A Historic Home on the Chopping Block

The fight to preserve our history can sometimes be an uphill battle. In Lake Oswego, Oregon, a home that's been in the family for seven generations since it was built in 1850 is slated for demolition, but historic preservation advocates are fighting the move. They argue that as the oldest home in Lake Oswego, the home represents an important part of history, and something that shouldn't be razed for development. Meanwhile, the owners want to demolish the home, arguing that addressing the serious structural problems with the home, which would need considerable attention from Portland carpenters, would cost approximately half a million dollars.

A standoff between owners, preservationists, and building officials is likely to end with the approval to move ahead with the demolition, and a little piece of Oregon history will be lost forever. The efforts of preservationists to broker a deal that favors all parties, it seems, have failed.

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