The Oregonian Stove

While in Portland, Oregon, we visited the home of the man who was owed back-wages by the founder of The Oregonian newspaper, and who--early on-was given the newspaper to cover the salary. It became an institution, and a fine house up on top of a hill overlooking the town: the Pittock Mansion. It is one of America's smaller castles.

Much is not going to be said about the Pittock house, except that it has a fine kitchen stove! Everything else is simply decoration!

Oh, to have a place for such a stove! And a cook and staff to keep it clean, and to stand ready to sweat and coax the old beast to roast another venison haunch and a bunch of chestnuts! There is a tiny gas burner to warm sauces, gently, perfectly, probably.

Everything that glitters is not gold. Some of it is porcelain and nickel polish.

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