Historic Preservation Planning

The built environment in Deschutes County was actually constructed by hundreds of talented and dedicated individuals. The first effort in Central Oregon to improve local building conditions and foster cooperation among builders came in 1918 with the organization of the Builders Exchange, forerunner of the Central Oregon Builders Association. With 27 charter members, the purpose of the organization was to "join all contractors, manufacturers, and dealers of good repute, whose business connects them with the industry..." Membership in the Builders Exchange was purely voluntary and the organization did not propose to foster any particular interests, nor oppose labor in any way. Much like modern day Deschutes County the building industry had a boom and bust cycle during the first part of the 20th Century. The construction industry was good for painters, stone masons, contractors, plumbers and electricians in 1916, when more than $200,000 was invested into the Bend downtown. By 1925, the value of building activity had reached an all time high of $440,000. In 1933 however, the building activity dropped to just $11,985; most likely the result of the Depression. A typical wage for a bricklayer in the 1920s was $9.00 a day. A carpenter earned $7.00 a day, while a painter made $5.50 a day.

Numerous lumber companies, hardware stores, plumbing shops, and electrical stores over the years have provided the necessary building supplies to construct buildings in Deschutes County. Many of the early companies are still in existence today including, Miller Lumber Company, Tum-A-Lum Lumber Company, and Copeland Lumber. The Bend Hardware Store was bought out in the 1940s, at which time the name was changed to Masterson-St. Clair Hardware.

From early 1900 to the 1950s Deschutes County acted as home to very few architects. Architects from Portland, Seattle and Spokane designed most of the prominent buildings around the County. They include the O’Kane Building, which was designed by the Beezer Brothers from Seattle, Reid School designed by Sweatt, Levesque & Co from Spokane and the McCann House designed by David Lewis from Portland.

Perhaps the most notable architects are Lee A. Thomas and Hugh Thompson. Thomas designed the Bend Amateur Athletic Club, the Lew Franks Building and St. Francis Catholic Church. Thompson designed the demolished Capitol Theater, the New Redmond Hotel, the old Bend High School, the Butch Stover House and the 1927 addition to Pilot Butte Inn.

In later years the two became a powerful architectural force. As partners they designed the O.C. Henkle Building (where Claypool Furniture now is located), Kenwood School, the Central Oregon Bank (now home to Wells Fargo Bank) and the Vandevert & Whitington Garage (better known as Eddie’s Garage).

The following is a list of building trades people who were responsible for the construction of the built environment in Deschutes County. The list includes architects, contractors, plumbers, plasterers, electricians, and lumber yard and hardware storeowners. The list was developed from city directories, newspaper articles and advertisements, and personal interviews with local historians. Although every attempt was made to include all building trades people from 1900-1950, the list is not necessarily comprehensive. Dates included are approximations.

Name	Contribution
Abegg, George	Plumber in the 1940s in Redmond.
Albright, Joe E.	Building contractor in Bend in the teens and 1920s. He built the American Railway Express Building and tore down the old Central School building and built five bungalows as temporary classrooms.
Aldermann, Onnie	Painter and decorator in the 1940s.
Allgood, Roy K.	Painter in the teens in Bend.
Allison, R.L.	Building contractor in the 1920s.
Andrews, Wilber	Painter and decorator in the 1940s.
Arnold, Lew K.	Architect in Bend in the 1920s. Designed the Noonchester Apartments.
Baird, L.B.	Manager of Bend Brick Yard.
Barbour, Chet	Painting contractor in Redmond in the 1940s.
Barclay, Lester L.	Plumber in the 1940s in Bend.
Barr, George Paul	Painter and decorator in the 1930s and 40s.
Barr, Robert J.	Painter and decorator in the 1920s and 1930s.
Beaver, W.A.	Owner of the Bend Stone Company.
Beezer Brothers	Seattle architecture firm that designed the Sather Building, the O’Kane Building, and the now demolished 1st National Bank Building in Bend.
