South Park Blocks

South Park Blocks

Question one

1. In 1852, Daniel Lownsdale developed a row of 24 blocks in the west of town.
2. Initially, Lownsdale wanted the blocks to be a promenade or firebreak between his investment, the real estate, and the wooded hills that were in the new town.

• After Daniel and his wife’s death in 1862, disputes for the ownership of the parkland blocks arose between his heirs and the city leadership. The city was unable to own the park blocks since Daniel’s wife, Nancy, never signed ownership transfer documents.

1. In 1873, 6 of the blocks were lost since the city council could not purchase them from Lownsdale’s heirs.
2. The south park blocks became precious by the 1870s, they had Italianate mansions and churches, and by the end of the 19^th century, the park blocks had become promenade grounds with rowed Dutch elms and a racetrack.

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Question two

Several architectural buildings were erected alongside the South Park Block. These buildings had a closer relationship to the Park Blocks, as discussed below.

The Arlington Club (Portland Oregon)

It is located at 811 South West of Salmon Street. Specifically, it is found at the second and third lots of block 6 of Portland Park Blocks in Portland. It is set in the urban area and the north end of the South Park Blocks. It is a big building that occupies half of the southern block and is initially constructed for use as a clubhouse. Its use still remains the same up to date.

The Arlington Club was built in 1910 with red-bricks and terra cola trim. The designer was a prominent architecture from Whidden and Lewis firm. Their architectural work makes the building to be classified as a 19^th and 20^th century Revival because it was erected in a Classical Revival style. More so, the interior décor and features are classy. Primarily, the public rooms are well designed and located explicitly on the tow lower floors of the building. Seemingly, the two upper floors of the building were intended to serve as a private wing. Here, there are smaller, neat, and private rooms that are specifically used as offices, accommodation rooms, and conference halls (Orloff, 1842). Furthermore, the basement of the Arlington Club building is useful. The exterior of the building has a high degree of integrity. At the same time, the interior is designed with a higher degree of modernism and updated finishes to suit the requirements of a clubhouse.

Even though the Arlington Clubhouse is built approximately at the core of the city, its prominent location to the North of the South Park Blocks is more vital. The vast green space at the South Park Blocks runs from Arlington Club to the south. The Blocks around the Club offers beautiful scenery for club guests in general.

The first Congressional Church

In Portland’s culture and history, the First Congressional Church is essential. It is dedicated to allowing community residents to carry out their respective events and celebrations.  This makes it a historic building toured by many people from various parts of the world. Historically, the church construction began in 1891 and got finished in 1895. Architecture, Henry Hefty from Swiss was behind the entire construction. He wanted the First Congressional Church to emulate the structure and design of Bolton’s Old South Church (1880). Currently, this building is regarded as an example of Venetian Gothic architecture in America. The building has glass windows that were designed by Povey Brothers in 1906. It has a 175-foot bell tower, with smaller foot towers of 100 feet and a Cupola, which were eliminated in t951 due to damages from weather and the pigeons.

The First Congressional Church is perched on South Park Blocks. Being the tallest structure in Portland, its tower bell rings over the South Park Block every Sunday morning. It can be used as a landmark in Portland and can help people to reach and tour the South Park Block. The church was built from pressed bricks and brownstone. It has elements of Richardsonian Romanesque building style that include heavy stones at the base of the building and a contrasting smooth and rough blocks facing each other (Orloff, 1842). The windows have full and round arches and a square tower. More so, the building has stained fenestration glasses and a proper arrangement of windows and doors on the entire building’s elevation. Furthermore, the interior of the church was designed in an Akron style. The sanctuary consists of 250 piped organs since the church has a large seating capacity.

In conclusion, the Arlington Club and the First Congressional Church are some of the main buildings built alongside the South Park Block in Portland. The buildings are architecturally set both in the interior and the exterior to suit their purposes. The two buildings are ideal in the history and functionality of the Park Blocks.