When no less an authority than This Old House dubs Baker City as one of the "Best Old House Neighborhoods in The West," residents and wannabees take notice. The reason for this accolade? Most homes in the city were constructed between the 1890s and 1920s -- the prime years of the Gold Rush days. The discovery of gold in the surrounding hills and mountains is what increased the population of Baker City, which started with only three cabins in 1864. Many miners earned enough to start building the city's much-loved historic homes, so that the population shot up to 1,200 in 1880, and 6,600 by 1900.
The beautiful old homes here boast such top-notch features as plank wall construction and tuff stone cladding in Queen Anne, Gothic Revival and Italianate Styles
When no less an authority than This Old House dubs Baker City as one of the "Best Old House Neighborhoods in The West," residents and wannabees take notice. The reason for this accolade? Most homes in the city were constructed between the 1890s and 1920s -- the prime years of the Gold Rush days. The discovery of gold in the surrounding hills and mountains is what increased the population of Baker City, which started with only three cabins in 1864. Many miners earned enough to start building the city's much-loved historic homes, so that the population shot up to 1,200 in 1880, and 6,600 by 1900.
The beautiful old homes here boast such top-notch features as plank wall construction and tuff stone cladding in Queen Anne, Gothic Revival and Italianate Styles. On top of these delights, residents also enjoy the outdoor beauty of surrounding mountains, nature trails and a tranquil rural environment.
The Apartments
If you love vintage, snagging a rental apt in Baker City can consummate that desire. The few apartment complexes are most likely to be in a historic building. Examples include the one-bedroom apartments on the second floor of the Shoemaker Building. Located within the Baker City historic district and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the structure was built from volcanic tuff in 1906 by a partner in the wholesale grocery and grain business.
Because the rental apartments are in historic structures, don't expect such modern-day amenities as swimming pools or sprinkler systems. For instance, the amenities in the furnished units of St. Elizabeth Towers comprise covered parking, fully-equipped kitchen, and a washer-dryer. Many of these perks exist because the units are considered condos that are just as likely to be rented by short-term vacationers or corporate execs, as by long-term residents.
If you want to live outside the historic district, such as close to Interstate 84 for faster commuting, or in newer digs, you must consider a house to rent. The majority of the properties within the city consist of single-family homes. The average dwelling was built in 1944. However, six percent of residences were erected in the 21st century with 30 percent dating from between 1960 and 1999. Modern offerings are more likely to have such niceties as skylights, insulation with high R-values, double-pane windows and attached garages.
Every single-family rental will differ from the next in floor plan, cost, and landlord expectations. Don't assume anything. Clarify, for example, whether you're responsible for exterior maintenance, such as mowing the lawn or pruning trees. Because you're dealing with individual owners, you may be able to negotiate many of the rules, such as paying a little extra to have the landlord take care of outside gardening.
Things To Do
You may have guessed that respect for the past, beyond your rental, permeates the town. Among the goodies in the 42 acres of history surrounding Main Street are the four-story, brick-clad Antlers Hotel, the reportedly haunted VFW Hall and the Art Deco Baker Tower with nine stories that make it the tallest building east of the Cascade Range in Oregon. The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center covers history outside the city through exhibits, workshops, and other activities.
The biggest event that honors the past is the Miners Jubilee, which features a parade, sidewalk sales, mining demonstrations and booths for vendors and food sellers. It's held on the third weekend of July.
You can enjoy the great outdoors by heading for the 2.3 million acres of nature located in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. The rugged scenery, which ranges from grassy flatlands to pine-covered hills, encourages land exploration on foot or by bike on the Old West Scenic Bikeway. Whitewater thrills are yours on the Snake River at the bottom of Hells Canyon, North America's deepest gorge.
