R.T/MM

MARION COUNTY

CULTURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY 1990

1111 Historic name KIRK, JOHN W. ANDKIRK, THOMAS F., HOUSE

Common nameAddress 4686 ST. PAUL HIGHWAYOwner's addressT AND K FARMS, INC.[T AND J KIRK FARMS, INC]4686 ST. PAUL HIGHWAYST. PAUL, OR 97137

Quad ST. PAULT/R/S 4S-2W-20CAdditionLot Size .49

Resource type BUILDINGPresent use RESIDENCEOriginal use RESIDENCETheme 19TH C ARCHArchitect/Builder UNKNOWNMaster map # 80NRDLC Name SHIEL, DR. J.

Computer file # 41794-000Tax lot 800Block LotZone 05E

Statement of Significance

The Thomas and John Kirk House is an outstanding intact example of aVernacular-style house. The original portion built in 1878 is in thevernacular Gothic Revival (Western farmhouse) style. Typical featuresof this style include the rectangular gable roof volumes arranged ina T-plan; the tall, narrow proportions of the gable ends; the lack ofornamental details; and the four-over-four double-hung windows withheavy crown moulding.III Added to over the years, the major changeoccurred in 1890 when two full-height polygonal bays were added to thefront facade. These bays are a Queen Anne addition and display suchdecorative elements as panels and applied colonnettes. The majornonhistoric alteration is the circular front porch balcony supportedby massive Ionic columns.

This house was placed on the National Register in 1987. The originalportion was built in 1877 for John W. and Thomas F. Kirk. They addedto the house over the years.

The Kirks raised cattle, horses, and sheep, as well as 30 acres ofhops.

Setting

The Thomas and John Kirk house at 4686 St. Paul Highway is locatedapproximately one-eighth mile east of St. Paul in a rolling,agricultural landscape. Immediately south of the house is a complexof farm buildings with hop fields beyond them. The community of St.Paul is nearby to the west; across St. Paul Highway to the north is asingle-family home and hop fields. Single-family homes line St. PaulHighway to the east. The house, a prominent landmark facing north„sits on the crest of a knoll, surrounded by an expansive lawn.•

346

HISTORIC NAME KIRK, THOMAS AND JOHNADDRESS 4686 ST. PAUL HIGHWAYMASTER MAP # 80NR

4111 Noteworthy Landscape FeaturesUnknown

Noncontributing Features

Unknown

T/R/S 4S-2W-20C TAX LOT 800

•

•347

HISTORIC NAME KIRK, THOMAS AND JOHNADDRESS 4686 ST. PAUL HIGHWAYMASTER MAP # 80NR

T/R/S 4S-2W-20C TAX LOT 800SITE MAP # RES

%

Original use RESIDENCEPresent use RESIDENCE

4111 Plan type/shape T-PLAN

Foundation material CONCRETEStructural frame WOODExterior siding DROPPrimary window type DOUBLE-HUNGRoof form INTERSECTING GABLECondition G

Date built 1878-1890Style VERNACULAR# of stories 2Basement NOStructural System UNKNOWN

Roof material WOOD SHINGLESBuilder UNKNOWN

Decorative Features

Balustrade, ornate door, crown moulding, partial-width front porch,paneled front door with transom and sidelights, two polygonal baywindows

Other

Unknown

Exterior Alterations (Date)

Windmill upper portion removed (1940s); chimney added to west elev.(1940s); front porch added (1971); garage enlarged (1974); cupola added

IIIto windmill (1980).Recorded by SEKORA, SORRELS, STRICKERDate 21 NOVEMBER 1989, 3 AUGUST 1990 SHP() NO.

348

rikis 4-2\i1 zoc DA X LDT ATO

MA-STER MAP Mc NR46 g6 ST PA-1.1 L

5 N4r PA-stAiLyF

IELDPitUL HWY

FOUNrAilv

orici7-1:0 Ft C.14-7-

Lt.

