Doug Bales says he can round up 20 to 30 of his buddies just to sit on the porch of his 94-year old house in Eugene, shoot the breeze, and, of course, chat about the perks of old, bungalow style houses like his.
But Bales’ house may soon be receiving more than just the admiration of his buddies.
The process to place his house, and the Rice Apartments, on the National Register of Historic Places was initiated at a meeting of the Eugene Historic Review Board on Thursday.
“I think the program of listing on the National Register is intended to be honorific, so that the property owners help the citizens of Eugene to understand the buildings’ history,” said Ken Guzowski, a senior planner for city’s Historic Preservation Program.
The nominations must now be reviewed by the State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation on Feb. 24 in Salem, before finally being submitted to the Federal Preservation Office in Washington D.C.
There are currently a few hundred buildings in Eugene on the list, according to Guzowski, and many are in daily use.
On campus, Deady Hall, Johnson Hall, the Pioneer Cemetery, Villard Hall, the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art and the Knight Library are all listed, Guzowski said, but historic buildings also populate the neighborhoods that surround the University.
The two-story Rice Apartment building, built in 1936 for Clarence Rice and designed by an early local architect, Graham Smith, is located at 360 W. 13th Ave. The building has a wood frame architecture, a red brick exterior and it was intended as luxury lodging, making it an unusual example of Great Depression architecture, according to the nomination form.
Bales’ house, known as the Marx-Shaefers House, was built in 1912 and is recognized for its craftsmanship and architecture. The building, which features overhanging eaves, double hung wood windows, porches, sun rooms, and decorative woodworking, is located at 1718 Lincoln St. in the Jefferson neighborhood.
“The quality of the craftsmanship, it’s mind-blowing,” Bales said. “Many of the people who are interested in these kind of buildings come out of the woodwork.”
The house is a distinctive example of the craftsman bungalow style, particularly for its large scale, overall design and high-quality wood detailing, according to nomination documents.

“It’s awesome. It’s a great place to live and it’s a really solid house,” Bales said. “It’s one of the best built houses I have ever seen.”
Bales, 42, said because he grew up in the Southwest he had never seen a home like the Marx-Shaefers House until he attended a party there. When he saw the building for the first time, he knew he wanted to purchase it.
“I sent the owners cards to see if they ever wanted to sell it,” he said.
The home is being recognized for its architecture, but its history is also closely intertwined with some of the city’s early merchants.
The Shaefers family bought the house from its original owner George Marx, who was a barber in Eugene during the early 1900s. Charles Shaefers was a prominent businessman in Eugene and is associated with the Shaefers Building in downtown Eugene, which is also listed on the National Register.
Once a building is put on the list, the owners receive some benefits and also some restrictions, such as submitting a request to the city before demolishing any buildings on the property or making any substantial changes, Guzowski said.
The benefits of being on the Register are mainly for preservation and pride, said the Communication Coordinator at the State Historic Preservation Office, David Bogan.
“A lot of people do it just because they are interested in those types of properties,” he said.
The owner of a listed building is also eligible for tax incentives or grants, and the property value can be frozen for 15 years, which saves money on property taxes.
When Bales first purchased the house, it was not in good shape.
“It was trashed when I bought it,” he said.
The house was previously being rented by college students who didn’t take care of the property, he said. Bales invested $20,000 to fix it up.
Across the street, the owner of Cornucopia Restaurant and Catering, Nils Stark, said it is a lovely house.
“I think it adds to (the neighborhood) in an aesthetic way,” he said.
Bales noted that once a building is on the list, the owner must hold an open house each year for neighbors and other citizens to come check out the history, and he’s already been doing that by throwing a huge party each summer.
“It’s kind of a party house; it kind of always has been, and I plan to maintain that,” he said.
If Bales’ house gets added to the National Historic Register, he doesn’t expect the acknowledgment and prestige to go to his head.
“It’s pretty cool. I get to put a plaque up, but it’s not that big of a deal,” said Bales. “I’d like to see this thing preserved and well taken care of forever, and putting it on the national historic register will really ensure that it is.”
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