Dielschneider Building

Dielschneider Building. The Dielschneider Building of 1859 is the third oldest brick commercial building in Portland, and it is one of the first buildings built in the year Oregon became a state. Originally two stories, a third story was added in 1877., Joseph Dielschneider built the structure and established his Novelty Iron and Brass Works at 71 and 79 Oak. After his death the foundry continued in 79 Oak, and 71 Oak was rented., One of the first tenants was Oregon Iron Works, established in the building in 1863 by the then-governor of the state, A.C. Gibbs. The “OIW” casting marks can be found on the Dielschneider Building’s iron threshold plates, which , judging by the way the bricks were cut on either side of the threshold , were added during the tenancy of the Oregon Iron Works. These are likely the oldest in-place pieces of cast iron in Portland., Joseph Dielschneider’s widow sold the building in 1872 to Thomas A. Savier, owner of a building adjacent to the rear of the Dielschneider Building. The third floor addition was completed shortly after Savier’s death in 1876. At the same time the building was extended to the north, where it was connected to Savier’s building. The two structures were used as one through subsequent ownership, until the Savier Building was torn down in 1939., In addition to the iron foundry, the building has also housed a stove works, a machine shop and warehousing. It was extensively renovated in 1977 into two floors of offices with an atrium, two apartments on the third floor, and a penthouse with roof garden.