Henry Hahn House - MPF ConservationMPF Conservation

The Hahn House is a beautiful historic home located above Portland’s Alphabet District, nestled within the old west hills enclave, Nob Hill. It is an outstanding example of the types of homes that were being built by those with means during that period, and owners who restored the home to its grandeur. Let us hope it retains it’s historic beauty!

Entry images, right and below left, in 2012; note the lovely fixtures and wallpaper in images from that time, and the Berkey and Gay furniture.

MPF Conservation had the pleasure of conserving the entire historic Berkey and Gay collection originally bought for the home.

History

Henry Hahn, who died in 1936, was a German man who immigrated alone to the United States when he was twelve years old, eventually making his way across the USA to Portland, Oregon. Over time he became a large landowner and made his fortune in land, livestock and the grocery industry.

He was friends with Henry Pittock (builder of Pittock Mansion), a London-born publisher. Henry and his wife, Georgiana Burton Pittock, were the original owners of the influential newspaper, the Oregonian.

In Portland, Hahn built a home for himself, shown below, now known as the Henry Hahn House. It was designed and built in 1906 by the renowned architect of the time, Emil Schacht (1854-1926).

Images above and below of the dining area, in 2012.

Several owners over its lifetime have put forth thoughtful, lovely and contextual restoration efforts:

proper conservation of paneling and floors,
period appropriate fixtures,
period appropriate wallpaper,
period appropriate carpeting
period colored paints.

The amazing historic quarter-sawn oak paneling and oak floors were also properly finished at that time using resin-based coatings. The owners did not strip the original finish but rather added fresh true shellac to amend the original, which serves to preserve the historic panels history and finish.