Old-East Medford’s “Lee-Janouch House” Listed in National Register of Historic Places

Medford, Oregon- The Lee-Janouch House in Old-East Medford has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The National Park Service, which maintains the register, approved the nomination in late January 2025 following a recommendation from Oregon’s State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation (SACHP) at its October 2024 meeting.

The house, located at the corner of East Main Street and Willamette Avenue, was built in 1934 by Isaac “Ike” Davidson, then the building superintendent at Crater Lake National Park. Davidson sourced the stone for the house’s distinctive masonry façade from Crater Lake and used National Park Service personnel, equipment, and construction techniques in the building’s construction. The design reflects the National Park Service Rustic, or Cascadian, style, which is more commonly associated with park structures rather than private residences.

Davidson’s involvement in the project later became the focus of a criminal investigation. He pleaded guilty to misuse of federal funds and served as the primary witness in a case against his supervisor, Crater Lake National Park Superintendent Elbert C. Solinsky. Both men were dismissed from the Park Service and served prison time following the trial, which received national attention.

The Lee-Janouch House incorporates several architectural features associated with Crater Lake National Park. Its exterior walls are built with the “Crater Lake wall treatment,” characterized by battered stone walls that taper inward from bottom to top. The Sinnott Memorial at Crater Lake, constructed in 1931 during Davidson’s tenure, was reportedly the first structure to use this technique. The house also features redwood board-and-batten siding in the gable ends and simple interior finishes consistent with the Rustic style.

Listing in the National Register of Historic Places provides certain benefits and protections. Properties listed in the register are recognized as historically significant at the national, state, or local level and are considered in the planning of federal or federally-assisted projects. Listed properties may qualify for federal tax benefits and historic preservation grants when funds are available. They are also eligible for leniency in meeting certain building code requirements.

Oregon law requires local governments to provide a baseline level of protection for properties listed in the National Register. However, decisions about how to implement those protections are left to local governments, which also have the authority to establish and regulate local historic districts and landmarks.

More information about the National Register and recent Oregon listings is available at oregonheritage.org under the “Designate” section.