CAPT. GEORGE JEROME HOUSE c.1885 -- Statement of Significance: George Jerome, born in New York in 1823, was a Canemah riverboat pilot. He came to Oregon in 1852. He captained the sidewheeler "Willamet" around 1853 for $5-$6 a day, which was a good wage for the time, due to the shortage of men absent for the gold fields of California. The boat was too expensive to run, however, and too large for Willamette River traffic. It was brought below the Oregon City falls for use on the Portland-Astoria run, and then later taken to San Francisco and Sacramento in California. Jerome captained it when it was lined over the falls. The house is significant for its age, and for its possible connection with the Jerome family.
