Historic Walking Tour - Crawford and Farra Building

Significance

"Stephen Dow Beckham, 1976 

The Henderson Business Machine Building located on the site of the former Territorial Capitol of Oregon In Corvallis, Oregon, was erected about 1880. The building appears as a ""General Store"" on the Sanborn Insurance Map of Corvallis in 1884. 

This two story, brick building has a rectangular shape. It has five window bays on the second story of the front (east) elevation. Each bay has at present a one-over-one, double hung sash window. The upper part of each bay has been blocked in. Once a semi-elliptical window filled the upper part of each bay. A band of bricks runs horizontally between each bay and arches up to form a voussoir with a keystone. The south elevation has six window bays and an attachment of more recent date on the rear. The first floor of the building has been altered significantly. 

An historical landmark is mounted on the southeast corner of the first floor front elevation which commemorates this site as the location of Oregon Territory's 1855 capitol building. 

The Carpenter's Union Hall is located upstairs in this structure. 

"Sanborn Insurance Map, Corvallis, Oregon, 1884," Horner Museum, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. 

Former Uses of Present Building 

c. 1930's: Irish and Taylor Bakery, Grocery, Eagles Lodge (2nd floor) 
c. 1957-1980: Hendersons Business Machines 

Addendum to 1976 Statewide Inventory Form 

This building was built in 1882 and was known as the Crawford and Farra Brick. The building was remodeled extensively in 1948. 

The W. C. Crawford House (c. 1885) is also listed in the Corvallis Inventory, and the Dr. Farra House is currently a National Register property. 

Sources Consulted

Gazette, Corvallis, Oregon, May 19, 1882.
Gazette Corvallis, Oregon, July 14, 1882.