Washburne
Historic District
Springfield's settlement
began in the early 1850s. The first known business was a ferry operated
by William Stevens and George Armitage. Elias Briggs filed a donation
land claim in 1852 in the Washburne neighborhood area. Briggs, his
brother Issac and two partners dug the four mile mill race and erected
the city's first gristmill and sawmill. The City of Springfield
was named for a natural spring on Elias Briggs' property and was
incorporated in 1885. The Washburne Historic District is listed
on the National Register of
Historic Places.
The Historic District was established in 1985 and is named for
C.W. Washburne who was a prominent banker and mill owner in Springfield.
He was the owner and operator of Lane County's most successful
grist mills. The District is a well preserved example of an early
working class neighborhood. The age of the buildings in the neighborhood
span from the 1890s up through the 1940s. The District is a geographically
bounded area encompassing approximately 33 city blocks and is
located north of the City of Springfield's business district.
The majority of the District's 128 contributing residences can
be classified as either Bungalow, Mill Cottage, Traditional Box,
or Homestead style houses.
Ebbert
Memorial United Methodist Church.
Photo:
Courtesy Springfield Museum.
The
Springfield Millrace.
Photo: Courtesy Springfield Museum. 
Using
the links below, you may download a copy of the "Washburne Historic
District Guidelines." The purpose of the "Washburne Historic Guidelines"
is to give residents of the neighborhood suggestions for restoring
rehabilitating and maintaining their homes. The intent of the "Guidelines"
is to enrich the development of this valuable historic neighborhood,
encourage respectful rehabilitation and aid in the understanding
of its role in the history and development of the City
of Springfield. The approach taken advocates the retention of
unique features, repair of original details and, when necessary,
replacement with in-kind materials similar to the original.
By providing detailed descriptions of general
stylistic, structural and architectural elements within the District,
residents can better understand the relationship of their home to
the neighborhood and its individual historical significance. The
booklet is intended to provide specific information in regard to
available construction options that would be architecturally consistent
with a home's aesthetic:
Washburne
Historic District: A Walking Tour
Click on any of the numbers on the walking tour
map below to find out additional information about those homes in
the Washburne Historic District.
