Reception at the Underwood Home

This Winter Studio photo was taken in the front parlor of the Underwood house in the early 1890's and shows a carefully posed group of early Eugene "elite" attending a musical reception. The interiors of this beautiful mansion were just as exuberantly appointed as its grand exterior.

Downtown from Skinners Butte circa 1890

This great shot shows plainly just how enormous the Underwood House on Willamette Street was. As noted in an earlier post the house stood for many years on the east side of Willamette near the middle of the block across from the current downtown post office. Note the large main block of the house fronting Willamette and then the service wing behind which connected to the carriage house in the back. Connected barns and carriages houses were usually features in New England homes where in-climate weather made getting to out buildings treacherous in the winter months.

James and Margaret Underwood House

This towered Italianate Villa, once known as Eugene's most beautiful home, stood at 419 Willamette (later 543 Willamette) on the east side of the street between 5th and 6th, approximately in the middle of the block across from the Post office. James Benson Underwood, a native of New York, came to Eugene in 1860 where he studied law and was eventually admitted to the Bar. He also served as the President of the first City Council (Eugene Skinner being Mayor) and as a representative to the state legislator. He later was employed as a U.S. Postal agent for Oregon and Idaho pursuing mail thieves. He evidently made a good living as he was not only able to build this imposing Mansion in 1878 but also employ a Chinese Houseboy named "Wah" and a gardener/coachman/laborer named Nels Hanson. James and Margaret Charles Underwood had at least six children; Mae, Lydia, Matilda, Charles, Anna and Amelia. Sadly Mr. Underwood passed away in 1882 at age 44 due to the effects of "strong drink" having lost much of his fortune. Mrs. Underwood was only able to hold onto the house by turning it into a boarding house for U of O students. Mr. Underwood is buried in the Masonic Cemetery along with his daughter Lydia.