Shelton McMurphey Johnson House

The Shelton McMurphey Johnson House, or Castle on the Hill, in Eugene, Oregon, United States, is a Victorian-era residence that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is named for the three families who called it home over the years. The house is now open for public tours and pre-arranged private events.

Shelton McMurphey Johnson House and Grounds
Shelton McMurphey Johnson House
Shelton McMurphey Johnson House is located in Eugene OR
Shelton McMurphey Johnson House
Shelton McMurphey Johnson House is located in Oregon
Shelton McMurphey Johnson House
Location303 Willamette St., Eugene, Oregon
Coordinates44°3′23″N 123°5′31.7″W
Built1888
ArchitectWalter D. Pugh, Nels Roney & W. H. Abrams[1]
Architectural styleQueen Anne
NRHP reference No.84003028[2]
Added to NRHPJune 14, 1984

Location

The house is located at 303 Willamette Street in Eugene, at the south side of Skinner Butte, overlooking the train depot and the city's downtown.[3]

History

The Queen Anne-styled house, built in 1888 for T. W. Shelton, was designed by Salem, Oregon architect Walter D. Pugh. It has undergone several modifications, including an enlargement in the 1910s for Robert McMurphey, and a remodel by Curtis and Eva Johnson in 1951 which restored its original turret. The house suffered two major fires, one during its initial construction, and a second one in 1950 during the Johnson remodel.

The house was deeded to Lane County by Eva Johnson in 1976. It is now owned by the City of Eugene and kept open to the public by Shelton McMurphey Johnson Associates, a nonprofit group.[4]

Architecture/Site

The Queen Anne-styled house is a recognizable city structure due to its high decorative carved wood, large circular tower, and green exterior paint and trim. The house is two stories tall with a basement and an attic with an estimated 54' x 37' dimension rectangular plan on 1.25 acres of land. The original property site included the house, a barn, and a carriage house, and a garage was added later on. Today, only the house and garage exist. New additions include a chicken coop, a greenhouse, and a dog kennel. Many of the original trees and undergrowth still exist on the property today.[5] The total cost of the original project in 1888 was $8,000. [3]

The site of the house in on Skinner Butte. Skinner Butte hold historic significance to the founding of Eugene, Oregon by the settler Eugene Skinner. This 100-acre area of land that emcompasses the butte provides many recreational activities such as hiking, rock climbing, and the Shelton McMurphy Johnson house museum. [6]

References
  1. "Site Information: Shelton McMurphey House & Grounds". Oregon Historic Sites Database. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Retrieved February 3, 2009.
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  3. "Shelton McMurphey Johnson House | National Trust for Historic Preservation". savingplaces.org. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
  4. "History".
  5. Service, National Register of Historic Places; United States. Department of the Interior; United States. National Park (1977-10-27). National Register of Historic Places inventory -- nomination form. United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service. OCLC 1349313183.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. "Skinner Butte Park". Eugene, OR. Retrieved 2022-11-19.
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