SOLD! Historic Cragmont House in Cascade Locks

Historic Home | SOLD

Number of Units: 5
Unit Mix: 2bed/1 bath & 1bed/1 bath
Year Built: 1906
Lot Size:
Website:
MLS #: 15097282

Historic Cragmont House –

25 Room Historic Mansion Converted to Apartments

Watch this video to learn more about the Cragmont House

The House:  Historic Cragmont House, also known as The Clark Thompson House, sits on a terrace overlooking the Columbia River, immediately east of downtown Cascade Locks.  The house was constructed in 1906 by architect, P.M. Hall-Lewis, commissioned by Jessie & Clark Thompson.  The three story home was originally built with 25 rooms and the integrity of the exterior of the house is retained almost in its entirety.

Cragmont reflects the essence of the Arts and Crafts style.  The stained board and batten wainscoting, exposed ceiling beams, wood floors, stained, simple 9.5 inch base boards, and built in furniture.

The Historic Cragmont House was designed with a library, study, living room, dining room, 10 bedrooms, 10 fireplaces, and 4 bathrooms, along with a nursery, school room and large play area on the third floor.  Douglas fir floor boards were used throughout the main living areas.  The walls are made of lath and plaster.

The Apartments: In 1951, the house was adapted into five apartments after having been used for years as a hotel and boarding house.  Despite the adaptation, the house still maintains most of its original character.  The reconfiguration to apartment use was accomplished by the insertion of new partitions, rather than removal of existing structures.  The most significant interior alteration was the removal of the living room chimney piece and corresponding fireplaces on the second and third floors.

There are two apartments on either side of the entrance and stairway on the main level, and three apartments upstairs, each with its charm and functionality.  Apartment #1 retains the original dining room and kitchen as they were designed with fireplace and built-in bench and is separated from the study by an original, substantial pocket door.  All three original pocket doors have been retained.

The study is now used as a bedroom and the butler’s pantry serves as a bathroom.  Servants dining area is now a second bedroom and the cold room in the corner of the kitchen is used as a laundry and storage space.

Apartment #3 is one bedroom and features a 221 sq foot balcony overlooking the back grounds and has a small storage room where stairs used to come from the main floor.

In apartment #4, the former nursery is currently used as a bedroom, former linen closet has been converted to a bathroom and bedroom beyond has been remodeled into spacious kitchen. The former school room still features a fireplace with original mantel, though since refaced. The remaining bedroom is as originally planned.

Apartment #5 uses the former master bedroom as a front room. The walk in closet provides an open space with and original bedroom beyond. On the opposite side of the current front room, is a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.

The third floor has been closed off for some time, though originally contained two bedrooms for servants, a bathroom, storage areas and an extensive play area.

Location: Cascade Locks is a small town about 3 square miles in area, located in Hood River County, Oregon. The city took its name from a set of locks completed in 1914 to improve navigation past the Cascades Rapids of the Columbia River. Population of the town in 2013 was 1,148.

Cascade Locks is a favorite attraction for hikers because of the proximity to the Pacific Crest Trail, featured in the movie Wild. The Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler paddle boat brings an influx of visitors together with fishing, shopping, biking and special events on Thunder Island, accessible via a footbridge from the mainland.

Popular Skamania Lodge is just four miles away on the Washington side of the Columbia, accessed via the Bridge of the Gods, which was a natural dam that blocked the Columbia created by the Bonneville landslide Slide. The current Bridge of the Gods is a steel truss cantilever bridge that spans the Columbia River between Cascade Locks, Oregon and Washington State near North Bonneville. It is approximately 40 miles east of Portland, Oregon and 4 miles upriver from the Bonneville Dam. It is a toll bridge operated by the Port of Cascade Locks.

Given the size history and location of the Historic Cragmont House, possible future uses may include a, bed and breakfast, or convert third floor to owner residential unit. Small house adjacent to Cragmont at 305 NE Forest Lane is also for sale, though Cragmont buyer will have first right of refusal.

Growth: Cascade Locks has seen an increase in population of over 7% since 1990 and growth is projected to increase more than 4% 2012 to 2017. New industry opportunities are being discussed now.

Schools: Hood River County School District is made up of 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools and a high school located in Hood River to the East of Cascade Locks.

With its massive size and distinctive architecture, the Historic Cragmont House has long stood out as a local landmark.

The town of Cascade Locks is easily characterized as a boom town community surviving on the intermittent commercial improvements of the Columbia River and the more stable lumber and fishing industries.

In the early 1900’s, Cascade Locks became known to Portland residents as an ideal summer resort, due in part to the stunning scenery and in part to easy access via the Historic Columbia Gorge Highway. As the four lane section of the Columbia River Highway was built, Cascade Locks was once again quiet.