Rhododendrons in the rear parking elevator area of Executive Plaza.

In community spirit many of us would sit out on the balconies of the Executive Plaza to watch the fireworks launched at the O.S.U. docks near the Harrison Boulevard bridge in downtown Corvallis. 'Oft times my friends and I would watch at the riverfront as well.

More than anything I wanted to show this image as it exhibits the original linoleum floors which were installed in 1960 throughout the apartments. My understanding is the carpet was added to all units at the time Weston took over, or when the building transferred to apartments.

Garden corner outside of Number 4 (former Ruth Stenson apartment). There was challenge with the management of this particular building, our residents for the most part were seniors, and many had moved from large homes into this more simplistic lifestyle. As well, a majority were widowed women who had a lot of time on their hands, and not all of them got along with each other. The challenge for me was trying to help everyone adjust to this new lifestyle while making sure all residents of the building felt they had equal liberties and privacy. I feel, in regard to the longevity of the residents, the prestige of the property, and the fact some of the residents were former owners, this property was quite unique in the Weston Property holdings. Yet in spite of the subtle undercurrent with residents everyone was proud to be part of the Plaza and I was told often it was the best property in town for this level of resident.

Gardens next to the Stairway Tower outside of Apartment 8. 

My grandmother Irene McNeil (Chetwood) came and stayed with me for a few days in July of 1985 at the Plaza. I was to move to Arizona by 1987.

Rather blurry view of the kitchen and sitting area in the corner.

Not a very good night-shot but any record of the Executive Plaza from 35-years ago is worth viewing!

The entryway to my apartment #14 showed the rich hue of the larger slab doors. 

Even though a little over-exposed this chair provided a nice sitting area. I had it reupholstered at Chuck's Upholstery Shop after buying it from the estate of Dorris Pugsley (24). Dorris was a dear friend and long-term tenant, after she died, I purchased several items from her family. The chair is a channel back-- the cost of restoration was more than I expected!

As I remember it my friend (Leah Siroy) asked me if I would capture a picture of her Rhododendron on the north side patio of Number 8. 

Occasionally roll film stretches when it is wound which creates this effect. Never-the-less we have a record of the second floor breezeway looking south from my unit #14 in about 1983. The building was ideally designed with covered areas enabling one to never get wet-- unless running to your car in the rain!

Another image taken from a slide from the early 1980's. This was my view toward the northeast. The wonderful thing about the units was the large 22 x 8 feet expanses of glass. They really brightened up the living rooms!

Finally, after several years, I had more furniture as is exhibited with my dining room alcove. I also seemed to collect a lot of other unnecessary items! I restored all the woodwork in my apartment with lacquer thinner and polish. The units all had beautiful cabinets and woodwork. Manager's apartment #14 (captured from a slide about 1983).

The other side of the larger bedroom in #14 can be seen here. Even though this is captured from a slide-- and not the clearest photo-- I am very grateful I do have pictures of all the rooms in this overview of the Executive Plaza! 

Manager's Apartment #14. At one time I ended up with these really nice twin beds-- because I already had a bed in the spare bedroom, they ended up here. 

The Plaza roof was flat as seen here. Even so we really didn't have many leaks except occasionally around the chimney stacks. Notice the access skylight is open near the elevator. View toward north. 

The patios at the Plaza were quite roomy and perfect for a summer afternoon. Mine faced north so it was always a little chilly out there-- but I enjoyed the space never-the-less.

My grandmother Irene Florence Smith McNeil at my apartment 'the Plaza' for Christmas about 1984.

Although in slight disarray, this was the bathroom in my apartment #14. Each unit had 2 bedroom, 1 bath. I had a small washing machine on the left, and a dryer on the patio.

In the earliest days of my association with the Plaza I didn't have enough furniture to fill the space. This was an early Thanksgiving.

When I lived at the Plaza everyone took pride in the building, as example this planter box kept full of flowers outside of Esther Christenson's apartment #22. This is looking north toward my apartment #14. 

In the early '80's when I was manager of the Plaza I decorated the building as I could. Even when the camera is not on a tripod it looked magical. 

The Plaza at night is an attractive subject for photography even if one is just learning to capture low light images. In this image I think we see Janet Phillips' apartment lit up (center top) next to elevator tower.

The Plaza from Fillmore Avenue. Apartments shown are left to right, McBride #27, McConnell #26, Norvell #39. Center level left to right, Pollock #15, Reynolds #14 (Manager), Storage units (green reflection). Bottom level left to right, Tutty #3, Sparks #2, Kimmel #1. (Number one was the original Manager unit at Benton Manor.)

Rooftop view east toward Cannery Mall.

Never seen by tenants was this view to the southeast from the roof of the Plaza. (early 1980's). The large chimney on the (right) was for the incinerator. My Eldorado was the car next to the pickup in the parking lot, next to me was Connie Neugart's Olds, and in the center of the lot was Esther Christenson's beloved '64 Montclair.

At night the fringe business-residential zoning of the Plaza was charming. Here we see the view from the Plaza toward the east and the Cannery Mall. Notice the 1969 Olds Toronado to the (right). This belonged to a resident (Mrs. Huffaker). It was low-mile, and in wonderful condition-- what I would have done to owned it! 

