Idaho Building (1905)

{{short description|Building built for the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland, Oregon}}

{{Infobox building

| name = Idaho Building

| image = Idaho Building (1905).jpg

| image_size =

| image_alt =

| image_caption = The Idaho Building in 1905

| building_type = Exposition hall

| architectural_style =

| address = Portland, Oregon

| opened = May 21, 1905

| architect = Wayland & Fennell

}}

The Idaho Building at the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland, Oregon, was a 2-story exhibition hall designed by James A. Fennell of the Boise architectural firm Wayland & Fennell. When the Idaho Building opened, journalist Blaine Phillips wrote, "The building is sublimely beautiful, the vivid colors which have been applied in perfect harmony with the surroundings, serving ably to accentuate the picturesqueness and uniqueness of the construction."{{cite news |title=Idaho at the Lewis and Clark Exposition |author=Blaine Phillips |newspaper=Idaho Statesman |location=Boise, Idaho |date=June 11, 1905 |page=10}}

Although constructed at the fair by the State of Idaho, the Idaho Building served as exhibition and entertainment space for three states without buildings, Montana, Wyoming, and Nevada, on days honoring the people of individual states.{{cite news |title=Idaho Courtesy to Other States |newspaper=Idaho Statesman |location=Boise, Idaho |date=April 26, 1905 |page=5}}

Architecture

Dimensions of the Idaho Building were 100 feet by 89 feet, including a 12-foot wide entry hall leading to an exhibition room 100 feet by 60 feet, with reception rooms for women and men on each side of the hallway. The building included offices, a breakfast room, a kitchen, and two second floor apartments.{{cite news |title=Acceptance of Building Plans |newspaper=Idaho Statesman |location=Boise, Idaho |date=March 26, 1905 |page=5}}{{cite news |title=To Be Fine Structure |newspaper=The Lewiston Teller |location=Lewiston, Idaho |date=March 31, 1905 |page=1 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn89055112/1905-03-31/ed-1/seq-1/ |accessdate=January 6, 2019}} The Washington Times described the building as "of a style peculiar to inter-mountain countries,"{{cite news |title=Portland Ready for the Big Fair |newspaper=The Washington Times |location=Washington, D.C. |date=May 8, 1905 |page=3 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1905-05-08/ed-1/seq-3/ |accessdate=January 6, 2019}} and the Deseret Evening News said it was "in a form somewhat resembling a Swiss Chalet."{{cite news |title=Idaho's Building at Portland Fair |newspaper=Deseret Evening News |location=Salt Lake City |date=April 4, 1905 |page=5 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045555/1905-04-04/ed-1/seq-5/ |accessdate=January 6, 2019}}

At night, between 400 and 500 incandescent lamps illuminated the building.{{cite news |title=Work on Idaho Building |newspaper=Idaho Statesman |location=Boise, Idaho |date=April 5, 1905 |page=3}}

Exhibits

In addition to agricultural, mineral, and mining exhibits, the building featured exhibits made by children in Idaho schools.{{cite news |title=Idaho at the Fair |newspaper=The Idaho Republican |location=Blackfoot, Idaho |date=July 7, 1905 |page=1 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86091197/1905-07-07/ed-1/seq-1/ |accessdate=January 6, 2019}}{{cite news |title=Idaho Schools Are Expanding |newspaper=East Oregonian |location=Pendleton, Oregon |date=May 23, 1905 |page=1 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88086023/1905-05-23/ed-1/seq-1/ |accessdate=January 6, 2019}} Thousands of educational pieces were displayed, including photographs, paintings, drawings, bound volumes, and weaving.{{cite news |title=Idaho's School Exhibit |newspaper=Montpelier Examiner |location=Montpelier, Idaho |date=June 23, 1905 |page=7 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86091111/1905-06-23/ed-1/seq-7/ |accessdate=January 6, 2019}}

Prizes

At the conclusion of the fair in September, the Idaho Building received the gold medal, and Idaho received another gold for excellence at exhibition.{{cite news |title=Gold Medal for Idaho Building |newspaper=Idaho Statesman |location=Boise, Idaho |date=October 11, 1905 |page=2}} Idaho received a total of 91 gold medals, 46 silver medals, and 44 bronze medals awarded for its exhibitions.{{cite journal |title=The State of Idaho |journal=Report of Commissioner of Immigration |publisher=Idaho Bureau of Immigration, Labor, and Statistics |date=1906 |page=255 |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.li2tjd;view=1up;seq=255 |accessdate=January 6, 2019}}

After the Exhibition

Near the end of October, 1905, the Idaho Building was purchased by Paul Wessinger, who planned to remodel it into a clubhouse.{{cite news |title=Standing Ad for the Gem State |newspaper=Idaho Statesman |location=Boise, Idaho |date=October 30, 1905 |page=3}} Wessinger, son-in-law of Henry Weinhard, managed Henry Weinhard's brewery and was chairman of the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition grounds and buildings committee.{{cite book |title=Who's Who in the Northwest |volume=1 |publisher=Western Press Association |date=1911 |page=67 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gcAUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PT67 |accessdate=January 7, 2019}} The Idaho Building may have been demolished soon after the Exhibition, however, as many of the buildings were temporary structures not well suited to Portland's climate. Other buildings withstood years of neglect prior to demolition. Parts of two buildings have survived since the Exhibition, the NCR Building in St. Johns, now a McMenamins outlet, and the American Inn in North Portland, now a condominium.{{cite web |title=1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial and American Pacific Exposition and Oriental Fair, Part I |publisher=PDX History |url=http://www.pdxhistory.com/html/lewis___clark_1.html |accessdate=January 7, 2019}}