John and Ellen Bowman House** 1719 NE Knott Street Masterpiece of Fine Craftsmanship, Beautifully Restored

Though the house had fallen on hard times, the current owners, who purchased it in 1985, couldn't help but see the enormous potential. They began the Herculean task of restoration, which included things like replacing 17 hand carved stair spindles and restoring hidden doors in the Honduran mahogany paneling. Fortunately, over the years, the house had suffered from mostly benign neglect. An extraordinary number and variety of original features remain. The plaster work on the ceiling of the living room was done by the same artisans that worked on the Pittock Mansion. The detailed mahogany and oak woodwork retain original finishes. The gothic revival entry light, living and dining room fixtures, and, amazingly, the hand painted dining room mural are all original.  It was that remarkable state of preservation, plus the association with both a prominent first owner and a prominent architect that resulted in the listing of the house on the National Register of Historic Places in January, 2008.