Bellushi, Pietro	Famed Portland Architect. Designed the Equitable Savings & Loan Building in Bend.
Bend Concrete Pipe Co.	Makers of sewer pipes, building blocks, ready mix, chimney blocks and septic tanks.
Bend Construction Co.	Incorporated out of Liby, Montana, this company purchased several lots on Delaware, Florida and Georgia Avenues in Bend and built Craftsman Bungalows upon them.
Bevard, J.M.	Architect and contractor in Redmond in the early teens.
Bookman, C.E.	Painter and decorator in the 1920s.
Bookman, H.J.	Painter and decorator in the 1920s. Completed the interior decorating and painting of the Whittington-Vandevert Garage.
Bogan & Jossy	Bend Architectural firm that designed the Redmond Airport Administration Building.
Bowden, H. Stanley	Painter and decorator in the 1940s.
Brandon, Harry	Stone mason in the 1940s in Bend.
Brooks, Ralph C.	Plumber in the 1940s in Redmond.
Brosterhous, Edward P.	Building contractor in the teens and 1920s. Responsible for the construction of Bend High School, Reid School, an addition to Kenwood School, the Spheir Building, Gilberts Grocery, St. Charles Hospital, the Silvertown Service Station, the Samuel Peoples House and St. Francis Catholic Church.
Brosterhous, George	Building contractor in the teens in Bend. Died during the construction of Reid School.
Brown, F.A.	Architect from Portland who designed the Shevlin-Hixon Mill.
Brubaker, Oriel G.	Building contractor and architect in the teens and 1920s. Designed the D.H. Spheir Building.
Buckman, Harrison	Painter and decorator in the 1940s.
Caler, H.	Excavation and stone contractor. Worked on the Evan Sather House and the Levi David Wiest House.
Campbell, Fred L.	Stone mason in the 1940s in Redmond.
Carlson, Oscar	Plumber in the 1940s. Co-owner of Carlson & Lyons Plumbing Store.
Carlson & Lyons	Plumbing store in Bend in the teens and 20s
Chamness, Guy	Painter and decorator in the 1940s in Redmond.
Chandler, Brainard R	Painter and decorator in the 1930s.
Childs, George J.	Co-owner of Bend Hardware Company.
Christiansen, Hans L.	Building contractor in Bend in the early teens.
Clark, Cleon	Architect of Skyliners Lodge.
Clarno, Francis	Plaster contractor in Redmond in the 1940s.
Collins, C.E.	Building contractor in the teens in Bend.
Colver, R.C.	Part owner of the Bend Brick Yard.
Cork, Norman	Excavating contractor in Redmond in the 1940s.
Cottengim, J. Arthur	Electrical contractor in the 1930s in Redmond.
Coyner, Craig	Building Contractor in Bend in the 1920s. Built the Bend Apartments.
Critcher, James W.	Painter and decorator in the 1930s in Redmond.
Cunningham, John J.	Building contractor in the teens and 1920s. Responsible for the construction of the Erickson-Pringle-Cashman Block, the Central Oregon Bank and the Sisters Hotel.
Cyrus, Melvin	General contractor in the 1940s in Redmond. Built the Redmond Clinic, the Deschutes Valley Potato Co. Warehouse and Mae’s Tavern.
Daily, L.	Plaster contractor in Redmond in the early teens.
Daum, Walter E.	Building contractor in the 1930s and 40s in Bend
Davis, Chas L.	Building contractor in the 1940s in Bend.
Davis, W.J.	Painter and decorator in the teens and 1920s in Redmond.
DeGree, John G.	Building contractor in the 1940s in Bend
DeMent, Floyd	Co-owner of Bend Hardware Company.
Dennis, John	Built the Sisters Hotel.
Deschutes Concrete & Pipe Co.	Sidewalk and basement floor contractors in Bend in the 1920s.
