Portlands Oldest Building Gets A Makeover

The Hallock Building at Oak and Natio Parkway is the oldest standing building in Portland.  Built by Absalom Hallock in 1857, the Hallock building has seen many tenants throughout the years.  First occupied by Mr. Hallock, it later was used as a candy factory, a leather products company, and many others, recently it was home to Peter Corvallis Productions where I worked as a teenager.  Over the years, the exterior of the Hallock building has been covered in stucco, the cast iron removed, and fallen into a bit of general disrepair.

Now, the Hallock Building is in the good hands of John Russell, and will be undergoing a full restoration.  The exterior will be returned to its former glory with a cast iron arches over the doors and windows.  Russell also owns 4 other buildings on this block which have already been carefully restored, including the Fechheiemer & White Building on Natio Parkway and the Dielschneider Building on Oak Street.  Finishing the corner facing Hallock Building, will tie the 5 buildings together into two restored block faces.