Casey Abby Blog's: Haunted No More, Barnes Mansion Shines and Comes With a Cute Literary Backstory

Thursday 27 February 2020

Haunted No More, Barnes Mansion Shines and Comes With a Cute Literary Backstory

A mansion that beloved author Beverly Cleary once said was haunted is now available for $5 million. The large home on Klickitat Street in Portland, OR, was once an eyesore but is now a showplace—and it’s definitely not haunted.

Built in 1914, the three-level home fell into disrepair in the mid-20th century and was further damaged during a 1962 storm. That’s why Cleary mentioned it as haunted in several of her books. Fictional characters Ramona Quimby and her big sister Beezus lived on Klickitat Street, and they were very afraid of the imposing house. Many of their high jinks took place in this neighborhood.

“As most children do when they’re young, they think of [a neglected house] as a very scary, noninviting house,” says listing agent Tim Walters.

Cleary grew up on nearby Hancock Street, with Grant Park sitting between Hancock and Klickitat streets. The park features a Beverly Cleary sculpture garden, with bronze figures representing three of her fictional characters: Ramona, Henry Huggins, and Henry’s dog Ribsy.

Walters lives in the same neighborhood, in a home he bought from one of Cleary’s friends, he says. “I see it all day, every day, Klickitat Street and all of these different streets that she writes about.”

The Barnes mansion, named after original owner Frank C. Barnes, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on Sept. 1, 1983, prior to restoration work by the current owners.

“It’s pretty phenomenal. The house has its own sense of drama and personality when you walk through it,” says Walters. “It’s things you just don’t normally see every day, and yet it’s still very warm and livable, not cold at all. You feel immediately comfortable in your walk in the door.”

Barnes, the original owner, made his fortune in the salmon industry, like many others during his time.

“Fishing and lumber are where our income was derived from when Portland was settled and was pretty much the economy up to the early ’80s or late ’70s,” Walters explains.

Barnes built the 9,830-square-foot home in the Alameda-Beaumont area using fine materials.

“Some of the original wallpaper is still in the house in the living room,” Walters says. “We had it confirmed with a wallpaper historian, that it indeed is the original wallpaper.”

Living room with original wallpaper
Spencer Redford

There’s also mahogany wood and stained-glass windows throughout.

“They are just beautiful. They’re really well-preserved and have been restored,” Walters adds.

Wood floors and paneling and stained-glass windows
Spencer Redford

The current owners bought the home in 1997, after one of them grew up next door to it.

“Isn’t that cool? She always wanted to live in that house, and they have taken care of it—above and beyond,” Walters says. “They have preserved it and restored it to what it was originally. They had exterior railings and millwork done to what it was originally, and they saved a couple of bad pieces to demonstrate how it was copied and reproduced.”

There are seven bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, and plenty of other rooms, including a former ballroom.

“It’s been converted to more of a TV room,” Walters explains. “It was a lower-level ballroom. … It was brilliant to put it down there because it doesn’t get hot. You know, on the third floor they used to just roast [during a party].”

The current owners are selling the mansion because they want to downsize. Walters says there has been a lot of interest in the home.

“I’m sure it will be a family because of the size of the house, but anybody can buy it.” Except Ramona Quimby.