Welcome to this place matters!

This blog will be highlighting historic buildings and places in McMinnville and the stories behind them.  Our inaugural post will be sharing some photos and historical information on the Apperson House – a historic home just north of historic Third Street!
 
We invite you to share photos or stories of places or buildings in McMinnville that matter to you, so that they can be shared with others through this blog.  If you would like to submit photos or stories of any particular place or building, please send them along to Chuck Darnell, Associate Planner, at chuck.darnell@mcminnvilleoregon.gov

Apperson House – 609 NE Cowls Street
 
The Apperson House was built in 1897 by local banker Edwin Apperson.  The original style was a Queen Anne Vernacular Victorian.  It was one of the finest homes in McMinnville at the time.  The original Victorian was 1 1/2 stories.  Years later, Mrs. Alves Apperson fell in love with the Arts and Crafts movement and decided to completely change the house.  Although the reconstruction didn’t quite fit the specific craftsman style, some craftsman elements were added to the roofline, the front door was framed with oak moulding, pillars, and entablature, and leaded glass panels were added on both sides of the front door.  However, the third floor front design of the house is a typical Tudor style.  The reconstruction took almost two years to complete from 1910-1912.
 
Mr. Apperson retired in 1937 to become president of Oregon Mutual Insurance, a position he held until his death in 1945.  He also acted as treasurer of Linfield College from 1933 - 1945.  The house has continued to be occupied by families since that time.  Patti Webb and Janice Richardson, sisters and two of five siblings, are pictured below and grew up in the Apperson House, which was owned by their parents, John and Mary Day, from 1958 – 2005.