GA 1E50

Got A.446

x

GAR-hat-

5pNALr* C6AlgrSr

K- X K 5 4-1/ eft4 L, r-A f31-o6-5 A-Lowc-

PA-UL C amM UN-1111Le' Ca Nreig- No 05'6'

Noi 087-R16

VOWfte4E

pottc\hl\

Sited)P5Rth A

N1A-CrNoL

6 C.IZETV

4-.1)

Side!) +too fi„

til

NC

•

HISTORIC NAME KIRK, THOMAS AND JOHNADDRESS 4686 ST. PAUL HIGHWAY

T/R/S 4S-2W-20C TAX LOT 800MASTER MAP # 80NR•OWNERSHIP SUMMARY Original owner KIRK, THOMAS AND JOHN

SHIEL, DR. J., DLCKIRK FAMILY SINCE AT LEAST 1878

PETER, -1878JOHN AND THOMAS [AND CECILIA], 1878-1936LESTER J. AND LORETTA C., 1936-61DICK C. AND JOANNE M., 1961-70TERRENCE J. AND JOYCE E., 1970-T. AND J. KIRK FARMS, INC.

Sources

Donovan, Sally. National Register of Historic Places, Inventory-Nomination Form, KIRK, JOHN W., AND THOMAS F., HOUSE, 1986.

TICOR Title Company records. Salem, Oregon.

•

•349

OREGON INVENTORY OF HISTORIC PROPERTIESHISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEY FORM

HIST. NAME: .\o* DATE OF CONSTRUCTION: 171 /19 ) iN30 COMMON NAME: .\yz.*_ t-t-ouse ORIGINAL. USE: .VekAr.v)ce ADDRESS: 4-q, g 12 t. Fal)k. 44-u)k-{ OWNER: r --"rcvv-evv.c. V PRESENT USE: v-cs(cv-..e_c_ ARCH. /BLDR. : --rho vv,as 4., 3-oh 1,, T/R/S: -r4S 3 2-6 STYLE: \)cvvxactiv-16.-te._ co MAP NO.: TAX LOT: 4- 11 614 -006 L.9 STRUC. DIST. SITE 0E43. (CIRCLE)ADDITION: THEME: &-tricuH-orc_ BLOCK: LOT: QUAD:

PLAN TYPE/SHAPE: -r---nre= NO. OF STORIES: FOUNDATION MATERIAL: (nr-v-vrA---e_ BASEMENT (Y/N): ROOF FORM & MATERIALS: TO:AC. v-erss WALL CONSTRUCTION: FDP,'L-Loor4 -F12- pa.-m.r=f STRUCTURAL FRAME: PRIMARY WINDOW TYPE: -"ty,-/- and '/ c4 k.) 134-7- Hru to 6, sr-A-EA+ EXTERIOR SURFACING MATERIALS: tilL) Zo .f.4471-10N p t:)-tk)6 DECORATIVE FEATURES: ct-v1V1/4k-e— 9.c t.x.).tre Fr-,r2L.14 ) 5C.A-Lw)P5 ON 4OC-T1/4+ OTHER: 06,1+7- A-017, 1- 12-66A)SO IAA k)rtrok)*-“iwkci CONDI'II ON: )( EXCELLENT GOOD_ FAIR DETERIORATED MOVED (DATE)

EXTERIOR ALTERATIONS/ADDITIONS (DATED) : `Pry,r0i (19 -11)) `SA-t-t. loco!) 5E-P Th vvI rtl<G )4174 )) t•kvmoom -t-z) m k)4(i-Loovt,• NOTEWORTHY LANDSCAPE FEATURES: Fike.C-t-} LitV rmx.A ovc.h.cLAA toc roz- Y2.--0 Tb UJ ) emYt IAA 4--v-ce$ e:;,v‘

ASSOCIATED STRUCTURES:

KNOWN ARCHEOLOGICAL FEATURES:

SETTING: Lc, Ccde O Y (- r,c,„ K 'n\Avi ct-k-A Vcf ern -Me. 604-st_ty--ts i6s &IA C vs et. r op-4106c, 4-0--(11 1.-Nous<- C\ro -Vne- n. Suyvoun.cle_A

C.t.v.1.1(1‘4n.) Out V)0 coutln o V‘r)," aye y\ak- favayi o vy-ovp-ci) owneYS.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE (Historical and/or architectural importance, dates,events, persons, contexts), USE ADDITIONAL SHEETS IF NECESSARY:

6 t% e Arrrik(--H-E-.7) 'F0-12-+A

SOURCES: 6.)11 1.Le" kninte-1 i-VityY1--`1 4)F- 6 ve-c3on. " VAc-- . 1%-i) • vk Ms0-1PR6',/

411 NEGATIVE NO.: RECORDED BY: DonoUckASLIDE NO.: DATE: aulosi- cit

SHP° INVENTORY NO.:

