The last one-family house on River Road in downtown Keizer will be auctioned off Sunday, Jan. 15.
Owned by the Porter family, the house is at 4885 River Rd. N. It was built in 1953 for an expanding family headed by Albert E. “Al” Porter Sr.
Al Porter, after serving as an Army medic in World War II, returned home to Keizer and opened his first cabinet shop. He married Hannah Converse in 1948. Their first child, Susan, was born in 1949. When Hannah Porter became pregnant with their son, Albert E, “Bert” Porter Jr., Al Porter bought a parcel of land and built a house.
In 1952, Al Porter wanted a larger house, where he could also have his cabinet business. He and his brothers, Earnie and Bob, began to build the house that is up for auction, and it was completed in December 1953. The property included an orchard.
“To this day, two of the original walnut trees from the orchard are still standing in the back yard,” Bert Porter said “They are approximately 90 to 100 years old.”
Al Porter worked out of his garage until he moved his shop in 1962 to Cherry Avenue. That building burned in 1989, and he moved the shop to Chemawa Road, where it remained until he retired in 2015.
“Al and Hannah lived in this lovely house for 68 years,” Bert Porter said, “and raised their family and enjoyed their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”
Al and Hannah Porter died in 2021.
The house has three bedrooms and one bathroom and is on 0.24 acre with room for gardening
The Jan. 15 auction will start at 1 p.m. Tim Stuart of Stuart Realty Group is the principal broker and will be the auctioneer. Terry Mangum of Berkshire Hathaway Realty is the Oregon broker.
Prospective buyers must register to bid. A $10,000 deposit is required on auction day from the successful bidder. A 2.5% commission will be paid to the broker whose prospect pays.
Closing will be on or before Thursday, Feb. 13, through Fidelity National Title Co., Salem.
The suggested starting bid is $200,000.