This stately Neoclassical house was discovered on a typical wet and gray Portland afternoon. Despite being noticeably larger than other houses in this block of a desirable neighborhood, it was surprising that the house was not only vacant but abandoned and not only abandoned but open and easily accessible. Inside, the house was clean and well-preserved with only a few signs of damage or decay.

Built in the Victorian style in 1903¹ (or before 1890 by some reports²) the home was remodeled³ into a Neoclassical or Colonial Revival⁴ style shortly after purchase in 1904 by the home’s namesake owner Jacob H. Cook. Later colloquially referenced as “The Christmas House” the sizable mansion had 7 bedrooms on two levels as well as two spacious porches and a basement.² Around 2010 the manor was abandoned and eventually became at risk for demolition.³ With increasing property values and demand for housing, Portland has seen an increase in demolitions of old houses even if they are architecturally or historically significant. While Portland houses of this age now need to be deconstructed instead of demolished,⁵ the Jacob Cook house was later purchased by an investor in 2018 and restored rather than razed.³

Century-old homes such as this one not only feature unique elements such as vintage fixtures and ornate details that are not replicated in modern construction but also lumber from old-growth Douglas Fir and other building materials that are much higher quality than what is currently used in building construction. ^6,5 Existing structures also feature a quantifiable amount of embodied CO ₂ that is saved if a building is repaired and not dismantled. ⁷

The Cook mansion is exemplary for the adaptive reuse of existing houses as an alternative to demolition. In mid-2020 the restoration was completed and the house is now listed for sale for $2.5 million, and could potentially be used for residential or light commercial purposes. It has also been nominated for the National Register of Historic Places. ⁴ It is promising to see some decaying old houses revived and reused when so many Portland homes are demolished without regard to their historic nature.