The iconic Ladd Carriage House was built in 1883 by William Sargent Ladd (1826-1893) one of Portland’s pioneer citizens and its fifth mayor.

The elaborate building reflects Ladd’s respect and care of his horses and his commitment to the beautification of Portland and neighborhood he called home.

Designed by architect Joseph Sherwin in the English Stick Style, the first floor stabled horses and carriages, while the second housed coachmen’s quarters and the hayloft. Newspaper accounts characterized the building as an “expensive stable,” the construction cost of which was estimated at over $12,000.

The Italianate Ladd mansion and grounds stood across Broadway Avenue, occupying the entire block which is now the site of The Oregonian Building.

The Carriage House functioned as a stable until it was put up for sale in 1924 – a few years before the mansion itself was demolished.While other 19th century residential utility buildings disappeared, the open plan of the Carriage House enabled it to survive as a temporary home for a wide variety of Portland institutions. The Portland Civic Theater, the precursor to the Oregon School of Arts and Crafts, a temporary fight arena and the offices of Hoffman Construction Company have all resided within its walls.

From June 16, 2007 until October 25, 2008, the Ladd Carriage House sat in a parking lot on 10th and Columbia Streets owned by the Church of Christ Scientist, awaiting redevelopment of its historic block. It returned to its original site on October 25, 2008, and in subsequent months has undergone an exhaustive reconstruction and historic restoration funded by Opus Northwest, LLC and executed by Venerable Properties and their primary contractor Bremik Construction, based on restoration plans developed by Carleton Hart Architects.

The Carriage House was saved as the last surviving symbol of one of Portland’s most successful pioneer entrepreneurs, who gave generously of his time and vast fortune to help build Portland’s major civic institutions. William S. Ladd would have been pleased to see that the public spiritedness he exemplified lives on in Portland in the 21st Century, as evidenced by Opus Northwest’s decision to spare and restore this precious landmark.

CLICK HERE to view the website for “Friends of the Ladd Carriage House” representing historical preservation
at its best.