Great Gatsby! What a Party!

ARCIFORM • Jun 17, 2019

On Saturday, April 27, 2019, Anne and Richard De Wolf, owners of Portland-based design-build firm ARCIFORM, hosted a Great Gatsby-themed party in their fabulously restored 1904 historic mansion. The event was a benefit for the Lan Su Chinese Garden during their annual fundraiser, Under the Moonlight.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Isam White House, the De Wolf home is a stunning example of a Colonial Revival in Portland’s Alphabet Historic District.



Guests enjoyed live jazz by Mia Nicholson and her band, couture cocktails from 3 Doors Down, and hors d’oeuvres from Lechon.

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    Write your caption hereThe Isam White House glows at dusk.

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  • Preparations for the partygoers.

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    Preparations for the partygoers.


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    Lan Su’s Director of Horticulture Justin Blackwell (left) and Membership & Development Associate Brandon Lenzi (right)

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    Lan Su’s Director of Facilities Lynne Barrett and her brother

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    Partygoers enjoy hors d’oeuvres from Lechon

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    Henry F. Schwarz III and Susan L. Rinker

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    The dapperly dressed guests arrive.

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    Mia Nicholson and band.

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    A guest chats with host Richard De Wolf.

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    Richard and Anne De Wolf give guests a tour of their home.

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    A game of Jenga delighted guests of all ages.

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    A toasty fire lends a cozy ambiance to the sitting room.

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    Becky McVey

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    From left: Brandon Lenzi, Anna Truxes (Executive Administrator of Lan Su), Lynne Barrett, Anne and Richard De Wolf, Lisa James (Executive Director of Lan Su) and Justin Blackwell

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By Anne De Wolf 15 Sep, 2023
Since the easiest way to know the different styles is to understand the art, fashion, science, and industry of the times when they were built, you’ll also understand how Portland’s diverse architecture has told, and continues to tell, our collective story. History deepens experience. You’ll never see Portland through the same eyes again!
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The next time you’re in the Mt Tabor neighborhood, hiking in the park , picking up plants at Portland Nursery , or ordering take out from Ya Hala , make a detour and drive up SE Belmont Street between 55 th Avenue and 58 th . Better yet, park the car and take a stroll. In the middle of the long block proudly sits the Jacob H. and Etna M. Cook House , built in 1892-93 and looking as handsome as ever. This historic home has journeyed through thick and thin, and current owner Lyrin Murphy is the reason it’s so beautiful today. Originally built as a Victorian in 1892 for Alexander and Maria Warner, it was one of several Victorians with small farms and orchards at the base of Mt. Tabor. They sold the home in 1904 to Jacob H. Cook, a local businessman and lumberman, and his wife, Etna. In 1909, the Cooks completed a major renovation of the home, transforming it into the Neoclassical style we see today. This was a trend amongst socially elite Portlanders, drawn to less-fussy, more open Colonial Revival, Neoclassical, and Craftsman designs, perhaps inspired by travels and exhibits at the 1905 World’s Fair in Portland . They often entertained in their home, hosting dance parties, luncheons, club events, and out-of-town guests. Their large-scale remodel helped push the area into upper-class status in Portland. Some prominent exterior changes were adding the main façade’s massive portico with Tuscan columns, a full-width porch and 2 nd floor balcony, and a smaller balcony at the 3 rd floor.
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