At the Plaza I review a Weston Rental Agreement in about 1982. At just 22-years old I was the manager of this 39-unit-luxury building, as well as employed at Evans Products in a full-time job. Click for full image.

'My mother's family was McNeil'. Holiday with my grandmother at the Executive Plaza (Christmas 1984). My mother was adopted, later in life, I came to know her real mother, Irene Florence (Smith) McNeil, who was at one time married to my Scottish grandfather Brinton Wallace McNeil. I was the only grandchild from this 'early' life that ever sought out a relationship with her-- something she valued greatly.

Manager's Apartment (1042 Northwest Fillmore) #14

The Executive Plaza from the early to mid-1980's during my management. Some of the names changed and eventually I will find my Rolodex cards of the official list. I pulled this together from various sources. We 'were', we were the Plaza Family. Note: #34 (767 N.W. Fillmore) Elizabeth Jane Knapp. Please click for enlarged file.

Finally I have compiled the Executive Plaza street number and apartment number key. I still have not located the Tenant Roster that I have somewhere-- so I built this from other documents.

Velma Seat was an original unit owner at Benton Manor from 1960 until she passed away in 2003. Her apartment #37 had great west views and east from entrance and bedrooms. She was a wonderful tenant and I treasured her association with our building. I wanted to re-post her obituary as Velma, like so many at the Plaza, was retired from O.S.U.

Aug. 6, 1914 - Nov. 17, 2003, Velma M. Seat of Corvallis died Monday. She was 89. She was born in Johnson, Wash., to Lee and Bessie Maxwell. She received a degree in home economics from Washington State University. She married Archie Seat shortly after graduation. They later divorced. She began doing promotional work with Puget Sound Power and Light in Seattle. Later she did promotional work for the Frigidaire Corp. and then with the Carnation Co., becoming a familiar figure on television and in Seattle newspapers, where she provided information on how to use Carnation products.In 1958, she joined the Oregon State Extension Service as a Washington County Extension agent. After a few years, she transferred to OSU as a food marketing specialist in charge of promoting Oregon agricultural goods and providing support to producers in the development and marketing of their products. On a sabbatical in the mid-1960s, she obtained a master's degree in adult education from Columbia University. Upon returning to OSU she developed the first correspondence course in the state on food buying, followed by courses on meat, seafood, food safety and the world food situation. She also began the weekly market basket reports highlighting the best seasonal buys. She also produced articles and tapes for radio distribution. She served on a national committee on the world food situation and participated in development of a correspondence course on that topic. She received recognition of these services by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the American Agricultural Economists Association. After retiring from OSU in 1982, she became a professor emeritus of agriculture economics. She moved to the Regent Retirement Residence in April 1999. (We had a lot of O.S.U. faculty and alumni at the Plaza.)

Alice Norvell lived in Unit 39. This image is so poignant because Alice loved to go with me on day-trips to Portland, the coast, Mary's Peak, Bend, you name it. She was a dear friend and gladly did my management typing for the Plaza. She was a retired executive secretary, an advocate, and very active in the community. Whenever I invited her along, she would sit in the car and read a novel, in this case (at the coast) while I walked on the beach. For more information please see below:

http://www.findagrave.com/cg

There is much more information to peruse--

PLEASE click on 'Older Posts' (below right) 

Before I moved to Arizona Joe Weston was kind enough to send me this reference. Found the original yesterday (I had just been finding copies). I had lived at the Plaza for about 7 years.

Christmas Gathering at the Plaza! Merry Christmas!

One of our more interesting residents was Dorris Pugsley second floor (743 N.W. 11th #24). Dorris befriended me right away and entranced me with her interesting life.








Note from Dorris written so many years ago-- how could I be so blessed to have retained these after all the moves I have made? Thanks Dorris for such a reminder of 'you' the memories come flooding back. (Apr. 11, 1909 to Jan. 6, 1982)







One of the saddest things for me as a manager of this building is so many 'special' neighbors passed on while I was there. I would come to know such unique people-- and then they would be gone.

What a treasure Dorris was-- one of my favorite tenants. I still have her fireplace mirror I purchased from her family after she passed away and I look into it as I type. As a retired executive secretary (at one time for Disney) Dorris knew how to write concise memos. I found these notes tucked into a folder of memorials for some of the tenants. They were just too sad to read and that is why I tucked them away some 35-years ago! Treasures rediscovered!

Within less than 2-months Dorris was gone-- Heartbreaking. I was always so busy with another job and managing the Plaza that I was unable to spend as much time with her as I desired. I sensed she was lonely, and knew she was ill, my regret was she reached out many times and I just didn't have the time to stop in to sit down and visit. I still leave flowers for her each time I am in Oregon. Truly a kindred spirit and a Plaza treasure.


Dorris Margaret Pugsley Online Memorial

No tribute to the Executive Plaza would be complete without one of our star residents. So many widowed women sold their homes and moved into the Plaza where they lived out their lives. This is why the Plaza was more than a building, it was a 'home' to so many. For more information on Esther, who was a dear friend please see the link below. Mrs. Christenson lived just up from me (2 doors) and slightly below Janet Phillips McKensey.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=28024428

Esther was one of my dearest friends and tenants and was always ready to listen when I had a puzzling issue with my management at the Plaza. Such a special lady. I haven't found my tenant roster yet, but have some other paperwork which will enable me to compile a fairly decent list of who lived where.