Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current, July 08, 1976, Image 4

Historic Oregon Newspapers

Portland observer., July 08, 1976, Page 4, Image 4

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Newspaper Page TextPage « Portland Observer Thursday. July 8th. 197t> Albina house reveals historic documents Van Vleet "proved up" on a homestead they discovered a trunk which yielded some interesting original memorabilia in Portland school children who have been lucky enough to have a preview of the old. ten-room Victorian mansion at 202 N .E . Graham which is currently be ing restored, have been delighted w ith its articles of yesteryears, and its third floor starlight ballroom. The ballroom has a hundred ceiling lights operated from a panel which permits all or only a few to be turned on. or to make them blink. This is just the reaction M r. and Mrs. Loy Yee hoped to generate when they in Clark County and a year later, on February 3rd. 1886. he married Elisabeth A. Coffey w ith the Reverend Harvey K. Hines officiating the ceremony. Seven children were born to them; Dr. Ixiuisa W righ t, who lived in Camas; E- dith; Stella, who became Mrs. Freeman, wife of a railroad man; Lewis, J r., who worked as a printer for the Oregonian thirty years; and Felix. Tw o other child ren. Lois and H a rrie t, died at an early the junk left by the form er owner. Inside it was a homestead deed issued for land in Clark County, Washington carrying the signatures of Abraham Lincoln and Stan ton; a blueprint of the Vancouver Bar racks dated 1883; a family album bound in red plush w ith many photos of the Van Vleet family; a travel diary of one of Van Vleet's daughters, Stella, who accompa nied her husband on many trips; identifi cation ribbons worn by the senior M r. age. Van V leet was m arried only a short time before the Yakima Indian W a r of 1855 1856 erupted. He left his new bride and joined the arm y. On return he was employed by the Great N orthern Railway as a surveyor and land appraiser. Thia rave him a thorough knowledge of the Washington T errito ry and its natural re- territo rial legislature as a representa tive of Clark County. L ate r he served in the lower house. He was a Mason for six ty three years, having joined the Or- ed in the lower house. H e was a Mason for s i vet, 11 purchased the 105-year old mansion in 1966. “I t ’s for the children.” Rozell Yee explains, “that I hope to restore this house. They’ll be able to see w hat a Victorian home really looked like, and I th in k it w ill give the whole area more pride in Albina. M any prominent people grew up in this area, and many fine old homes have been destroyed. When I saw this bouse I felt it must be saved. To it H l add many items I'v e collected over the i tion of 1853; and many other interesting items. To thia M rs. Yee w ill add her own treasures collected over the years. This restoration would please Lewis Van V leet, form er owner of the mansion. I t is said that he took great pride in the properties he owned in Clark County and the property he managed as trustee for others. He was born in New York on October 21. 1826 of w ellto -d o Dutch par ents. W hen he m igrated to Oregon in 1855 he had acquired much experience on his father’s farm in Michigan, had devel oped a trade skill as a cooper, and had obtained an education at Oswego Acade my. A ll these things proved highly use ful in the prominent role he was to play in shaping the destiny of The Northw est. M rs. Yee en the steps ef the historic Van Vleet msnsien. (left 1 The Yeee have restored the house to reflect the Victor! (eheve. rig h tj. Laud I la a basement tru n k is possi bly signed by right] (Photo: Dan Help HELP WAHTED 7 3 0 PM FO R B R A N D S you know V A R IE T IE S y o u lik e S IZ E S y o u w a n * The Friendliest] Storm In Tow n| GLASSES Since 190« \ if.. A A. • H M fVKê* U . U M H U GOOCH'S S c ie a tlfk a flf I K W SMAATIT S T U B R A M S Prompt Service >’ • «un ♦ 1971 brochure. Lewis Van V le e t a ft h e Pioneer Conven years." M rs. Yee's love for antiques started in her youth. She has in her collection china pieces given to her by her mother which date back to slavery times. Redecorating and rejuvenating of the mansion has pro gressed slowly but surely as there was much to be done. When the Yees started to install central heating in the basement t ’ ' t f t H 1 111H 11 111, ! 111 ♦ ; »11»M1111 t * 1U I H t t i 1 11 t t t • t IA I t t t t t 111 I t 111 I I 111 I I I H M i gn.'i asei dJirw sixty three years, having joined the O r der in Albion. Michigan in 1847. He joined the Washington Lodge in 1867. and was made Senior Grand W arden in 1863. Van Vleet helped establish Kalama Lodge No. 17 at Kalama and Lodge No. 76 in Clark County. When he moved into Oregon he was first a member of Multnomah Lodge No. 1; later in 1901 he joined Albina Lodge 101 F. and A .M . of Portland. He was known as a friendly, kind man. even to animals. As a host it is said he was generous and hospitable. There must have been many good times in the old mansion w ith so large a family of young folks. And now. once again some of that happiness w ill return as school children wander through its rooms, thanks to the Yees determined effort. Prestige has returned to the house as it's been designed by the Portland Historical Landm ark Commission as a historical site. I t was also chosen and featured pictorially in the Commission's ♦ E y e E x a m in a tio n ★ NO A P P O IN T A N T MEDIO 127 7200 * AU MV 01 leering Aid 10 Day FREE T ria l f i l l Prniieg IIL U 1 T PORTLAND CLEANING WORKS N€WI Air conditioned 4th floor Club Skyview Buffet dining on 3rd floor Fairview Terrace Post time 7 30 p m Monday thru Saturday For information and reservations __________ call 655-2191 Sorry, no Sunday racing and no children ____ __________ under 12 At Fairview Park NE 223rd and Halsey St east out Freeway Banfield (I-80N) Full time, Part time NORTH A N X PORTLAND Men Women O N I DAY » « V IC I Lerwrerf in HCWLCA ePTM 4L e f f i m < m x UMi-UMiti hog S .W . 3 r d * M O t R IS O N M iner Repairs No Charge Pith -np A Delivery g Attedet* awtwt W As U n Wr—FmnARB D r. L a rry 8 E M L E K - D r. M . K E L L Y - D r. K . H U L L - D r. J. 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