaine Smith House is a historic home located in southeast Portland, Oregon. It was built in 1909 and is a great example of the Arts and Crafts architectural style. This beautiful house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, recognizing its importance.
Contents
Exploring the Blaine Smith House
The Blaine Smith House is a two-story building. It has a full basement and an attic. The house measures about 40 feet by 60 feet.
Outside the House
The house has a steeply sloped roof. It also features decorative half-timbering on the second floor. This means it looks like there are wooden beams on the outside walls. The house is built with brick and stucco. You can also see dormer windows on the front and back.
There are some parts of the house that stick out. These include a porte-cochère, which is a covered entrance for cars. There is also a front entrance and a sun porch. A circular driveway leads to the front of the house. Another driveway on the west side goes under the porte-cochère.
The property is about half an acre. It includes an old, separate garage with three bays. There is also a gazebo that was built later in the 20th century.
Inside the House
The first floor of the house has a central hall. This hall runs through the middle of the house. Rooms branch off from this main hall. The living room and dining room are at the front of the house.
Behind the dining room, you'll find the kitchen. There's also a back hall leading to the maid's stairs. These stairs go to the basement and a door to the backyard. Behind the living room is a reception room. This room connects to the porte-cochère. A small half-bathroom is also located off this room.
Second Floor and Attic
On the second floor, there are five bedrooms. You will also find two bathrooms. All these rooms are arranged around a large landing. Stairs at the end of the landing lead up to the attic. The attic has two more bedrooms, another bathroom, and even a kitchen.
Basement Features
The basement of the house is also quite large. It includes a game room, perfect for fun activities. There is also a work room and another bathroom.
Interior Style
The inside of the house shows off the Arts and Crafts style. You can see oak paneling on the walls. The ceilings have a special design called "coffered ceilings." There are also ceramic tiles around the fireplaces. These details make the house feel warm and inviting.
Who Lived Here? The Smith Family
Blaine Smith (1870–1935) was a long-time resident of Portland. He worked for the Old Western Clay Manufacturing Company. Blaine and his wife, Lillian, were the first owners of this house. They lived there with their three children.
In 1914, Blaine Smith changed jobs. He moved to Seattle. The Smith family sold the house in 1919.
The Architect: Ellis F. Lawrence
The firm that designed the Blaine Smith House was led by Ellis F. Lawrence (1879–1946). He was a very important architect. He was also a city planner and a teacher.
In 1914, Ellis F. Lawrence started the University of Oregon School of Architecture and Allied Arts. He taught there and was the dean. At the same time, he kept his architecture office in Portland.