Dimick, J.W.	Architect in Bend during the teens. Designed the A.M. Lara House, the G.P. Putnam House and the A.M. Pringle House among others.
Dion & Horskotte	General contractors of the Shevlin-Hixon Mill.
Douglas-Hammond Co.	General contractors for the Deschutes County Courthouse.
Doyle, A.E.	Prominent Portland Architect. Drew the preliminary design for the Deschutes County Library.
Dubuis, John	Engineer in Bend in the teens and 1920s. Engineered the North Unit canal system, the sprinkler system for Bend High School and was the engineer inspector for the Tumalo Irrigation Project.
Dugan, C.J.	Co-owner of the Huffschmidt & Dugan Foundry, forerunner of the Bend Iron Works.
Eastman, Edwin	Excavation contractor in the 1940s in Bend.
Edwards, A.E.	Painter and decorator in the teens in Bend.
Engerbretson, J.E.	Plumbing contractor in the teens and 1920s.
Erickson, Swan Elmer	Building contractor in Redmond in the early teens. In partnership with Ole K.Olson, he built the New Redmond Hotel, the Central Oregon Co-Operative Creamery, the Beckwith-Atkinson Building and the Davidson Meat Market.
Fissel, Harry J.	Lath contractor in the 1940s.
Field, Joe C.	Cement contractor in the 1940s in Bend.
Finnegan Brothers	Heating and Plumbing contractors in Bend in the teens and 1920s. Worked on the Whittington-Vandevert Garage.
Friberg, E.A.	Building contractor in the teens and 1920s.
Frodeson, Fred	Building contractor in the teens and 1920s. Built the O’Kane Building.
Gant, Harry W.	Building contractor in the teens and 1920s in Bend. Under the name Gant & McCammon, Harry specialized in making screen doors and winodws and acted as agents for Tone stucco.
Gardner, Blaine	Building contractor in the teens and 1920s.
Gardner, Earl J.	Insulation contractor in the 1940s in Bend.
Gerking, Grover G.	Painter and decorator in the 1930s.
Gertson, Arthur B.	Building contractor in the 1930s in Bend.
Goodrich, J. B	Building contractor in the teens. Built the New Taggart Hotel.
Gotter, Ben	Building contractor in Redmond in the teens and twenties.
Golden, W.P.	Carpenter in Bend in the teens and 1920s. Worked on the A.L. French House.
Gould, Robert	Engineer for the City of Bend in the teens and 1920s. Elected Deschutes County Surveyor in 1919 and subsequently worked for the State Highway Department.
Grant, H. W.	General contractor in the teens and 1920s.
Gray, Harrison	Building contractor in the 1930s in Redmond.
Groggans, Andrew J.	Painter and decorator in the teens and 1920s.
Hansen, Alfred W.	Painter and decorator in the 1940s.
Hart, O.C.	General contractor in Redmond in the 1930s and 40s. Built the Meda-Butler Building, the Bend Piggly Wiggly Store, L.R. Down House, the Hart Duplex, Bend and Redmond Safeway Store, the Redmond Funeral Home, the Walter Franks Building, the Lew Franks Building, and the Moty & Van Dyke Building in Bend.
Haughton, Jack	Brick layer in Redmond in the 1930s. Built the Fritz Landaker House.
Hazuka, J.A.	Building contractor in Bend in the early teens.
Hedstrom, William	Building contractor in Bend in the 1920s. Built the R. B. Mutzig Block.
Henderson, William H.	Painter and decorator in the 1930s in Bend.
Hillstrom, George A.	Heating and venting contractor in the teens in Bend.
Holman, Laurence	Plumber in the 1940s.
Holmes, Roy R.	Building contractor in the 1930s and 40s in Redmond. Built the Stewart-Pendroy Clinic and Hogan’s Men’s Furnishings.
Homberg, A.F.	Plaster contractor in Bend in the early teens.
Hope, Ralph A.	Owner of Hope Electric Shop in Bend.
Horn, Aurther H.	Owner of Bend Brick Yard.
