Lower Columbia Preservation Society advocates for the preservation of architecture and sites that contribute to the area's history, culture, livability and sense of place.
Our Mission
Lower Columbia Preservation Society advocates for the preservation of architecture and sites that contribute to the area's history, culture, livability and sense of place.
LCPS is based in Astoria, OR, the oldest European settlement west of the Mississippi, where homes built as early as 1854 still stand. Proudly proclaiming the history and architectural diversity of the last 150 years. A survey by the Historic Landmarks Commission indicates that at least 500 homes built in Astoria before 1900 are still in use as residences. These historic homes and buildings in the lower Columbia Basin are recognized as important assets in our community. They contribute to the area's history, architecture, culture, identity livability and sense of place. LCPS was created to help protect and preserve these historic structures.
We do this by:
LCPS is based in Astoria, OR, the oldest European settlement west of the Mississippi, where homes built as early as 1854 still stand. Proudly proclaiming the history and architectural diversity of the last 150 years. A survey by the Historic Landmarks Commission indicates that at least 500 homes built in Astoria before 1900 are still in use as residences. These historic homes and buildings in the lower Columbia Basin are recognized as important assets in our community. They contribute to the area's history, architecture, culture, identity livability and sense of place. LCPS was created to help protect and preserve these historic structures.
We do this by:
- Providing a network of support of owners of historic structures and for those sympathetic to preservation.
- Providing resources for owners of historic homes and buildings.
- Educating about the value of preservation, and sharing viable useful techniques and sound practices of renovation.
- Advocating for supportive government policy, legislation, regulation, programs, funding and incentives that benefit the regions historic home and buildings.
Lower Columbia Preservation society endowment
Lower Columbia Preservation Society’s endowment fund was set up in 2005, after the death of Tony Stramiello. Anthony Michael Stramiello Jr. was killed in a terrorist bombing in Iraq while working as a contractor. His family requested that donations be made to the Lower Columbia Preservation Society in Tony’s memory. When Tony’s widow Roberta passed away in 2007, she left a generous bequeathal to LCPS. This gift included several historic properties that Tony and Roberta had purchased and worked on together.
Roberta Stramiello’s estate was not completely settled until 2013. Grateful for having received the historic properties but short on cash to repair, restore and maintain them, LCPS took stock of the physical condition of the buildings and the overall financial position of the society. Between 2008 and 2013 LCPS had taken out loans to do emergency repairs to the properties and to pay mounting legal bills associated with settling the estate. Without cash at their disposal to properly restore the buildings, the board of directors voted to sell the properties.
Typically, an Endowment Fund is created to support an institution into perpetuity. These donated funds remain untouched and continue to grow over time, eventually allowing the named institution to use the interest to cover their operating expenses. An endowment allows an institution to focus on programs that are in alignment with its mission statement without the challenge of the many small fundraising events to keep the doors open.
Roberta Stramiello’s estate was not completely settled until 2013. Grateful for having received the historic properties but short on cash to repair, restore and maintain them, LCPS took stock of the physical condition of the buildings and the overall financial position of the society. Between 2008 and 2013 LCPS had taken out loans to do emergency repairs to the properties and to pay mounting legal bills associated with settling the estate. Without cash at their disposal to properly restore the buildings, the board of directors voted to sell the properties.
Typically, an Endowment Fund is created to support an institution into perpetuity. These donated funds remain untouched and continue to grow over time, eventually allowing the named institution to use the interest to cover their operating expenses. An endowment allows an institution to focus on programs that are in alignment with its mission statement without the challenge of the many small fundraising events to keep the doors open.
STAFF
Rachel Jensen -Executive Director
Rachel is a fourth-generation Astorian with strong ties to the local community. She holds a B.A. in American studies and visual arts from Marlboro College and a M.A. in historic preservation from Savannah College of Art and Design. Her interest in preservation began with the study of fine art conservation but quickly evolved into an interest in the preservation of architecture, cultural resource law, and historic preservation theory. Her thesis work included a survey of Astoria’s historic neighborhood grocery stores with a focus on residential conversions of commercial storefronts. Other local projects include compiling the historical research needed to designate the Buoy Beer Co. building as a local historic landmark, assisting in the inventory of over 400 properties within the Uppertown-Adair Historic District, and the remodel/restoration of an Astoria home built in 1895. In addition to preservation consultation, she has also been a local real estate broker, worked in property management and was membership coordinator for a historical association. She joined LCPS's board of directors in May of 2015 and was appointed president in Spring of 2016. In March 2018, she was hired as LCPS's first executive director.
