This page is dedicated to a specific model of house that is proudly represented in this subset of the Friendly Neighborhood. It is a modern, ranch-styled, tract house built with mid century post and beam construction. An open floorplan, vaulted ceilings, and effective use of glass all typify this "Eugene Eichler". The Ellendale original phase modern ranch houses were constructed by Pacific Builders Incorporated. Johnson's Eugene-Springfield Lane County Directory for 1956 lists an office for Pacific Builders Incorporated at 2355 Chambers. John Baker is cited as manager and president, Donna Baker as vice president and John Leahy as secretary. The 1957 Eugene-Springfield Telephone Directory lists the address for Pacific Builders Incorporated at 1060 W 25th Avenue. There is no listing for Pacific Builders for the years 1955 or 1958 so it's possible the company was not in operation long. A total of 53 houses in this style have been identified. The original Ellendale development includes 34 and the Storey development includes 15. A final 4 were built in the nearby Adamsdale development. The houses are mostly situated at 90 degrees to one another. At least two homes, located on opposite ends of the development, were placed on a slight diagonal, perhaps to provide a more dramatic approach. Perhaps these were model homes? Inside, the floorplans are standard; a vaulted entry allows access to the center of the house for immediate, direct flow to any room. A slim, vertical pane of glass by the front door helps brighten the entry. The living room and pass-through kitchen are evident to one side and access to the bathroom and bedrooms to the other. Directly ahead, a glass clerestory window allows light to pass from the entry into the middle bedroom/den and vice versa. This use of above eye-level glass also helps maintain privacy. Kitchens are "galley" in style, with 3/4 high walls allowing more flow of indirect light. Glass sliding doors are evident on whichever wall shares the backyard. Most, if not all, of the houses constructed in the Ellendale Original Phase are 3-bedroom units. More research on this matter is required. The majority of these homes feature a single bathroom. However a Register Guard newspaper advertisement for "Ellendale Homes" (dated Sunday, January 22nd, 1956) states "some have double garages and 2 baths". I have not yet had the opportunity to document any two-bath homes. The relationship of the house to a car is evident by the variety of house to garage/carport configurations. Many of the homes feature simple carports on one side. Other houses are equipped with either a small or a large "double" garage. The double garage features a flat roof. Another configuration extends the length of the house to accomodate a carport or garage. Still other houses appear to offer no vehicle accomodation at all.

	Ellendale version "A" Small garage, carport, or converted carport Although based on a single house plan, variations exists from one house to another; in particular, the designation of carport versus garage. A larger garage, with a flat roof, was an option. Some houses had neither carport nor garage. Additionally, there are differences in the use of the distinctive windows. Some houses have this glass feature on both ends, while some have it only on one. Still others do not have this feature at all. Above-eye-level glass is also used in the garage.
	Ellendale version "A" floorplan
	Typical dining and living space.
	Ellendale version "B" (90 degree alternate) Small garage, carport, or converted carport.
	Ellendale version "B" floorplan (90 degree alternate)
	Typical dining and living space. Note the original 3/4 high kitchen wall at extreme left.
	Opposite angle of living room. (Note: the lower window location is original, however the style of the window is not).
	Ellendale version "C". Extended, rectangular house plan with "in-line" carport or garage.
	Ellendale version "C" floorplan.
	Ellendale with double garage.
	Ellendale with small garage.
	Interior of small garage. Note the glass detail above the garage door.
	Opposite angle of small garage. The door to the dining room and kitchen is located on the left. The hot water heater "closet" center of the image.
	Typical kitchen. Note the 3/4 high walls.
	Typical kitchen
	Typical kitchen.
	Typical kitchen.

These houses embody design elements and proportions reminiscient of Cliff May Ranchos. The architect/designer of the house is unknown. If you have any information, please contact info@eugenemodern.org The nine additional subdivisions built in Ellendale include houses that are more traditional than their modern, original-phase counterparts. That being said, a minority of other mid century modern-styled houses of varying configurations exist throughout the neighborhood.