Friday, May 7, 1982
Eugana, Oragon
Oregon daily
Voluma 83
Numbar 147
emerald
Preserving a bit of Eug
cne
By Marian Graan
OtUm Emantd
Eugene may have its first historic intersection if
federal authorities approve two downtown buildings for
the National Register of Historic Places
The Ax Billy Department Store building, and the
McDonald Theater building will join the Schaefers
building, which became part of the national register in
1978, making the intersection of 10th Avenue and
Willamette Street a three-cornered historic area, says
Judith Rees, the Eugene historic preservationist.
Notification from the Keeper of the National Regis
ter is expected in July, Rees says
"Architecturally, Eugene does not have a lot of
early buildings left," Rees says "This intersection is
relatively unique."
The buildings — all constructed in the early 1900s
— were the business ventures of four Schaefers
brothers — Frances, George, Charles and Albert, who
purchased the Ax Billy dry goods store, originally
located at Broadway and Willamette streets
Local folklore has it that the store got its name from
the original owner s broken English Whenever a cus
tomer wanted an item, he would say "Ax (ask) Billy,"
says Rees
She says their business "fared very well," and in
1910, the brothers moved their store to the present
building at the northeast corner of 10th Avenue and
Willamette Street. Ax Billy soon became a downtown
fixture and was advertised as "the largest department
store in the state outside of Portland."
The cream-colored, terra cotta brick building,
designed in the Chicago Commercial style, offered
two-stories worth of goods, ranging from Buster Brown
shoes and Simmons' kid gloves to groceries, flour and
feed, according to the nomination form
Native Eugenean Ethan Newman, 71, who retired
from his position as Eugene postmaster last year,
remembers the Ax Billy and the intersection well
"That department store was quite an institution,"
Newman says "I remember my mother taking us kids in
and getting us outfitted for school."
One childhood memory stands out vividly, he says
"About once a year, Buster Brown in his suit and
Tyke, the dog with the circle around one eye, would
come into town and perform for us," Newman says
Newman and his classmates would get the afternoon off
from school, and small "crackers," a tin toy that snaps
when pressed, would be passed out.
The streets at that time were partially paved, and
Newman, riding his Shetland pony, used to share the
streets with clanging streetcars in the early 1920s.
Ax Billy — painted in the 1970s with murals depict
ing the store's earlier days — is owned by the Eugene
Renewal Agency, which is taking proposals to rehabili
tate and rennovate the store for private use, Rees says.
Proposals must be in line with established federal and
city guidelines for national register listings, she says.
The McDonald Theater building, also considered
for the national register, houses the still-operating
theater and seven other businesses — just as it did when
it was constructed in 1925, according to the nomination
form
The movie palace — designed by Portland architect
Lee Thomas — was originally called the Lowell Theater
in honor of Lt. Lowell Smith of the United States Army
aviation corps, Newman says. The corps, which had
several members stationed near Eugene to fight forest
fires, stopped off in Eugene before taking off on its first
around-the-world flight, he says.
When Aaron McDonald, who collaborated with
Charles Schaefer on the McDonald building, died
shortly before the theater’s opening, Smith asked that
the name be changed to honor McDonald.
The theater received much attention from the local
newspapers at its “gala” opening 57 years ago today,
with detailed descriptions of the grand events and of the
theater's ornate decorations
The McDonald's first film feature was "Madame
Sans Gene,” starring Gloria Swanson. Currently, the
theater is showing “If You Could See What I Hear "
“The McDonald for many years was the theater,”
Newman says "You could buy a Coke for 5 cents and
go to the show for a quarter — 5 cents if you went in the
afternoon.”
The McDonald also played its part during the
depression, Newman says
“The McDonald Theater, during hard times, during
the 30s, would have dish nights," he says And some
times a cash prize would be raffled off, he adds
The McDonald building was a mix of Classical,
Mediterranean and Nordic architectural influences,
according to the nomination form.
Photo courtesy of the Lane County Museum
The McDonald Theater In Its early days, around
1927.
up
The outside walls used to sport a Mediterranean
decorative tile roof and two piers topped by a pedestal
and urn. The piers are lower now and bear neither the
pedestal nor the urn.
Still existing is a row of open-mouthed lion heads
that circles the top of the outside wall, indicating the
classical influence of the building.
The original etched glass ticket booth was dis
mantled in 1971 in favor of a ticket table inside the
lobby. However, restoration of the booth would not be
difficult, and the display windows with black marble
panels still are intact, the nomination form states.
A double ramp leading up to the balcony and
lounge dominates the inside of the theater. Five arches
spread out from the ramp from a base of iron-grilled
openings, wrought by the Eugene Foundry, according
to the nomination form.
Hand-painted murals depicting five old Norse tales
adorned the theater walls before they were plastered
over.
The large Wurlitzer organ provided entertainment
between showings. The organ was donated to Wil
lamette University, but the iron organ grilles, highlight
ed with gold and Oriental motifs, still rise from the floor
to ceiling
The Schaefer building — completed in 1929 — was
placed on the national register in 1978 The building is
designed in an Art Deco style, the "only example of that
style in Eugene” and an "excellent example on the
West Coast," says Rees.
During the Schaefers' heyday, Rees says the Eugene
Commercial Club, a forerunner of the Eugene Chamber
of Commerce, was doing "a great deal of promotion of
the city as a wonderful place to live."
"Things were pretty good here,” Newman agrees.
"There was a big boom here in the '20s."
Walking tour shows city’s historic homes
Celebration of National Historic Pre
servation Week begins Sunday with the
second annual walking tour of homes in
the east Skinner Butte area
The self-guided tour will be held
between noon and 4 pm, and the five
homes open for viewing will feature per
iod flower arrangements
A garden party also is scheduled at the
Shelton-McMurphey House, 303
Willamette St., from 1-5 p.m
The tour begins at Celeste Campbell
Senior Center, 155 High St., and tax
deductible tickets can be purchased
there for $2 per person, $5 per family and
$1 for seniors The houses are within
walking distance, and canopies will
cover the garden party if it rains.
The tour is sponsored by the city of
Eugene historic review board, the Lane
County Museum and the Lane County
Historical Society, with assistance from
the Junior League of Eugene Money
raised from the event will support the
historical society's special fund for the
county museum.
Other events during the week include a
bus tour of hisioric Eugene on Wednes
day from 9 a m. to noon. The tour leaves
the Lane County Museum, 730 W. 13th
Ave., and costs $2 50. For ticket infor
mation, call 345-2448 or 687-4239.
Two lectures on the National Building
Museum will be presented at the Univer
sity by Bates Lowry, director of the Na
tional Building Museum.
“Filling a National Need" is scheduled
for Monday at 8 p.m. in Room 177
Lawrence. "Building Building" will be
presented on Tuesday at 10:30 a m. in
Room 107 Lawrence Hall.
The lectures are sponsored by the
School of Architecture and Allied Arts’
historic preservation program.