1314-1316 Monroe Street

DR. H.R. NEHRBUS HOUSE -- Statement of Significance: Dr. H.R. Nehrbus purchased this property in 1913 and is believed to have built the house the following year. He sold in 1915 to J.E. Boye, who sold within a month to Laurence Mautz. Laurence and Blanche Mautz lived at the house in 1916 and sold to Irving and Bertha Rau in 1920. Six years later, the property was purchased by Vern Cross, who owned it for the next 51 years and is likely responsible for the conversion of the house into duplex. Vern, a painter and Elva lived there with their children and took on a renter, Vern Salmon, in the 1950s. Tenants of the apartment during the 1950s and 60s including Gordon Nikolaus, Edwin and Alice Minster, Don and Janet Rosenthal, James Kenoig, Elmer and Lelia Barker and Norman Cooley.

This two-story Craftsman with channel drop=-siding has an ell plan and a poured concrete foundation. The wide eaves of the front gable roof is upheld by brackets. The soffits are beadboard. The brackets, frieze, and roof rake is echoed in the porch gable. A hood spans the gap between the two second story double-hung 1/1 wood windows. Lower story windows have aprons. It has rake board, corner boards, and bargeboards on the front elevation. The shingled porch spans most of the front elevation. Stained glass brightens the door light and upper sash of the front fixed window. Water table and cap skirts foundation. The south elevation bulges with a gable roof bay extension with brackets. The windows are 5/3, 5/4 and 2/3 fixed and casement. There is one small leaded glass window on the second story. The southern elevation has cantilevered balcony with shed roof and braces underneath. Four sets of three single paned casement windows are split two above and two below. These may be replacements. On the east elevation there appears to be a back porch which is closed in on the side. An attached garage was wedged under the front porch accessible directly to the sidewalk. Garage door has metal doors and flat roof.

This property is a locally designated historic site located within the McLoughlin Conservation District. Contact ocplanning@orcity.org for more information.