See inside eight historic private houses on the Irvington Home Tour: Find the Prohibition-era secret room

Take a three-dimensional, virtual tour of eight private Northeast Portland residences, each with a fascinating story, during the Irvington Historic District Home Tour fundraising event to benefit local schools and nonprofit groups serving youths and seniors.

People who donate ($10 or more; irvingtonpdx.com/home-tour) can view professional photographs and videos on a mobile phone, tablet or laptop through Nov. 30.

The century-old dwellings on the tour range in architectural style from a preserved Colonial Revival to an updated Prairie School-style house, a handsome Craftsman to a classic English cottage.

The in-person home tour was canceled in 2020 and will only be online in 2021 due the coronavirus pandemic.

“We’re excited to reimagine this tradition in highly interactive ways this year,” said event co-chair Jon Eaton. “Since 1967, this tour has been introducing people to the beauty and value that historic preservation brings to the city overall.”

Here are highlights of the carefully renovated residential properties on the Irvington Historic District Home Tour, which might inspire ticket buyers to restore an older home, update a kitchen or upgrade landscaping:

1907 John and Clara Stewart House: The Arts and Crafts-style house by architect J. Terry Wilding was part of a family compound with two other houses for the Stewarts’ grown sons.

Past the entrance to this house is the living room to the right and the dining room to the left. Open a double pocket door to continue to the the back hallway, which links to the kitchen, family room and stairway. Don’t miss: The stylish outdoor living spaces.

1909 John and Margaret Logan House: John Virginius Bennes, a second-generation architect from Chicago, designed this Prairie School-style house with strong horizontal lines, slab-like roof overhangs and other features of the style introduced by architects Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan.

The home on a double lot was restored and updated with contemporary fixtures, and each bedroom has a high-efficiency washer-dryer. Don’t miss: The original, neoclassical plaster ceiling in the living and dining rooms.

1910 August Olson House: The Arts and Crafts-inspired grand bungalow on a double, corner lot has clinker brick and river rock porch pillars and chimney.

Architect Raymond Hockenberry preferred to design in the Craftsman style on the east side of the Willamette River and Colonial Revival style on the west side. R. N. Hockenberry & Co. also conceived of the four-story Crater Lake National Park lodge.

Boarders rented rooms in the Olson house during the Depression era. In the 1990s, Portland preservationist Art DeMuro restored the structure, which is listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Don’t miss: The English pub in the finished basement.

1911 Edward and Margaret Murphy House: An early addition to the house on a double corner lot was designed by architect Joseph Jacobberger in his signature Arts and Crafts style.

The owners’ suite has a sitting room, marble-clad bathroom and a dressing room with vintage wallpaper on the ceiling. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the sunroom offer 270 degree views of the garden. Don’t miss: The dining room’s antique European chandelier, which burns candles.

1911 Loyal Kern House: The English Tudor Revival-style house with half-timbering on the facade was designed by architects Willard Toby and Clinton R. Lewthwaite. The interior of the house has Indonesian mahogany and a gas-electric pendant light as well as window latches, crystal cabinet knobs and other original hardware.

Fireplace bricks with iron-spotting came from the original owner’s Kern Clay Products company.

Stained glass decorates pocket doors, the built-in china cabinet and the six-paneled window on the stairway landing. Bathrooms on the second floor have mint-green wall tile.

Don’t miss: Prohibition-era storage areas hidden behind wood panels in the study plus a Hall’s Safe and Lock vault and suit of armor.

1914 Jacob and Sarah Creath House: The Colonial Revival-style house has pocket doors, crown molding and other woodwork befitting the original owner’s position as head of the Mallory Timber Company.

The three-level dwelling was designed by architect George Foote Dunham, who is best known for his plans for Christian Science churches.

The longtime owners of the Creath House restored the historic residence, which had been a rooming house.

Can’t miss: Patterned, floral and bird-motif wallpapers. Don’t miss: The home’s blueprints are displayed on a wall in the second-floor hall.

1921 Olaf and Matilda Munson House: A foursquare dwelling by builder Carl Lovegren has Prairie School features blended with Tuscan-like columns, Tudor-style arches and angular Craftsman corbels, creating “something for everyone,” say home tour organizers.

The Munsons owned the house until 1972. The small kitchen was enlarged by expanding into the former servants’ quarters and a back staircase area. The roof balcony has 180-degree, east-facing views. Don’t miss: The basement’s media room and shelf-lined Lego room.

1923 Alfred and Minnie Johnson House: The English cottage has a rolled-shingle roof as designed by architect Oscar Bergland. Inside, there are bifold French doors and once-stationary French doors made operable with cremone bolts.

A first floor hallway leads to a private in-law suite, with a fireplace, bathroom and large walk-in closet. The finished attic has a child’s bedroom with a built-in sleeping berth and window seat, and another bedroom with a bookshelf that pulls away to reveal a secret hiding space, one of several hidden nooks in the house.

Outside, there is a sunken media amphitheater near a fire pit. Don’t miss: The elevator to move firewood from the basement to the living room fireplace.

The Irvington Historic District Home Tour, which was started 54 years ago, funds Irvington Community Association’ Charitable Giving Program, which provides grants to local nonprofits and schools.

Over the decades, the tour has generated more than $400,000 in grants, say organizers.

These funds allowed Irvington Elementary School to acquire inclusive storybooks and provided tuition support at neighborhood preschools as well as aiding Meals on Wheels, Project Linkage transportation and a foot-care clinics at Grace Peck Terrace and Dahlke Manor public housing.

“Now more than ever, schools and social service agencies need crucial support of all kinds to serve growing and diverse populations,” Eaton said in a statement. “We’re honored to do our part and hope many people will join us in supporting their important missions by experiencing this year’s tour. We’ve made it extra special.”

— As told to Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman