mackenzie house Archives - Slabtown Tours - NW, N, SE Portland Walking Tours

Fun Fact #37 Is that bat light really historic or is it from the Spirit Store?

Slabtown Tours Fun Facts October 19, 2017March 30, 2020bat light, mackenzie house, Nob Hill

Above is the Mackenzie house light. Where you see two light bulbs was once were gas jets flamed forth to light the entry.

The original cast for these bat lights is from the Mackenzie House. The Nathan Lob House (726 NW 22nd) is also has one that quite possibly is a replica. The original lamp at the Mackenzie House was a interior gas lamp. In Scottish folklore the bat is associated with witches, dark magic, sorcery and necromancy. The bat in this piece of art is the messenger between witches and the devil. Satan is often depicted in art with bat-like wings where as angles have bird-like wings.

Hand caste replica sold online by Rejuvenation.

The snake, on the other hand, is a symbol of medicine. This single snake on a rod is not the common medical symbol–the caduceus, which features two, snakes a stick and wings. This is linked to the Greek God Hermes–the rod had been a gift from Apollo and the snakes were battling and the rod was used to separate them. Doctors traveled and the walking stick was associated with itinerate medical men and Hermes the winged god was their patron saint.

Dr. Mackenzie was a Scot and a prominent physician. The lamp in the entry of his house, (615 NW 20^th /2023 NW Hoyt) with the snake over the bat, depicts the triumph of medicine over the occult. A single snake on a rod it is the asklepian (the Rod of Asclepius son of Apollo). The snake that’s wrapped around the rod may symbolize rejuvenation and held by the deity of medicine and healing.

Update 9-7-18:

The house is currently on the market. This is an image from Dan Volkmeer’s Marketing Materials a well lit image of the famous bat light.

Nob Hill Fun Fact #19: Why is there an elk on the Mackenzie House?

Slabtown Tours Fun Facts July 19, 2015June 19, 202519th street, mackenzie house, millionairs row, Nob Hill

Black and White exterior image of a stone house with a stage head under an archway. A very unusual example of Queen Shingle Style because the shingles are made of slate. The chimney is massive with decorative metal sun on the basalt rock that starts at the basement level and then contrasts with the shingles..

Nob Hill Fun Fact #19: Why is there an elk on the Mackenzie House?

Photo Credit Tanya Lyn March: “I took this during the rummage sale last Saturday.”
July 2015

Have you ever walked past the historic Mackenzie House in Portland’s Nob Hill and wondered about the majestic bust of a white stag (or elk!) centered below a framing arch of slate shingles? This striking architectural detail is more than just decoration; it’s a powerful symbol directly from the Mackenzie family coat of arms, signifying the doctor’s deep connection to his Scottish roots. We can only imagine the conversation: “Hey architects of the 1887 Annex to the Portland Armory (now the Gerding Theater), can you, uh, stick an elk on it?”

This building, now a cherished historic landmark, stands out in the neighborhood with its unique and harmonious blend of Richardsonian Romanesque and Shingle styles. The dark slate shingles, a dominant exterior material, give it a distinctive character. Both the exterior and interior are rich with architectural detailing and constructed from high-quality materials, including sandstone, slate, intricate ornamental woodwork, and plaster. We walk by this gem on our Women of Nob Hill Tour.

A particularly eye-catching feature is the use of rusticated Tenino stone. The light hue of the tower and chimney’s sandstone creates a striking contrast to the dark slate shingles. These elegant stones were imported from Tenino, Washington, ordered around 1890 when the quarry was just beginning to expand – an expansion that fueled a sandstone “boom town” until concrete replaced sandstone in construction between 1915 and 1920. Interestingly, the only other house in this style and material palette more highly acclaimed was the Julius Loewenberg House, built in the same year but sadly demolished in 1960.

Update September 2018: We’ve learned that “MacKenzie” in Gaelic is “Caberfeidh,” which translates to “Deer Antlers.” In Scotland, “Red Stags” are quite similar to American Elk, so it’s entirely possible that the bust on the Mackenzie House is, in fact, a stag and not an elk!

Update April 1, 2020: For those curious to delve deeper into the MacKenzie clan’s history, we recommend watching some Outlander! On a more local note, it’s wonderful to know that while the William Temple House sold the building, they are still able to rent it back and are actively helping to feed people during these challenging times.

Updated June 19, 2025: New Links for example National Register Documentation

We retuned to this house for Fun Fact #37 Is that bat light really historic or is it from the Spirit Store?