April 30, 2022

The National Register of Historic Places Registration Form states, "The Clark Thompson estate, originally known as 'Midmount' upon its completion in 1907 and subsequently more commonly known as 'Cragmont,' overlooks the Columbia River in Cascade Locks, Oregon."

This was a huge mansion, and later a lodge (Cascade Lodge) and a boarding house before becoming the apartment building it is today. I'd love to learn more about the lodge and boarding house days, but this is a good start on the history of this structure.

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LizC Real Estate Investments

The House:

Historic Cragmont House, also known as The Clark Thompson House, sits on a terrace overlooking the Columbia River, immediately east of downtown Cascade Locks. The house was constructed in 1906 by architect, P.M. Hall-Lewis, commissioned by Jessie & Clark Thompson. The three story home was originally built with 25 rooms and the integrity of the exterior of the house is retained almost in its entirety.

Cragmont reflects the essence of the Arts and Crafts style. The stained board and batten wainscoting, exposed ceiling beams, wood floors, stained, simple 9.5 inch base boards, and built in furniture.

The Historic Cragmont House was designed with a library, study, living room, dining room, 10 bedrooms, 10 fireplaces, and 4 bathrooms, along with a nursery, schoolroom and large play area on the third floor. Douglas fir floor boards were used throughout the main living areas. The walls are made of lath and plaster.

The Apartments:

In 1951, the house was adapted into five apartments after having been used for years as a hotel and boarding house. Despite the adaptation, the house still maintains most of its original character. The reconfiguration to apartment use was accomplished by the insertion of new partitions, rather than removal of existing structures. The most significant interior alteration was the removal of the living room chimney piece and corresponding fireplaces on the second and third floors.

There are two apartments on either side of the entrance and stairway on the main level, and three apartments upstairs, each with its charm and functionality. Apartment #1 retains the original dining room and kitchen as they were designed with fireplace and built-in bench and is separated from the study by an original, substantial pocket door. All three original pocket doors have been retained.

The study is now used as a bedroom and the butler’s pantry serves as a bathroom. Servants' dining area is now a second bedroom and the cold room in the corner of the kitchen is used as a laundry and storage space.

Apartment #3 is one bedroom and features a 221 sq foot balcony overlooking the back grounds and has a small storage room where stairs used to come from the main floor.

In apartment #4, the former nursery, is currently used as a bedroom, former linen closet has been converted to a bathroom and bedroom beyond has been remodeled into spacious kitchen. The former schoolroom still features a fireplace with original mantel, though since refaced. The remaining bedroom is as originally planned.

Apartment #5 uses the former master bedroom as a front room. The walk in closet provides an open space with and original bedroom beyond. On the opposite side of the current front room, is a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.

The third floor has been closed off for some time, though originally contained two bedrooms for servants, a bathroom, storage areas and an extensive play area.

LizC Real Estate Investments, https://www.lizcrei.com/historic-cragmont-house (Accessed: April 30, 2022)

National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Clark Thompson House

In 1901, Clark Thompson, an engineer by training, arrived in the Columbia Gorge with his wife, the daughter of a Wisconsin lumberman who had invested in the Wind River Lumber Company. At his father-in-law's request, Thompson took charge of the company. He is credited with having designed the first fully electrified mill on the Northern Pacific Coast. The Wind River Mill burned in 1906, just as construction of the house was underway. The house was occupied by its original owners ten years before ill health forced Mr. Thompson to retire to California.

In the 1920s Mrs. Thompson leased the property which was adapted for use as a lodge and boarding house. At one time, the place was advertised as "Cascade Lodge." During the 1930s, the place became a dormitory for the work force constructing Bonneville Dam (1835-1938). After the property was sold by Mrs. Thompson in 1945, the surrounding acreage was subdivided and the house was converted to apartments.

Cragmont, located in Cascade Locks, Oregon qualifies for listing on the National Register of Historic Places under Criteria C. Cragmont, built for prominent lumberman Clark Thompson, was constructed in 1906-1907 by architect P.M. Hall Lewis. The house is an excellent example of Shingle style architecture in Cascade Locks and it is the only example of this style within the community. The architect designed structure is unusual in a town where the majority of residential properties are simple 3 to 4 room, single story cottages built to provide housing for those working in the local mills, and on Columbia River associated projects. With its massive size and distinctive architecture, it has over the years, stood out as a local landmark.

Jessie and Clark Thompson initially designed their home themselves. They began planning their new home in 1903, but construction did not commence until 1906. They wanted a house large enough to accommodate a family of 10. When the Thompsons passed on their plans to P.M. Hall-Lewis, an architect who at the time practiced in Hood River, he allegedly exclaimed "you don't want 10 bedrooms", but they insisted they did, along with 4 bathrooms, and 10 fireplaces.

In addition to the bedrooms, the second floor was to have a nursery and school room because the children were to be taught at home. P.M. Hall-Lewis was chosen because the Thompsons were concerned that if a Portland based architect was hired, the architect would be too far away to be actively involved with the construction. As vice-president and superintendent of the Wind River Lumber Company in Cascade Locks, Clark was able to hand pick the lumber for finishing the interior. Unfortunately, the Wind River Mill burned in 1906 along with the -lumber initially selected for the Thompson home.

To the Thompson family, their new home became known as Midmount, because "it was in the midst of the mountains."

The setting included 9 acres overlooking the Columbia River. Jessie Thompson took it upon herself to landscape the property with varieties of fruit and nut trees, flowers, hedges, and vegetable gardens. One writer for the Oregonian was quite taken by her experimental crop, Dasheen, a tropical tuber very similar to the common potato. In conclusion, the author observed that the "roses, flowers, and lawn blend so harmoniously with the practical features of the place as to show the wonderful possibilities and attractions of 'our highway 1 (Columbia Gorge)"

The Thompson residence is remembered as lively and always entertaining house guests. Thompson supported a local baseball team. It is likely that it was a company team and they would convene at the Thompson's house either before or after each game. Unfortunately, the Thompson's stay in Cascade Locks was shortlived. In 1917 Clark Thompson became very ill and the family moved to California for his health. He died shortly thereafter. Jessie attempted to sell Midinount in the early 1920's. Although she advertised the house as a country home on the Columbia River highway suitable for a hotel or inn, the sale was not successful. She then leased out the building until 1945. After a period of vacancy in the 1920's, the house was adapted as a lodge and at other times as a boarding house. The lodge, under the management of a Mrs. Harriet Richards, was advertised as Cascade Lodge. Through the years, the house became known in the community as Cragmont. Jessie Thompson would not allow the house to be referred to as Midmount. In the 1930's, Cragmont was a popular spot for dances and parties. Some still remember the festive events.

During the construction of Bonneville Dam, Cascade Locks was literally flooded with workers who had no place to sleep. Cragmont caught the eye of those working on the project. Evidently, during the project Cragmont was filled to the brim. There were three shifts, and apparently the beds were continuously occupied. As one man got up to go to work, another took his place in the bed.

In 1945, Mrs. Thompson sold Cragmont to local businessmen, G.E. Manchester and C. W. Amoth. Cragmont was left vacant for several years except for occasional use by various groups. Manchester later partitioned the property surrounding Cragmont into building lots, reducing the acreage from 9 to the current .8. In 1951, the 3,458.25 square foot house was adapted into 5 apartment houses.

After Manchester's death in 1962, his widow, Frances, sold the property to Mr. and Mrs. Brian Fitzpatrick, who continued to rent out the apartments. After her death in 1987, Cragmont was sold to the current owner, Jean Bradford, granddaughter of G.E. Manchester.

Video (By Others...)

Links

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