Built in 1898 by Patrick and Jane Hughes.
In 1868, Patrick and Jane Hughes bought 80 acres of bottomland near the mouth of the Sixes river by Cape Blanco and started what became a land and dairy empire. They bought adjacent acreage, cleared land, and added buildings to the farm as needed: most notably a creamery and dairy barn.
In 1898, after 30 years of living in the old farm house, Patrick and Jane built what is now known as the Historic Hughes House. The farm house is a two-story, eleven room structure built of 2x8 old-growth Port Orford cedar that covers more than 3,000 square feet and featured running water upstairs and down, gas lights, and a built in cast iron wood stove with an oven, a warming oven, and a water heater.
The front parlor was the most significant room of a Victorian home and the Hughes House reflects the wealthy status of the Hughes family with their choice of a fireplace with a shallow firebox that was designed to burn coal rather than cheaper more abundant firewood. The house contains a chapel with the original alter and a hand-painted ceiling, and a men’s parlor. The men's parlor was well-used and simply furnished, It was here that the men retired at the end of the work day to catch up on bookwork and reading. The central focus of the room is a massive wood-burning fireplace, making it one of the warmest rooms in the house.
It was originally constructed for a mere $3,800. It is estimated that it would cost more than $2,000,000 to build today.
If you take the tour you will experience the lifestyle enjoyed by one of the most successful pioneer families in Port Orford. You’ll learn about the farming, mining, and housekeeping practices of that era.
The photos below were taken at Christmas time 2008. Each year community organizations and businesses take responsibility for decorating each of the rooms in the Hughes House for Christmas.
This is the Victorian parlor.
Coal Burning Fireplace
Sewing Room
Chapel with hand-painted ceiling.
Men's Parlor
Fireplace in Men's Parlor
Kitchen
Wood-burning cook stove with oven, warming oven, and hot water heater.
Wooden tub ringer washing machine.
Dining Room adjacent to kitchen and pantry
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