13300 Clackamas River Drive

WILLIAM LEWTHWAITE HOUSE c.1880 -- Statement of Significance: William Lewthwaite is the original owner of the subject property. He owned it until 1890 when it was sold to Gustav Friedrick. The property passed to Friedrick's daughter, Marie (Mrs. Henry Endres). In 1939 it was deeded to Henry Endres and has been in the family since that time. 

William Lewthwaite was the co-owner and manager of the paper mill at Park Place. The company was opened in 1868 and shortly thereafter reorganized as the Clackamas Paper Manufacturing Company. H.L. Pittock, G.T. Myers, D.W. Williams and William Lewthwaite were the stockholders. Lewthwaite was from a family of paper makers. He came from California and brought a number of Chinese laborers with him and housed them in a bunk house near his home. It is not known if that building is extant. When the paper mill operation relocated in Camas, Washington, Lewthwaite moved there to supervise operations. After 1889 the paper mill was converted to a furniture factory. 

Gustav Friedrick had worked at the Schindler Furniture Factory in Milwaukie until it closed in the mid-1880s. In 1888 Friedrick formed a partnership with Franck Busch, Sr., Joseph Witzig, William White and Frazier (first name unknown). After the flood of 1890 the partners dissolved their business. The 1916 Directory lists Friedrick as a cabinet maker, perhaps as sole proprietor. 

Friedrick married Frank Busch's sister. Endres started the winery after losing his job during the Depression. In 1984 the operation had about three acres of vineyards and three acres devoted to the winery. Eighteen varieties of grapes were grown and another three acres of orchards containing plums, prunes, cherries and apples were grown at the Endres' farmhouse, about eight miles from the winery. Rhubarb and loganberry wine were considered the family's specialties, but they also produced wine using raspberries, strawberries, plums, grapes and honey. The Endres business was one of five wineries in operation during the historic period in Clackams County. In 1984 the Endres Winery was the oldest family-owned winery in the state. It has since ceased operation. 

The Lewthwaite House is a good example of the Vernacular style. It may be the oldest dwelling in the Park Place area, after the Hiram Straight House. The exact date of construction is unknown, however architectural evidence would support a date of circa 1870; this is based on form and massing as well as siding type. Lap siding was generally out of favor by the mid-70s when dropped or shiplap was the norm. An historic photograph (dated 1905) indicates the house had a central, single-bay porch on the north (river side) elevation. This has since been replaced with a wrap-around type, that is now partially enclosed. It is believed that the porch was replaced during the Endres occupation. other changes more seriously compromise the physical integrity of the house. Apparently as a part of the conversion of the house to winery use a series of small buildings have been attached to the dwelling. Most of the attached buildings appear to date after the historic period.