The Historic Emma Austin House
The preservation group told McCulloch that someone had to buy the property directly from the developer within 48 hours. McCulloch bought the property for $610,000, stopping the planned division of the land. Hawkins III’s book Classic Houses of Portland, Oregon, 1850-1950, the bungalow is considered one of the region’s best examples of early 20th-century Arts and Crafts design.
Otherwise, demolition permits would move forward and the house would be lost.
The Lake Oswego Preservation Society learned that the historic bungalow was in immediate danger and contacted Portland preservationist and builder John McCulloch, according to project records from McCulloch Construction. According to real estate records published in William J. The home was saved after historic preservation advocates made an urgent effort to protect it. The Lake Oswego Preservation Society later gave McCulloch its preservation award for stepping in to save the historic home.
McCulloch spent more than $75,000 on specialized interior painting and finishing.
Workers replaced damaged stone details with matching river rock collected nearby, according to The Oregonian. After buying the property, McCulloch Construction began a complete renovation from the studs out. The goal was to update the home’s systems while keeping its original early-20th-century appearance. The same type of stone was used to build hundreds of feet of new retaining walls around the gardens. Contractors added a new concrete foundation around the house to meet modern earthquake safety codes. They also replaced the electrical and plumbing systems and installed more efficient heating and cooling equipment. Inside, workers removed layers of old paint and restored the original woodwork. The team also found and restored light fixtures from the period to replace modern ones. The second floor was expanded to create a main bedroom suite with a private fireplace, marble finishes and heated bathroom floors. Workers also turned the low-ceiling basement into a full-height lower level with a climate-controlled custom wine cellar. Outside, the property still has mature rose gardens, a gazebo, an artificial fountain, a waterfall and coastal redwoods supplied by a natural stream running through the property.