First Presbyterian Church, Bend Address:   157 NW FranklinAvenue, Bend, OR. Year Built:  1912-1913 Architect:  Fred Fodson Builder:  Torkel Swanson Landmark Status:  Local Landmark Construction of the First Presbyterian Church of Bend began in the summer of 1912. By the time of the At the cornerstone laying ceremony on September 18, 1912 the foundation for the church had already been completed. Revend I.I. Gorby stated that "It is was churches ambition to have an edifice that will not only care for the needs of Bend today but that also will be a credit to the town for the next decade". Like many buildings of its era, church members laid a small time capsule in the cornerstone of the church. Inside was a membership list of various local chapters of fraternal organizations, a list of business in Bend, a 1912 issue of the Bend Bulletin, and a testimonial by Wallace Sellers who had been instrumental in construction of the church. Architect Fred Frodeson designed the building with a kitchen, a ladies parlor, a library, a pastor’s study, and a Sunday school room along with the sanctuary space. Local contractor Torkel Swanson completed the stone work, while K.D. McKintosh completed the carpentry work for $2,450. When the 60 x 64 church was completed in July of 1913, it was hailed as the finest church building in Central Oregon and first to be built of stone. The cost by now had sky-rocked to $7,000. Land for the building was donated by the Bend Company and the exterior stone came from the company quarry. Some reports also indicate the Bend Company also financed the large stain glass window on the north facade. Early members of the church included some of Bend’s most influential people like Levi D. Weist, Dr. Urling Coe, A.C. Lucas, C.F. Benson, C.S. Hudson, and Clyde McKay. The church is classified as a one story, L-shape, wood frame building executed in the Craftsman style, although some reviews of the building have classified the building as Elizabethan or Tudor style due to the half timbering in the gable ends. The church has a bellcast gable roof with exposed rafter tails. A square steple rises on the northwest corner of the building and is covered on the exterior by 2" exposure shiplap siding. They belfry has a steep, hip roof where louvers now cover and open belfry. The church has a variety of ornate stain glass windows many of which contain a "Bend" symbol. The main structure of the church is dressed in tuff light tan stone with dark basalt stone quoins and lintels. The gable ends are stucco. The church was used by the First Presbyterian fellowship from its construction until the late 1950s. On February 8, 1982 a fire broke out in the church causing $250,000 in damages. Repair work to the interior and exterior was sensitive to the design of the original structure.

Landmarks Home Maps Tours Home Landmarks List Style Guide Architects Home Tours Church Buildings Tour City of Bend Tour Illustrations 1. Main Elevation, Circa 1996.