33

DescriptionCondition Check one Check one

excellent deteriorated______ _____ unaltered X_ original sitegood - ruins _X_ altered moved date_fair unexposed______

Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

The Kirk house represents a type of rural farmstead whichbegan to gain popularity in Oregon ca. 1875: the VernacularGothic or "Western Farmhouse." 1 It is located on the originalsite at the eastern outskirts of St. Paul, Marion County,Oregon. The house was built by Thomas and John Kirk who bought237 acres from their father in October 1878, to continue thefamily occupation of farming. The evolution of the house isevident in the organization of the building form, composed ofseveral attached volumes. New farming techniques and equip-ment, increases in productivity and family led to the build-ing's development. The house embodies many characteristics ofthe "Western Farmhouse" including the T-shape plan withattached volumes, high ceilings, relatively tall and narrowwings, simple trim detail and multiple porches. 2 But it alsodisplays the persistence of traditional forms in its centralhall plan, bilateral symmetry, boxed eaves and transom andsidelights. The house is one of the few remaining examples inthe St. Paul area which represent the rapid agricultural growthof the railroad era and the utilitarian farmhouse which oncedotted the rural landscape.

Located in Section 20, Township 4 South, Range 2 West, theKirk house sits on Dr. James Scheil's 418.12 acre donation landclaim of 1850. Peter Kirk bought 237 acres of the originalclaim in October 1873, expanding his farming operations to justover 1,000 acres. The house sits on a knoll overlooking theflat Willamette River valley. The property is located onHighway 219, the eastern gateway to St. Paul and is topograph-ically separated from the town by Mission Creek.

The Kirk house was built in several stages. The followingdescription will first discuss the main dwelling (the T-shapeplan) and then the attached outbuildings (the garage and wind-mill tower). The main dwelling was built in two major phases:the back "ell," described hereafter as the original portion ofthe structure, was built around 1877 or 1878, and the fronteast/west volume, referred to as the addition, was built in1880.

•

•

33

EL Significance

Period Areas of Significance—Check and justify belowprehistoric archeology-prehistoric community planning landscape architecture_ religion

Aft _1400-1499 archeology-historic conservation law science______1500-1599 X agriculture economics literature sculpture_1600-1699 X architecture education military social/_1700-1799 art engineering music humanitarian_1800-1899 commerce exploration/settlement philosophy _ theater

X 1900— communications Industry politics/government _ transportationinvention _ other (specify)

Specific dates 1877-78, 1880 Builder/Architect Thomas and John Kirk

Statement of Significance (in one paragraph)

The Kirk house, located on the outskirts of St. Paul,Oregon, qualifies for listing on the National Register ofHistoric Places under Criteria B and C, and is eligible underthe following areas of significance. ARCHITECTURE: The Kirkhouse is an unusual example of a vernacular Gothic Farmhouse orWestern Farmhouse. It has many characteristics of a WesternFarmhouse including its T-shape plan with additive volumes,height, horizontal shiplap siding and Italianate bay windowsbut also displays many traditional features from classicallyderived styles such as sidelights and transoms, bilateralsymmetry, boxed eaves and central hall type plan. The pairedtwo-story bay windows with faceted roofs produce an unusualtwin tower effect not common among rural vernacular houses.The majority of the house's room configuration, hardware, doorsand trim remain intact. The Kirk house is a good example ofthe evolution of a late 19th century farmhouse building as itgrew to accommodate the utilitarian needs of an expandingfamily and increases in farming productivity. Not many ofthese rural houses from the late 1870s survive in MarionCounty. AGRICULTURE: The Kirk family have been successful andprominent farmers in the St. Paul area since 1870. The major-ity of the land Peter and his sons, Thomas and John, owned isstill being farmed by the descendents of these originalpioneers. The Kirks were large land owners in the area andcontributed to the development and commerce of the agricultur-ally based community of St. Paul. They were early and promi-nent hops growers at a time when Oregon was a leading hopsproducer in the nation. Three generations later Kirk land isstill producing hops as well as other crops. Urban Kirk,John's son, received 25 acres of his father's land and starteda poultry farm. He was one of the first in the area to trap-nest chickens and developed the Kirk White Leghorn Strain ofpoultry. He was only one in four in Oregon to have U.S. certi-fied flocks and the Kirk's Twin Oaks Poultry Farm was knownthroughout the country. He was also the contractor who builtthe St. Paul High School in 1954.