Property Watch: A Stately Historic Home Overlooking the Willamette River

In 1906, when St. Johns was its own independent city before it merged with Portland, and the waterfront looked something like this, a man named P. H. Edlefsen built his grand house on a quarter-acre lot on a quiet stretch of North Willamette Boulevard. As the superintendent of St. Johns Waterworks & Lighting Company, Edlefsen frequently appeared in the St. Johns Review under a reminder to customers to pay for their hose water before use. Here, his name is stamped in the front stoop.

Flanked on the front and back with deep covered porches, the rear facade anchored by a cute tower, the house is more gracious than the original owner’s stern newspaper ads might suggest. Inside, much of the home’s original character remains, including original oak hardwood floors with mahogany inlay, large picture windows with beveled crystal and lead, and double French glass doors off the foyer.

In the living room, another glass door leads to the round tower room, which would have made for an excellent office, and still does, with its access to both the back porch and the main house. In the living room, it’s a sun-drenched scene with an elevated sunroom banked by the windows.

On the other side of the foyer, a dining room with built-ins and more leaded glass windows leads to an updated kitchen, complete with thoughtful detailing that ensures it fits with its historic surroundings. Things like the exposed hinge cabinets, which continue into the mudroom, and vintage-style lighting are paired with modern conveniences like the stainless-steel plumbed refrigerator and gas range.

The theme of old meets new continues throughout. Downstairs, find a well-appointed guest suite with exterior access, kitchenette and lounge, and bedroom and bathroom. As well as, should your guests feel productive, a canning kitchen.

Upstairs, there’s a full bathroom with period tile, as well as three bedrooms. The charming tower room has a walk-in closet and access to the flat rooftop, a great spot to take in the stunning sight of the St. Johns Bridge, built over two decades after this house went up. Feel free to walk over to nearby Cathedral Park, one of the best places in the city to watch the sunset, or do as Edlefsen would have done, and enjoy it right here.

• Address: 8305 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203
• Size: 4,223 square feet/4 bedroom/2.5 bath
• List Date: 8/6/2025  
• List Price: $1,075,000  
• Listing Agent: Lauren Hurley, Living Room Realty

Melissa Dalton is a freelance writer who has focused on Pacific Northwest design and lifestyle since 2008. Contact Dalton here. 

Editor’s Note: Portland Monthly’s “Property Watch” column takes a weekly look at an interesting home in Portland’s real estate market (with periodic ventures to the burbs and points beyond, for good measure). Got a home you think would work for this column? Get in touch at [email protected].