History of Slocum House
Old Slocum House is
the only building remaining in what was a residential section of old
Vancouver of the mid-eighteen hundreds. Records show the square block
#29 on which the house originally stood, one block south of its present
location, was sold by Esther Short to one W. L. Stabler for the sum of
$225 in 1849. Charles and Laura Slocum purchased it from him for $700.
Then F. W. Leadbetter purchased it and in 1929 deeded it to the Columbia
River Paper Mill. The mill used portions of the house as offices until
it was included in the Urban Renewal area. Mrs. Leadbetter maintained an
interest in the restoration of the house past the age of 100.
The house was built by Charles W. Slocum and his wife Laura after the
style of the family home in Rhode Island, a modified Italianate villa,
with a widow's walk such as could be seen along the east coast of that
period.
The beautiful curving stairway of rose and mahogany shows the family
interest in cabinet making and a respect for careful workmanship. The
medallions which grace the ceilings reflect the period and have been
beautifully restored. In cleaning them, partial signatures and the
patent dates of July 16, 1842 and Aug. 29, 1846 were found molded in the
surface. The stately ten-foot doors, the octagonal room, the marble
fireplace, all add to the charm of the house.
In 1962 the Fort
Vancouver Historical Society sponsored a tour of the area surrounding
the Esther Short Park where the houses were shortly to be demolished to
make way for the Urban Renewal Project. The interest of many people in
saving some structure from among the many early homes of this area was
sparked. Robert Hidden, chairman of the Historical Society Sites
Committee, started the process of saving the Slocum House, the first
really elegant house of the area. The theater group became interested
and formed the Old Slocum House Company to help get the project
underway. With the cooperation of the city, the house was saved by
removal to its present site one block north in Esther Short Park. It was
moved and placed on a new foundation in 1966.
The dining-sitting room area is now an intimate theater where plays,
readings, recitals, vocal or instrumental concerts may be given. The
work was accomplished by volunteers of the Old Slocum House Theater
Company and with the cooperation of the Fort Vancouver Historical
Society. The theater company raised money for the project by presenting
plays and manning an automobile license station. Some of the workers
received remuneration, but practically all of them gave their time on a
volunteer basis as well. Without the leadership of Mrs. Hermine Decker,
president of the Old Slocum House Theatre Company, of Mr. and Mrs.
Robert Hidden, and Dr. John Broughter of the Fort Vancouver Historical
Society, it could never have reached completion. The project took seven
years to complete. |
Join Email List