Horn, Weldon V.	Electrical contractor in the 1940s in Redmond.
Humphries, H.J.	Architect of the American Railway Express Building.
Immele, R.C.	Owner of lumber yard in Redmond in the teens.
Irvin, Chad H.	Owner of furniture store in Redmond in the teens and 1920s.
Ingemann, George	Building contractor in the teens in Bend.
Isted, Elwood John	Bend Architect who designed the Square Deal Furniture Store in 1935, and the Kenwood School Gymnasium and Bend City Hall in 1939.
Jackson, Clarence	Architect of Gilbert’s Grocery Store in Bend and the Dome Super Service Station.
Jackson, Joseph H.	Owner of hardware store in Redmond in the early teens.
Jacobs, W.A.	Building contractor in Bend in the 1920s.
Janney, N.D.	Building contractor in the teens and 1920s in Bend.
Jones, H.E.	Painter in Bend in the early teens.
Jones & Marsh	Portland Architectural firm who designed John Tuck Elementary School & the Walter Lantz Building in Redmond.
Keane, Edward H.	Bend architect who designed the Liberty Theater in 1917.
Kendal, B.A.	Owner of hardware store in Redmond in the teens.
Kirby, W.D.	Building contractor in the teens and 1920s in Bend. Built the O.C. Henkle Building.
Kohl, George	Painter in the teens in Redmond.
Kottwick, Fred	Brick maker at the Bend Brickyard in the 1920s.
Ladd, Delmer F.	Plaster contractor in Redmond in the 1920s.
Lamb, James K.	Painter and decorator in the 1930s in Bend.
Lantz, Fred	Building contractor in the 1930s. Built the Fredrick Apartments in Redmond.
Lantz, Walter	Owner of Redmond Electric. Installed electrical system in the Redmond Safeway Store.
Laurgaard, Olaf	Structural engineer for the Tumalo Project of 1914.
Lawrence, Holford & Allyn	Portland architectural firm. Designed Trinity Episcopal Church and the Hammond Ranch House.
Leonard Lundgren Lumber Co.	Lumber supply house in Bend in the 1950s.
Lewis, Austin D.	Painter and decorator in the 1930s and 40s.
Lewis, Arnold K.	Architect of the Noonchester Apartments.
Lewis, Barney	Sign painter in Bend in the early 1900s.
Lewis, David C.	Prominent Portland architect. Designed the Thomas McCann House in Bend.
Loop, R.H.	Building contractor in the teens and 1920s.
Lynch, George	Plumber in the 1940s.
MacCloskey, J.A.	Tinning and furnace contractor in the teens in Bend.
Maher & Wheeler	Plumbing and tinning business in Redmond in the teens.
Manchester, A.W.	Building contractor for Julious Construction Company of Portland. Built the Redmond Union High School Gym in 1945.
Masterson, Jack	Co-owner of Masterson-St.Clair Hardware Store. Masterson and his partner bought out Bend Hardware Company in the 1940s.
Mayne, Alexander	Building contractor in the teens in Bend. Built the Mayne Maternity Home on Third Street.
McCoy, E.F.	Finish contractor in Redmond in the 1940s. Completed the interior work on Mae’s Tavern.
McLennan, Edward S.	Plumber in the 1940s.
McQueson, George	Building contractor in Bend during the teens who reportedly built most of the houses on St. Helens Street.
Mefferd, John O.	Plaster contractor in the 1930s in Bend.
Miller, Ham	Started Miller Lumber Company in 1911.
Miller, Woodrow E.	Building contractor in the 1940s in Bend.
Minger, T.J.	Plumber in the 1920s in Redmond.
Minster, Walter B.	Painter and decorator in the 1940s.
Mirich, Dan W.	Cement contractor in the 1930s in Bend.
Modern Materials Co.	Builders supply in Redmond in the 1950s.
Modjeski, Ralph	Architectural engineer for the Crooked River High Bridge.
