Directly north of the Henry L. Corbett property from yesterday’s post was the Elliot R. Corbett house at 243 W. Park (now 1119 SW Park). The two brothers’ properties shared the block bounded by SW Park and 10th, Main and Madison Streets. Both would build homes in the Dunthorpe area around 1915 and the Masonic Temple building would replace these two homes.
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Vintage Portland 
What i find amazing is what a short time some of these very elaborate and large houses were actually in use. What a waste of time and money, not to mention the loss of the beautiful old houses.
I’ve done a little personal research on just that subject Roxanne. When I see pictures of some of these great vanished spaces I feel robbed, because I will never experience them in person, at least until they build time machines. 😉
These are the reasons I believe the great houses, mansions, and mini-palaces vanished-
1. The development of the electric streetcar(and interurbans) suddenly made it practical to live more than a couple of miles from the downtown hub. Business concerns of all types, and entire families could live miles from Front Street. Real Estate exploded! Population expanded east and west from the river.
2. Politicians were motivated by dreams of turning Portland into the Metropolis of the Northwest. They threw “The Great Extravaganza” to make the World sit up and take notice. A few strokes of the pen could change any existing zoning to accommodate more apartment houses and
businesses.
3. Sometimes the fortune, or income died with the builder. The heirs, with little more than property, and a large, and expensive to maintain house, were motivated to sell, or turn their inheritance into income property.
4. These residences had a huge footprint on the block on which they stood, which hindered development and infilling. Many,much smaller Victorian houses persisted until the ’60s urban renewal-freeway building fervor.
5. The houses were dated, quaint, or ugly, at least to the eyes of a new generation. Houses of that era were built using balloon-framing, which has no fire stops, which made the houses especially drafty and prone to fire danger.
The cost of keeping up a mansion and the prospect of having to upgrade wiring and plumbing could be too much for cash strapped heirs.
I absolutely love the detailing on many of these old houses, but I’d hate to have to paint ’em.
None of these reasons make me feel better about these lost treasures.
Feel free to add to this list if you can think of other reasons.
Good perspective and insights, Edmund. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Who was Pvt. Elliot R Corbett ll
Who was Pvt. Elliot R Corbett ll, killed in action 1-9-44
In reply to Bil Says, and Bill Graham; I’ve found the following links, one was written by a niece of Pvt. Elliot R Corbett ll-
http://www.scmorgan.com/2010/11/183.html
The second link is to findagrave.com and has a picture of Pvt. Corbett’s final resting place.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=47974714
HTH
Chris Leenaars, age 50, of the Netherlands has “adopted” the grave of Elloitt R. Corbett ll. In the town of Margraten. He refers to Mr. Corbett as one of the “Liberators” He was information or Corbett
I found about the pard and sent this HTH post to him.
His post can be found on Trip Advisor’s Luxemburg forum.
Chrisleenars@telfort.nl
He has not yet responded to me
Thanks
Bill Graham
Hello everyone and especially Bill Graham,
Indeed I’ve adopted the grave of Elliot R Corbett II. If anyone has information or pictures you may contact me by: chrisleenaars@telfort.nl
I’m very sorry if i didn’t response to anyone. My emailaddress has been changed for quit à time. So Please contact me at: chrisleenaars@ziggo.nl