Historic Downtown Monmouth Preview

1

M.I. Building 109-113 Main Street E.

Built in 1902 for the Monmouth Improvement Company, this Italianate Style commercial building housed the post office from 1902-1928. The upper floor served as a meeting hall for the Woodmen of the World.

2

Mulkey Building 123 Main Street E.

Built in 1914, this commercial style building housed Mulkey’s Grocery for many years with a pool hall upstairs. Even though Monmouth was a dry town from 1859 through 2002, procedural mistakes allowed the Pool Hall to serve alcohol for half the year of 1935.

4

The Odd Fellows Hall c.1922

The Monmouth Odd Fellows Lodge was organized in 1891 and met in the former Polk County Bank at 295 Main St E. The group disbanded in 1897 after fire partially destroyed the building. They reorganized in 1908 and built the current Odd Fellows Lodge building in 1922. This prominently sited building is one of the remaining early 20th century commercial buildings in the Downtown.

5

Polk County Bank 295 Main Street E.

Built in 1889, the northern half was rebuilt in 1896 after a fire destroyed much of the downtown. It hosted the area’s first bank until 1922, and then served as the office of Monmouth’s weekly newspaper, the Monmouth Herald, until 1969. This Queen Anne Style commercial building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

6

A Historic Mural

Visit this Historic Monmouth mural completed in 2010 by local mural artists Roger and Kenny Cooke highlighting the history of Monmouth.

7

The Independence & Monmouth Railway Mural

View Monmouth's newest mural installed in 2022 by local mural artist, Eileen Hinckle, that further highlights the history of the I&M Railroad.

8

Ackerman House 421 Jackson Street E.

This early Bungalow Style home was built around 1911 for John H. Ackerman. He was President of the Oregon Normal School (now Western Oregon University) from 1911 through 1920. As President, Ackerman helped establish stable funding for the school to prevent a closure such as the one in 1909.

9

Strong House 391 Jackson Street E.

Built circa 1892, this house shows the Eastlake Stick Style of architecture. The house is named after Edward and Belle Strong who lived there for 42 years. The Strong House is included on the National Register of Historic Places.

10

The Last Train Carriage Step in Town

Witness the last carriage stop step for the I&M Railway at this location. Look for a concrete step near the sidewalk curb on the southside of Jackson Street, one block east of the Main Street Park Amphitheater.

11

Howell House 212 Knox Street N.

This Eastlake Stick Style home was built in 1891 by JohnHowell, a local builder who also built the Strong House. It was a boarding house for students at the Oregon Normal School (now Western Oregon University) from 1891-1984, hosting approximately 900 students. This house is included on the National Register of Historic Places.

12

Historical Railroad Interpretive Sign

Monmouth was home to two important railways in the late 1800s and early 1900s before the rise of the automobile. The Monmouth Historical Railroad Interpretive Sign includes fun facts about the Independence & Monmouth (I&M) Railway.

13

Community Evangelical Church 191 Monmouth Street N.

This Queen Anne Style building was built in 1891, and is the oldest surviving church in Monmouth. It was relocated to this site from the corner of Main St. and Hwy 99 in 1922. The church was reportedly moved on logs over a period of two weeks. The steeple was destroyed in the 1962 Columbus Day storm.

14

Monmouth Founder's Church

Originally constructed in 1877 as the Monmouth Christian Church, the church was built by the first group of pioneers to donate land for establishment of a townsite. It was constructed on the southwest corner of Monmouth and Church Streets. In 1893, the church was moved to its present location, after the State of Oregon took control of the college. Membership increased steadily over the years and by 1913 a larger building was needed. At this time, numerous additions were made, and the original building was greatly enlarged. In 1925, a parsonage was built on the adjacent lot to the north.