Rachel is a fourth-generation Astorian with strong ties to the local community. She holds a B.A. in American studies and visual arts from Marlboro College and a M.A. in historic preservation from Savannah College of Art and Design. Her interest in preservation began with the study of fine art conservation but quickly evolved into an interest in the preservation of architecture, cultural resource law, and historic preservation theory. Her thesis work included a survey of Astoria’s historic neighborhood grocery stores with a focus on residential conversions of commercial storefronts. Other local projects include compiling the historical research needed to designate the Buoy Beer Co. building as a local historic landmark, assisting in the inventory of over 400 properties within the Uppertown-Adair Historic District, and the remodel/restoration of an Astoria home built in 1895. In addition to preservation consultation, she has also been a local real estate broker, worked in property management and was membership coordinator for a historical association. She joined LCPS's board of directors in May of 2015 and was appointed president in Spring of 2016. In March 2018, she was hired as LCPS's first executive director.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mike Sensenbach - President/Chair of the Board
Mike relocated to Astoria from Portland in 2015. Originally from Rochester, NY, he moved to Northeast Portland in 2004. In Portland he watched many of the smaller historic homes (similar to his own) be purchased and torn down by developers in order to build larger new homes or multiple “skinny-homes” on these lots. When deciding to relocate from Portland, the historic buildings and houses of Astoria were a major draw for him and his family. He has enthusiastically become a part of this organization and is passionate about protecting the Lower Columbia from facing a similar fate to what he had experienced in his old neighborhood.
Mike is a graduate of Syracuse University and works in the property insurance business. For over a decade, he handled property insurance claims that involved overseeing the restoration of homes and businesses after they had suffered a loss due to fire, water, weather, and other misfortunes. In addition to this experience, he renovated his circa 1900 house in Portland and is currently improving his Astoria mid-century home. He joined the board of directors the summer of 2016, was appointed vice-president in January 2017 and president in March 2018.
Serena Schlosser - Vice-President, Endowment Programs Coordinator, Events Committee
Serena and her husband currently live in and are restoring her great- great-grandparent’s house in Chinook, WA. Serena is a graduate of University of Oregon and earned her AAS degree in historic preservation from Clatsop Community College in 2011. She completed her capstone project on the reconstruction of the Brune Homstead (located in Columbia Hills State Park, ca. 1882). Serena has completed the coursework for a master’s degree in historic preservation from the University of Oregon, and is currently working on her thesis on the Fish Stations of Union Fisherman’s Cooperative Packing Company. While in the U of O graduate program, she served as the President of the Associated Students for Historic Preservation and as the student representative of the Historic Preservation League of Oregon (now Restore Oregon). In addition to restoring her family’s Chinook home, Serena has completed the National Register nomination and HAER documentation for Astoria Marine Construction Company and is currently working on the documentation (and hopefully preservation) of a horse-seining shed located in Chinook. Serena joined the board in May of 2015 and was appointed vice-president in March of 2018.
Wade Freitag - Treasurer
Moving to Astoria in 1978 fostered Wade's love of older homes and led him to study Architecture and Preservation at the University of Oregon. After college, Wade spent some time in the big city of San Francisco and eventually moved back to Oregon, settling in Portland in 1990. He founded Craftsman Design and Renovation in 1995, an award-winning Design/Build company specializing in residential renovation and restoration. He is currently President of the Oregon Remodeler Association, a member and past board member of the Architectural Heritage Center, member Restore Oregon and various historic and industry organizations. Married with one daughter, Wade enjoys traveling, hiking, music and drink, and spending time in his 1901 Seaview cottage here on the Lower Columbia.
