2110 NE 16th Avenue The Historic Coleman-Scott House

John D. Coleman came to Oregon as a Civil Engineer working for the railroads.  By the early years of the 20th century, he had become a prominent fire insurance executive.  In 1915 Mr. Coleman and his wife Melissa retained well-known architect John Virginius Bennes to build a house on 3 lots in Irvington.  The home is one of Bennes' most elegant Colonial Revival designs.  The detailing around the main entry is exceptionally refined and beautifully proportioned.  This elegance suggests the quality and beauty of the interior, which was finished to the highest standards.  Furnishings included pieces exhibited at the Lewis and Clark Exposition in 1905.  The house is equally well engineered -- Mr. Coleman even specified the unusual safety precaution of having electric wiring placed in conduits.

Mr. Coleman died in 1918 and title to the house passed to his daughter Elizabeth who had married Leslie Scott, son of Harvey W. Scott (brother of Elizabeth Scott Duniway the well-known suffragette)  the famous editor of The Oregonian from 1865 to 1910 and President of the 1905 Lewis & Clark Exposition.  The house contains furnishings from the Scott family as well as John Coleman.

Leslie Scott (part owner of The Oregonian with Henry Pittock) was a trustee for the Oregon Historical Society 1913-1956.  In 1924 he published a 6 volume account of early Oregon settlers and settlements  He served many different public office positions including US Marshall of Oregon, State Highway Commissioner and State Treasurer.  Leslie Scott's descendents still own the home and lovingly maintain its historic traditions.

There are a number of other homes in Irvington designed by Bennes, including several striking Prairie Style designs.  Two of these Prairie Style homes have been on previous home tours in 2003 and 2002.  Bennes is also noted for his design of the Hollywood Theater.