Where time stands still and graciousness is a way of life.
The historic Victorian Belle Mansion was built in 1885 as a gift from David Cole to his wife, Amanda. Constructed of lumber milled entirely on the property, the original building cost came to $8,000, a large sum in those days.
Cole was a ship captain who later owned a chain of local hardware and lumber stores. The house is said to be one of the first in Portland to have running hot and cold water, central heating, interior electricity, and a windmill-powered water pump.
The house now holds historical artifacts from the 19th and early 20th centuries: antique furniture, art, vintage photographs, lithographs, and much more.
Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, the mansion has much of its original interiors, along with numerous Povey stained glass windows.
The Victorian Belle was a private home until the 1990’s, when it was converted into an event venue.
The Victorian Belle Mansion was featured in The Oregonian. This lovely piece perfectly illustrates the storied past of the Victorian Belle Mansion. From the article: "Historians believe the Cole House was the first Portland-area residence to have indoor electricity and hot-and-cold running water supplied by a windmill-powered water pump." Another first: Rooms were vented to a wood-burning stove to provide central heating. A voice-powered intercom, similar to tube systems found on ships, summoned servants.