Karen Parrott-Ralls - Secretary, Events Committee
Karen and her husband, Randy, own a construction/remodeling/property investment company. They love to bring historic properties that have been neglected back to life and to work on new construction projects that blend seamlessly into their surroundings. They are currently restoring the historic Norblad House on Grand Ave. in Astoria. Karen is excited to be on LCPS's board of directors and looks forward to planning events, seminars and workshops that celebrate and promote preservation. In 2017, she spearheaded and organized the resurgence of the Lower Columbia Preservation Society Garden Tour to great success.
Doug Thompson - Advocacy Committee Coordinator, Chair of Nominating Committee
Doug has been a resident Astorian for most of his adult life, save for a recent decade in Idaho. His volunteer civic involvement in Astoria spans four decades and includes past service on the Historic Buildings and Sites Commission (predecessor to the Astoria Historic Landmarks Commission), the Planning Commission and City Council representing Ward 3, which includes historic downtown.
During his years of civic involvement, Doug provided political leadership that resulted:
· Astoria’s first historic preservation ordinance
· Astoria’s first National Register District
· Astoria’s first design review standards
· Astoria’s Riverfront Revitalization Plan
· Astoria’s original Downtown Development Association (ADDA)
· Astoria’s Gateway Master Plan
· And the cessation of Astoria’s wholesale historic buildings demolition efforts
Doug is a graduate of Portland State University Business School, and as a commercial real estate broker, property manager and historic properties redeveloper, he was an early adopter of integrating green building methods in historic preservation projects. He held a hands-on principal role in the 20% Federal ITC (tax credit) restoration of the Historic Erickson House (1877) in Uppertown Astoria. Doug has been a long time member of LCPS’s advocacy committee and joined the board of directors in 2016.
Melanie Wiegardt
Melanie is a native of the coast and comes from a long line of oyster farmers on the Long Beach Peninsula. She moved from Astoria to Seattle right out of high school, but recently decided to relocate back to her home town. She has a bachelors degree in accounting and is currently working as a bookkeeper. In her spare time she enjoys hiking and camping, cooking, and settling in with a good book. She is looking forward to being a part of the preservation society as an opportunity to learn more about the local history and to be a part of the effort to preserve it for future generations.
Virginia Miller
Virginia is retired from engineering in Seattle and lives in an historic Seaview home built in 1900. She has been renovating the home with the original fir beadboard and 9 ft. ceilings. The house had belonged to the original Postmaster of Seaview and the proprietor of the local store. She is currently volunteering at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum collections. She is also active supporting activities of the Lake Quinault Water Company and has volunteered at the at the Quinault Ranger Station Olympic National Park assisting visitors to the area. Virginia is looking forward to helping develop seminars and workshops that support and promote historic preservation along the Lower Columbia.
Mike relocated to Astoria from Portland in 2015. Originally from Rochester, NY, he moved to Northeast Portland in 2004. In Portland he watched many of the smaller historic homes (similar to his own) be purchased and torn down by developers in order to build larger new homes or multiple “skinny-homes” on these lots. When deciding to relocate from Portland, the historic buildings and houses of Astoria were a major draw for him and his family. He has enthusiastically become a part of this organization and is passionate about protecting the Lower Columbia from facing a similar fate to what he had experienced in his old neighborhood.
Mike is a graduate of Syracuse University and works in the property insurance business. For over a decade, he handled property insurance claims that involved overseeing the restoration of homes and businesses after they had suffered a loss due to fire, water, weather, and other misfortunes. In addition to this experience, he renovated his circa 1900 house in Portland and is currently improving his Astoria mid-century home. He joined the board of directors the summer of 2016, was appointed vice-president in January 2017 and president in March 2018.
Serena Schlosser - Vice-President, Endowment Programs Coordinator, Events Committee
Serena and her husband currently live in and are restoring her great- great-grandparent’s house in Chinook, WA. Serena is a graduate of University of Oregon and earned her AAS degree in historic preservation from Clatsop Community College in 2011. She completed her capstone project on the reconstruction of the Brune Homstead (located in Columbia Hills State Park, ca. 1882). Serena has completed the coursework for a master’s degree in historic preservation from the University of Oregon, and is currently working on her thesis on the Fish Stations of Union Fisherman’s Cooperative Packing Company. While in the U of O graduate program, she served as the President of the Associated Students for Historic Preservation and as the student representative of the Historic Preservation League of Oregon (now Restore Oregon). In addition to restoring her family’s Chinook home, Serena has completed the National Register nomination and HAER documentation for Astoria Marine Construction Company and is currently working on the documentation (and hopefully preservation) of a horse-seining shed located in Chinook. Serena joined the board in May of 2015 and was appointed vice-president in March of 2018.
