Matthew Ginn's Portland Public Schools photo tour: Benson and Cleveland

Benson High (photo by Matthew Ginn/Homestead Images) 

Portland photographer Matthew Ginn of Homestead Images has been at it again, photographing local public schools as part of a continuing series for this blog.

Last month Ginn photographed Wilson and Roosevelt High Schools. This time the subject is Benson and Cleveland High Schools.

Benson High School is located at 546 NE 12th Avenue in the Kerns neighborhood of northeast Portland, just across I-84 from Lloyd Center. The 8.7 acre campus includes the original main classroom building, a work in the classical revival style completed in 1916, as well as a later gymnasium wing and auditorium wing that form the west part of the campus.

Here is some additional info gleaned from the Portland Public Schools website:

"These three buildings form a core group of two story brick-faced and concrete buildings that feature a balanced and symmetrical fenestration, classical revival style porticos and entryways of terra cotta, dentil cornice, brick panels, as well as bas relief panels and latticed transoms.  The interior entrance of the school is also noteworthy for the survival of distinctively Georgian-Revival wood paneling and pilasters."

 

Benson High (photos by Matthew Ginn/Homestead Images) 

"Approached from the west, the main school building is a concrete structure with a brick veneer laid in an all stretcher bond.  The main school building, auditorium, and old gymnasium retain character defining features of the Classical Revival style.  The exteriors of the these three buildings exhibit Classical Revival porticos and entryways decorated with terra cotta surrounds, dentil cornice, brick panels, as well as bas relief panels." 

"The visual focus of the principal elevation is the Doric order portico consisting of four fluted Doric order columns with plain block bases and an egg- and-dart echinus.  The plain frieze features a series of four panels that depict an open book, cog, and two torches.  The most impressive decoration found on the portico is found immediately above the three sets of double doors.  Each terra cotta panel depicts two bas relief student workers involved in various industrial arts activities.  In the plain frieze of the portico reads “Benson Polytechnic School Erected ANNO Domini MCMXVI.  The west elevation of the auditorium is nearly entirely sheathed with terra cotta embellished by a front balustrade with flanking staircases, four unfluted pilasters, and three double door entries with latticed transoms.  The frieze features four terra cotta bas relief heads.  The west elevation (front) of the original gymnasium wing did not receive as much architectural detailing as the auditorium wing; no entrances appear on the west side of the gymnasium wing."

Here is some info on the history of the building from the Portland Public Schools site:

"The first purpose built high school in Portland was the 1883 Portland High School built on Southwest Fourteenth and Morrison.  Before it was even built, the school was the subject of a serious debate among prominent citizens, including George Atkinson and Harvey Scott as to the necessity of a publicly funded high school. Despite the conflict, the 1883 “Transition Gothic” styled Portland High School established a high design standard for the city’s high schools as it was prominently featured in William Thayer’s Marvels of the New West in 1887.  Future high schools in the city would be built on a similarly grand scale."

 

Benson High (photos by Matthew Ginn/Homestead Images) 

"Beginning with the construction of the main building in 1916 and followed by an additional two units and two shop wings constructed between 1917 and 1930, Benson High School was part of a dramatic building program begun by Portland Public Schools in the early 1900s. Gradually influenced by John Dewey’s Progressive Education Movement, Portland Public Schools responded to changing city demographics and ideas concerning school safety, sanitation, and child centered instructional methods beginning in the first decade of the 1900s."

"The need for a school that specifically tailored to improving the skills of students with an aptitude for the industrial arts was also recognized during the early twentieth century by Superintendent Frank Rigler.  Rigler recognized the key to the economic and industrial growth of Portland was a skilled and educated workforce.  In 1908, the School of Trades was first opened in the old Atkinson School at 11th and Davis Streets. The school would be moved several times until in 1915, retired logging magnate Simon Benson donated $100,000 towards the construction of a school specifically dedicated to the industrial arts."

And now for Cleveland High, and some more info from the Portland Public Schools site:

"Beginning with the construction of the main building and attached auditorium in 1929, Grover Cleveland High School was part of a dramatic building program begun by Portland Public Schools in the early 1900s."

Cleveland High (photo by Matthew Ginn/Homestead Images) 

"Two of the most influential district architects during this period included Floyd Naramore and George Jones, who designed a majority of the schools from 1908 to 1932.  George H. Jones, the architect for the Grover Cleveland High School, was well versed in the design of school facilities through his role as the school district’s architect. Jones was born in Portland in 1887.  After attending Oregon State College for two years, George Jones obtained a degree in architecture in 1913.  Jones worked in New York for several years before serving with the U.S. Army Combat Engineers during World War I." 

"The idea for a creating a school of commerce began in 1919 when the school board created a school dedicated to developing the commercial acumen of students.  Originally housed in the Shattuck School, the school of commerce was soon overcrowded, poorly funded, and lacked the necessary equipment.  Eventually PPS planned to move the Clinton Kelly School to another location and use the former lot for the new high school."

"By 1923 parents of students declared the building that occupied the property as unsafe and demanded another school be built (Oregonian 6-4-1923).   It was not until 1928, however, until designs were prepared for the building by George Jones.  The former Clinton Kelly Elementary School was demolished and PPS began construction of the then-named Clinton Kelly School of Commerce in 1929 just as the Great Depression began.  The school opened in 1930 and was immediately inundated with students such that between 1930 and 1933 the school could not accept first year students (Powers and Corning 1937:  239). In 1948, the school was renamed Grover Cleveland High School after the former President."

 

Cleveland High (photo by Matthew Ginn/Homestead Images) 

"With all of the additions placed on the east side of the school and in spite of the replacement of its original windows, Grover Cleveland High School remains eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as it retains much of its historical integrity. Cleveland High School is also a good example of the Classical Revival style and retains much of its integrity."

Thanks very much to Matthew Ginn for providing the photos of Benson and Cleveland. The series will continue soon.

Comments

[dave]

It's glad that you are bringing attention to these wondering buildings. However, attention needs to be shined on the lack of maintenance of these buildings. My folks live near Wilson High School so I am up in the area a lot. It's appalling to drive by that high school and see what condition it's in. Seems to me that a bond measure needs to be passed or some stimulus money secured to renovate Portland's schools to bring them up modern standards and make sure they last another century.

[Ms. Sherman]

As usual I love your post. I'm sharing a link to PPS historic images to add a touch of history.

http://facilities.pps.k12.or.us/.docs/pg/11156

[alex]

no trip to washington-monroe?

[Kyle]

@dave - I agree. As the school board decides the future of the high school system, we may learn of more closures, butchering or just continued neglect. I was at Benson during the tech show this year, and it was pretty appalling the condition the school was in. I am all for a bond to be proposed, but I sure hope the district figures out how to be fiscally responsible.