Montgomery, William M.	Plumber in the 1930s & 1940s. Business called Montgomery & Baird.
Muntz, Alfred	Owner of Muntz Hardware in Redmond.
Neff, Floyd O.	Building contractor in the 1940s in Bend.
Nelson Builders Supply	Builders Supply House in Bend at 5 NW Greenwood Ave. in the 1950s.
Nelson, Henry C.	Building contractor in the 1930s and 40s in Bend. Built Trinity Episcopal Church, the Butch Stover House, the Irving Apartments, the Pine Tavern, the Central Oregon Garage, the Pilot Butte Pharmacy, and the Leon Fuikes Building. Nelson also built and installed the shelves and bookcases in the Deschutes County Library.
Olson, Ole K.	Building contractor in Central Oregon from the teens through the 1930s. Built the Milton Odem House, Redmond Union High School, Redmond 1st National Bank, the Burdick Building, the Lew Smith House, and the Bend Clinic. In partnership with Elmer Erickson, built the New Redmond Hotel, the Central Oregon Co-Operative Creamery, the Beckwith-Atkinson Building and the Davidson Meat Market.
Osborne, I.L.	Building contractor in the teens in Redmond.
Palmer, M.A.	Building contractor in Bend in the early teens.
Palmlund, Martin T.	Stone contractor in Bend in the teens and 1920s. Worked on Reid School, the Pilot Butte Inn and Kenwood School.
Paradise, Frank H.	Architect of the Redmond Safeway Store.
Park Landscape Co.	Bend Landscaping Company in the 1920s.
Perry, Frank L.	General contractor in the 1930s in Bend.
Phillps, Truman E.	Architect of the Deschutes County Courthouse.
Plank, Orrin H.	House mover in Bend in the teens.
Polley, Joe	Building contractor in the 1930s in Sisters.
Powell, A.G.	Finish contractor in the teens and twenties in Bend.
Priteca & Herzog	Portland architectural firm. Designed the Tower Theater.
Raycraft, George W.	Building contractor in the 1930s in Bend.
Reberman, V.D.	General contractor in Redmond in the 1940s. Built John Tuck Elementary School.
Rederer, J.H.	Finish carpenter in Redmond in the early teens.
Repnock, Adam	Plaster contractor in the 1940s in Bend.
Richardson, W.A.	Decorator in the teens and 1920s.
Renfro, W.D.	Building contractor in Bend in the 1920s. Built the Davis, Winslow and Noonchester Apartments.
Roald & Schneider	Portland architectural firm. Designed the Redmond Spokesman Building, the Redmond Medical Clinic, the Medical Dental Clinic in Redmond and the Bend Bulletin Building.
Rock, Joe	Excavation contractor in the teens in Bend.
Ross, Jos L.	General contractor in the 1940s in Bend.
Royal, Orr	Building contractor in the 1930s and 40s in Redmond. Built the Fred Hodecker House.
Rutledge, Chas E.	Building contractor in the 1940s in Bend.
Ryan, J.J.	Plumbing contractor in the teens in Bend. May have installed the plumbing in the Thomas McCann House.
Sage, Evart A.	General contractor in the 1940s in Redmond.
Scott, Clarence L.	General contractor from the 1920s to the 40s in Redmond.
Scott, Walter	Part owner of the Bend Brick Yard.
Shuholm, Carl	Owner of Advanced Construction Company in Redmond. They had a brick yard in Redmond.
Slocum, G.M.	Builder of the B.H. McMickle House in Redmond.
Smith, Homer	Electrician in Bend in the early teens. Wired Reid School, and during retirement helped wire lights for the Bend Water Pageants.
Smith, H.P.	Plaster contractor in Bend in the teens and twenties specializing in ornamental plaster.
Smith, Nichols P.	Owner of N.P. Smith Pioneer Hardware Store in Bend. Built the Drake Lodge and the first wooden sidewalks in Bend.
Smith, Lew	Manager of Tum-A-Lum Lumber Co. in Redmond.
Smith, Russell H.	Painter and decorator in the 1930s.
Smith, Seaton	Architect of the Bend Airport Hangers and Skyline Drive Inn.
Smith, W.P.	Architect of the Evan A. Sather House.
Spencer, William C.	House mover in the 1940s.
St. Clair, Hugh	Co-owner of Masterson-St.Clair Hardware Store.
Stanton, Charles R.	Painter and decorator in the 1930s in Bend.
Straughn, Burel C.	Drilling and blasting contractor in the 1940s.
Sutherland, Frank T.	Building contractor in the teens and 20s in Bend. Built the E.F. Logan Building and the J.H. Wenandy House.
Sweatt, Levesque & Co.	Prominent Spokane architectural firm. Designed Reid School in 1914, the Central School and Bend High School in 1925.
Syverson, Raymond P.	General contractor in the 1940s in Bend. Built the Deschutes Motor & Implement Store and the Bend Airport Hangers.
Tanzey, Jack	Building contractor and Brick Layer in the teens in Bend. Built the O’Donnel Building.
Taylor, A.B.	Excavation contractor in the teens and 1920s.
Thomas, Lee A.	Architect in Bend in the teens. Designed the Lew Franks Building, St. Francis Catholic Church, St. Charles Hospital, the First Methodist Church, the Bend Amateur Athletic Club and the new Central School.
Thompson, Hugh M.	Architect in Bend in the teens. Designed the Capitol Theater, the New Redmond Hotel, Bend High School, Redmond Union High School, the Butch Stover House and an addition to the Pilot Butte Inn. In partnership with Lee Thomas they designed the O.C. Henkle Building, C.J. Breir Store, St. Francis School, the 1923 Kenwood School addition, the Hudson & Sather Building, the Central Oregon Bank and the Vandevert & Whitington Garage. (AIA # 191)
Todd, John	Building contractor in the teens in Bend.
Tourtellotte & Hummell	Prominent architectural firm from Boise. Designed the Pilot Butte Inn in 1917.
Trent, Dorris E.	Painter and decorator in the 1930s and 40s.
Tucker, A.J.	Stone mason in Bend in the early teens. Built the A.J. Tucker Blacksmith Shop.
VanMatre, Fred N.	General contractor in the 1930s & 40s in Central Oregon. Built Sillery Motors, the Houk Motor Co. Building, Dowsett Bowling Alley, Silvertown Service Station, Vandevert & Whittington Garage, the 1939 Bend Fire Hall addition, the Bulletin Building, the Tower Theater, the Deschutes County Library, the M.P. Cashman Building, Beck Bakery, Jesse Hill School, the New Redmond Hotel and the Redmond Spokesman Building. Along with Fred Hunnell and Art Gertsen, started the first brick yard in Bend, later sold to A.H. Horn.
Warner, Edwin	Plumber in the 1940s.
Washburn, Tom	Painter and decorator in the 1940s.
Weitz, Charles	Head contractor for the U.S. Post Office in Bend.
Wentmore, J.A.	Architect for the U.S. Treasury. Designed the U.S. Post Office in Bend.
Werandy & Fox	Stone and brick masons in Bend in the 1920s. Built Bend High School and Reid School.
Wheeler, W.J.	Owner of plumbing and tinning store in Redmond in the teens.
White, J.P.	General contractor in the teens in Bend.
Whitehouse & Church	Architectural firm that carried out the final design of the Deschutes County Library.
William, Ira	Brick maker at the Bend Brickyard in the 1920s.
Wilson, Guy H.	Building contractor in the teens in Bend. Built the Bend Amateur Athletic Club in 1918.
Wilson, Leo L.	Painter and decorator in the 1940s.
Wright, Albert U.	Building contractor in the 1930s in Bend.
Zieser & Son	Stone, Brick and Cement business. Built the Whittington-Vandevert Garage.