Wade Freitag - Treasurer
Moving to Astoria in 1978 fostered Wade's love of older homes and led him to study Architecture and Preservation at the University of Oregon. After college, Wade spent some time in the big city of San Francisco and eventually moved back to Oregon, settling in Portland in 1990. He founded Craftsman Design and Renovation in 1995, an award-winning Design/Build company specializing in residential renovation and restoration. He is currently President of the Oregon Remodeler Association, a member and past board member of the Architectural Heritage Center, member Restore Oregon and various historic and industry organizations. Married with one daughter, Wade enjoys traveling, hiking, music and drink, and spending time in his 1901 Seaview cottage here on the Lower Columbia.
Karen Parrott-Ralls - Secretary, Events Committee
Karen and her husband, Randy, own a construction/remodeling/property investment company. They love to bring historic properties that have been neglected back to life and to work on new construction projects that blend seamlessly into their surroundings. They are currently restoring the historic Norblad House on Grand Ave. in Astoria. Karen is excited to be on LCPS's board of directors and looks forward to planning events, seminars and workshops that celebrate and promote preservation. In 2017, she spearheaded and organized the resurgence of the Lower Columbia Preservation Society Garden Tour to great success.
Doug Thompson - Advocacy Committee Coordinator, Chair of Nominating Committee
Doug has been a resident Astorian for most of his adult life, save for a recent decade in Idaho. His volunteer civic involvement in Astoria spans four decades and includes past service on the Historic Buildings and Sites Commission (predecessor to the Astoria Historic Landmarks Commission), the Planning Commission and City Council representing Ward 3, which includes historic downtown.
During his years of civic involvement, Doug provided political leadership that resulted:
· Astoria’s first historic preservation ordinance
· Astoria’s first National Register District
· Astoria’s first design review standards
· Astoria’s Riverfront Revitalization Plan
· Astoria’s original Downtown Development Association (ADDA)
· Astoria’s Gateway Master Plan
· And the cessation of Astoria’s wholesale historic buildings demolition efforts
Doug is a graduate of Portland State University Business School, and as a commercial real estate broker, property manager and historic properties redeveloper, he was an early adopter of integrating green building methods in historic preservation projects. He held a hands-on principal role in the 20% Federal ITC (tax credit) restoration of the Historic Erickson House (1877) in Uppertown Astoria. Doug has been a long time member of LCPS’s advocacy committee and joined the board of directors in 2016.
Melanie Wiegardt
Melanie is a native of the coast and comes from a long line of oyster farmers on the Long Beach Peninsula. She moved from Astoria to Seattle right out of high school, but recently decided to relocate back to her home town. She has a bachelors degree in accounting and is currently working as a bookkeeper. In her spare time she enjoys hiking and camping, cooking, and settling in with a good book. She is looking forward to being a part of the preservation society as an opportunity to learn more about the local history and to be a part of the effort to preserve it for future generations.
Virginia Miller
Virginia is retired from engineering in Seattle and lives in an historic Seaview home built in 1900. She has been renovating the home with the original fir beadboard and 9 ft. ceilings. The house had belonged to the original Postmaster of Seaview and the proprietor of the local store. She is currently volunteering at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum collections. She is also active supporting activities of the Lake Quinault Water Company and has volunteered at the at the Quinault Ranger Station Olympic National Park assisting visitors to the area. Virginia is looking forward to helping develop seminars and workshops that support and promote historic preservation along the Lower Columbia.
We are currently looking for additional members for our board of directors.
Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering.
Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering.
Lower Columbia Preservation Society
389 12th Street
P.O. Box 1334
Astoria, OR 97103
389 12th Street
P.O. Box 1334
Astoria, OR 97103
Lower Columbia Preservation Society is an Oregon 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation
