Antelope School on ‘Endangered Places’ list
The historic Antelope Elementary School was listed as one of Oregon’s Most Endangered Places by the Historic Preservation League of Oregon Thursday at a benefit luncheon in Portland.
The building, which achieved notoriety when occupied by the Rajneeshees in the 1980s, now houses Antelope’s city hall and community spaces and is in acute need of rehabilitation.
The school was one of 10 properties selected from nominations submitted from across the state. Each is an important historic property in imminent danger of being lost to hard times, development pressures, demolition, or neglect.
Helping to announce Oregon’s Most Endangered Places was the chairperson of the National Main Street Center, Barbara Sidway, who is also the owner/proprietor of the historic Geiser Grand Hotel in Baker City. Sidway spoke on the economic benefits of preservation and its ability to stimulate local jobs. Also in attendance were former Oregon governors Vic Atiyeh and Ted Kulongoski.
Properties on the Most Endangered Places list represent a cross-section of historic properties from the elegant to the industrial, urban and rural, and the pioneer era to World War II. Each is irreplaceable and will receive direct assistance from the HPLO, including the opportunity to apply for a seed grant to jump-start rehabilitation and reuse.
The complete list of Oregon’s Most Endangered Places for 2013 includes:
Antelope School (1924), Antelope
Astoria Marine Construction Company (1941), Astoria
The Dalles Chinatown Site (1865-1930), The Dalles
Dome Building – Oregon State Hospital (1912), Salem
Dirigible Hangar B (1942), Tillamook
Knotts Owen Barn (1870), Corvallis
Multnomah County Courthouse (1911), Portland
Pioneer Mothers Memorial Cabin (1931), St. Paul
Saling House (1880), Weston
Oregon Trail Pioneer Homes and Farmsteads (1840-1865), Willamette Valley (encompassing over 250 properties in 9 counties)
“Our goal in spotlighting Oregon’s Most Endangered Places is to rally support for them as cultural and economic assets,” says Executive Director Peggy Moretti. “Over the course of the next year we’ll bring together rehabilitation expertise, resources, and local leaders to revitalize these properties. We want to help them become viable, functioning contributors in their communities and pass them forward to future generations.”
A profile of each endangered place will be featured on the HPLO website where readers can track their progress throughout the year. Visit www.HistoricPreservationLeague.org.
Previous Most Endangered lists have included: Baker City Middle School (Baker City), Josiah Burnett House ( Eagle Creek), Civic Stadium (Eugene), Dr. Pierce’s Barn (Cottage Grove), Egyptian Theater (Coos Bay), Francis Ermatinger House (Oregon City), Petersen Rock Garden (Redmond), Tillamook Bay Life Saving Station (Rockaway Beach), Watson Price Barn (Philomath), Whited Farmstead (Redmond), Ice House (Eagle Point), Jantzen Beach Carousel (Portland), Uppertown Net Loft (Astoria), Rivoli Theater (Pendleton), Rosemont Smokehouse (Yamhill), Skidmore Old Town District (Portland), St. Francis Hotel (Albany), and Viewpoint Inn (Corbett).
