The Nielsen/Fromm Building

In recent years, there has been some confusion between this building and another similar structure known as Leneve Hall. Both buildings had a dance hall on the second floor and were, for a time, similar in appearance in old photos, although on opposite sides of the street. Both buildings also housed a drug store which added to the confusion. In 2010 a historical photo book was published, misidentifying the Nielsen/Fromm building as the Leneve Hall. Most long time residents remember it as the old Tucker’s Market, leaving the Nielsens and Fromms a forgotten past.
In 1902, Nels Nielsen bought 2 lots on 6th Street, which at the time was down town Port Orford. On one lot at 246 6th street, Nels built the Nielsen Building. Upstairs, the Nielsens held dances, performing arts events and exhibitions. The US Post office was located in the Nielsen building during this time period. Nels and Mary Nielsen also owned another store front on Jackson Street plus other lots and residences in Port Orford. The Nielsen’s were leaders in the Mercantile business in Port Orford and later Mary’s son, Charles Long, continued the tradition.
At some later date, John Fromm bought the building. It became known as the Fromm building. Brice Wagner, a relative of Fromm, recalled there was a basketball court upstairs as well as the dance hall.
In 1932, the Fromm Building was sold to the Marsh Family. It went through several modifications and stylistic changes, with a major rework of the facade by a master woodworker sometime in the late 1970’s.

Performance at the Nielsen Hall
Port Orford Tribune 1908

Leneve Drug Store/Hall, corner of 6th and Jackson, with Masonic Lodge on the second floor, ca. 1914. The Leneve store was originally in the Windsor/Bennet Hotel.
Photo: Pat Masterson Collection
Early announcement of a Grand Ball reportedly held at Leneve’s Hall in 1897. Leneve Hall was built in the 1890’s on the corner of Jackson and 6th. The Nielsen/Fromm Building was built after 1902

The Fromm Building is mentioned as being utilized as a drug store and dental office in 1927, which does make it even more confusing given the Leneve Hall was also a drug store during this same time period.

The Western Hotel and The Nielsen/Fromm Building, HWY 101 South c1930

This 1927 article describes the Gillings of Port Orford Hardware buying the vacant lot between the Dunham Store (the White Western Hotel) and the Fromm Building. The Gillings Hardware was on Jackson at this time. With the new Roosevelt Highway, they felt they should cash in on the new highway location, though they never went through with the plan.  The article below clearly identifies the building next to the Western Hotel as The Fromm Building. The Gillings never went through with plans to build and move their store to 6th Street.

LEFT SIDE: Western Hotel and The Fromm Building (with the “EAT” sign). RIGHT SIDE: Charlie Long Store. c1930. The group of buildings on the far right of the photo including the old Leneve Drug Store burned in a fire in 1934 (far right).
ABOVE: The Fromm Building in the 1940s when it housed the Phillips Food Market. There is now a building in between The Western Hotel and the Fromm Building.
ABOVE: Susie White Hotel (formerly The Western), Herzog Clothing, and the Fromm Building when it housed Tucker’s Market after the devastating Columbus Day Storm, October 1962.
The Fromm Building (second building from left) sporting a fresh new facade in the Late 1970s next to the Peg Leg Saloon which was the Marsh Texaco gas station and bus stop in the 30’s and 40s. Marsh remodeled and added on to the Merrick Bates House, which may be the oldest structure in Port Orford, built in 1879.

Visit the Port Orford Historic Buildings and Sites Database for more information on the The Nielsen/Fromm Building.

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2 Comments

  1. Bonnie Cox

    It’s really helpful to have the Nielsen/Fromm Building and the Leneve Building so succinctly identified. Thank you. I did notice that Brice Wagner’s name is misspelled in paragraph 2 and you might want to correct that.

    PS – You do not need to post my remark.

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