Elks Temple (Portland, Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Elks Temple
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The former Elks Temple in 2009, when it was
part of the Governor Hotel |
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 Location in Portland, Oregon
Location in Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Location | 614 SW 11th Avenue Portland, Oregon |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1922–1923 |
| Architect | Houghtaling & Dougan |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Second Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002313 |
| Added to NRHP | February 17, 1978 |
The Elks Temple is a historic building in downtown Portland, Oregon. It is also known as the Princeton Building. Today, it serves as the west wing of the Sentinel Hotel.
This building was originally home to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, a community group. It was built in 1923. The Elks Temple is one of two buildings that make up the Sentinel Hotel. The other building is the Seward Hotel, built in 1909. The Seward Hotel later became the Governor Hotel. In 1992, the Elks building joined the Governor Hotel. It then became the hotel's west wing. The main entrance of the hotel moved to this building in 2004. In 2014, the Governor Hotel changed its name to the Sentinel Hotel. The Elks group used the building for less than ten years, leaving in 1932.
Contents
Building History
Construction and Early Years
Work on the Elks Temple started on the very last day of 1922. It was finished in December 1923. At the time, it was considered a very important building project in Portland. The building was designed by the architects Houghtaling & Dougan.
It was believed to be the largest Elks lodge in the entire country. Building it cost more than a million dollars. Back then, there were 3,800 Elks members in Portland.
Changes and New Uses
After a major economic downturn in 1929, the number of Elks members in Portland dropped a lot. By 1932, only 450 members remained. The Portland Elks group faced financial trouble in July 1932. They lost ownership of the building and moved out.
The six-story building was empty for seven years, until 1939. Then, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) moved in. The WPA was a government program that created jobs. During World War II, the U.S. Army used the building. It was their main office for new soldiers in Portland.
In the 1950s, two different health clubs used the space. The building always had a swimming pool and a gym. These were originally for the Elks members. After the health clubs, the building was empty again for a long time, from 1959 to 1973.
Becoming a Historic Landmark
In 1970, the city of Portland recognized the former Elks Temple as a Portland Historic Landmark. This means it's an important part of the city's history. Later, in 1978, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history.
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The Princeton Building Era
In 1985, the Elks Temple was renamed the Princeton Building. This happened after a lot of remodeling work. At this time, it became an office building. The renovations added three new levels inside. This increased the usable space from about 60,000 square feet to 95,000 square feet. In the late 1980s, another health club, the Princeton Athletic Club, also used about 21,000 square feet of space.
Joining the Hotel
In 1992, the Governor Hotel bought the Princeton Building. The Governor Hotel was next door. The Princeton Building then became the west wing of the Governor Hotel. When the Governor Hotel was updated in 2004, its main lobby moved to the Princeton Building, or "West Wing."
In 2012, the Governor Hotel was sold to a company called Provenance Hotels. They renovated it again. In 2014, the hotel was renamed the Sentinel Hotel.
