Schoolhouse
Electric Co.
Breathes Retail Life back into “Lost” American Lighting
Classics
For
50 years a non-descript concrete wall shrouded the original
beauty of the circa 1884 Cully Building on Southeast Martin
Luther King Junior Boulevard and Oak Street. In the spring of
2002, long time eastside resident, Brian Faherty, purchased
the building from Portland staple Miller Paint Co. and began
an extensive storefront restoration to house his start-up residential/commercial
period lighting company — Schoolhouse Electric Co.
After years
of research, Brian’s desire to start a period lighting
company became a reality following the purchase of an extensive
collection of cast iron moulds used in the crafting of “schoolhouse”
and other uniquely designed glass shades that have been out
of production for 50 — 75 years.
Between
1900 and 1950, these shades were widely used in private residences
and institutional settings including schools, galleries, and
libraries. Originally produced in hundreds of designs and sizes,
they were a popular choice of designers, architects and homeowners
alike. But by the 1960’s only a handful of original shade
designs remained in production.
From the
original moulds Brian “rediscovered”, Schoolhouse
Electric Co. has brought back these forgotten classics and commissioned
American glass artisans to manufacturer them once again in a
full assortment of styles, sizes and colors. To compliment the
shades, solid brass fixtures have been designed and handcrafted
to reflect the historical accuracy of the original styles.
With
a growing resurgence in historically appropriate restoration
of residential and commercial structures in Portland, the time
has come for these classics to be reborn.
Schoolhouse
Electric Co. is now open and returns to Portland a bygone era
of timeless classic design — both the structure and the
distinct fixtures it holds within.
Schoolhouse
Electric Company is a manufacturer of period lighting fixtures
and glass shades who produce over 50 hand-crafted, American-made,
solid brass lighting fixtures in multiple finishes and exclusively
offer over 100 glass shades that have been out of production
and unavailable for over fifty years.
For further
information, please contact Michelle Steinback at (503) 230-7113
ext. 101. Schoolhouse Electric Company is located at 330 SE
Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. For a free catalog log on to www.schoolhouseelectric.com.
Web
Pick
www.gamblehouse.org
The Gamble
House located in Pasadena, Ca. is a great example of Arts &
Crafts architecture. Designed by the brothers Greene & Greene.
This site offers a Virtual Tour of the home inside and out,
other photographs, history on the architects, and original owner
David Berry Gamble a second generation member of the Procter
and Gamble Co. Finished in 1910 with it’s custom furniture
this is a must site to visit. |
