The Historic I.L.Smith House

The Historic I.L. Smith House was constructed circa 1876 by Irvin Lucien Smith. Mr. Smith was a true renaissance man as he was a builder, politician, cabinetmaker, and mortician over his years in Oregon. For a time, he also operated the Western House Hotel and opened a cabinet shop with his brother located at Nineteenth Avenue and Main Street in Forest Grove. Prior to relocating his family to Forest Grove in 1870, Mr. Smith served as a gun sergeant in the U.S. Civil War where he was present when General Ulysses S. Grant won the Siege of Vicksburg over John C. Pemberton and the confederate forces in Warren County, Mississippi. Later in the war, Mr. Smith was captured by confederate forces and held in a prison camp in Texas before being released and travelling to Oregon. The I.L. Smith House was built in the Italianate style of architecture which was popular in the United States between 1840 and 1885 and is similar to the American Four-Square style of architecture popularized by Frank Lloyd Wright that would come along in the 1890’s. The Italianate style is highlighted throughout the house from the low-pitched roof supported by decorative brackets to the multiple paned windows with ornate crowns. The Original woodwork is still present in the home from the grand staircase to the hand carved embellishments built into the crown molding of the dining room. Later additions like the wrap around porch, vineyard canopy, and the extensive landscaping create a welcoming environment for family and friends alike. Many thanks to the Friends of Historic Forest Grove which provided much of the background for this historic account. Featured photographs of this amazing property can be viewed by selecting the Gallery link at the top of the page.

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The Historic I.L.Smith House is a private residence and not open to the public. The information on this site is provided for informational and historic purposes only.