Willamette Heights Residences

The Willamette Heights neighborhood was platted in the 1890's, but saw little construction until the construction of a street bridge across the Balch Gulch which separates it from the main part of NW Portland. Once the bridge construction started in 1903, homes started springing up, many of which were built by the developer Russell and Blythe. The pair hired Emil Schacht to design "modern" craftsman and colonial style homes. Their goal was to impress the throngs who would be attending the Lewis and Clark Exposition to be built in the low-lying area directly below the "Heights". Their hopes were far surpassed, as nearly 3 million attendees passed through the Exposition's turnstyles, and thousands of them trekked up to the Heights to see the display of "modern" houses. By 1908, all the lots had been sold, most with new homes already built on them - without a single advertisement. Upwards of 33 of the homes in the "Heights" were designed by Emil Schacht, including all of those shown in this gallery. - James Heuer