McMorran and Washburne Department Store Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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McMorran and Washburne Department Store Building
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The McMorran and Washburne Building in 2013
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| Location | 795 Willamette Street Eugene, Oregon |
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| Built | 1902 |
| Built by | Nels Roney |
| Architectural style | Chicago commercial |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000125 |
| Added to NRHP | March 2, 1989 |
The McMorran and Washburne Department Store Building is a cool four-story building in Eugene, Oregon. Many people also know it as the Tiffany Building. It started out as a two-story building in 1902.
A builder named Nels Roney constructed it. It was first a "dry goods" store, which sold things like fabric, clothing, and household items. The first owner was J. H. McClung, who used to be the mayor of Eugene. Later, in 1913, two more stories were added to make it the four-story building we see today.
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A Look Back at the Building's History
This building has a long and interesting past! It has seen many changes in downtown Eugene.
Early Days: The McClung Building
John H. McClung moved to Oregon and started farming in 1856. A few years later, in 1859, he opened the very first drug store in Eugene with his uncle.
In 1902, Mr. McClung decided to build his own two-story store. It was located at Eighth and Willamette streets. He called it the McClung Building. Here, he ran a dry goods store with his partners, Cockerline and Fraley.
The building had a special design style. It was an early example of what people later called "Chicago commercial style." This style often featured large display windows to show off goods. It also had fewer fancy decorations than other buildings of that time.
McMorran and Washburne Take Over
In 1909, two friends, George H. McMorran and Carl G. Washburne, became business partners. They had both worked as clerks in another store in Eugene. Together, they opened their own dry goods store.
By 1913, McMorran and Washburne bought the McClung Building. They decided to make it bigger and better. They added two more floors, turning it into a four-story building. Their store quickly became one of the most popular dry goods stores in Eugene.
However, by 1927, their business had grown so much that the building was no longer big enough! They moved their store to a brand new building at Broadway and Willamette.
The Tiffany Building
After McMorran and Washburne moved out, two drugstore owners bought the building. Their names were Albert Tiffany and George Davis. They changed the building's name to the Tiffany Building.
The building is important because of its history and design. On March 2, 1989, it was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a special historic site in the United States. It was listed under its original historic name, the McMorran and Washburne Department Store Building.
What's Inside Today?
Today, the ground floor of the building is home to restaurants and other shops. The three upper floors, which used to be part of the department store, have been changed into apartments. It's a great example of an old building being used in new ways!
