National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet

NPSForm10-900-A
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 (8-86)
Section Number: _7_ Page: 31 Geneva-Minnesota Historic District, Medford, OR
ID No: 025
Historic Name: Helms-Denman House
Address: 104 Geneva
Architect:
Style: Bungalow
Year Built: 1912
Legal: 37S-1W-30AB, Tax Lot 15200
Humphrey-Knight Addn, Block 1, Lot(s) 3
Builder(s): Fifer, B.F.
Primary Contributing
The Helms-Denman House is a one and one-half story gable roof structure with a full-width front
facing porch. Original double-drop siding, 4/1 wood sash casement windows, battered pillars and
the pierced design of the raking cornice are all typical of the bungalow style. Gable ends are shingle
clad and the walls flare out at the base. A garage, located below the main volume of the house, is
accessed from Minnesota Street. Developers William and Henry Humphrey had the subject property
built as part of the original development phase of the District. In January 1912 the construction of
what would become the Helms-Denman House was reported;
On the corner of Geneva avenue and Minnesota these gentlemen are now
putting in a concrete foundation for a seven-room bungalow which will have a
frontage to both the south and west. This building will be similar to [32
Geneva] except that the finishing will be a little more elaborate. 85
The original purchaser was a single woman, Mary J. Helms, who bought the property in May
1913. 86 Helms apparently defaulted on the mortgage and the house reverted to the Humphreys and
then, in 1917, to Clarence Knight. A variety of owners and renters occupied the property during the
late 1910s and 1920s. In 1930 Charles "Ted" Baker, executive secretary of Chamber of Commerce
lived here. In 1936 Kenneth Denman, a local attorney and widely respected sportsman, purchased
the property. Denman was active in both legal and sporting groups statewide including service on
the Oregon State Game Commission.87 The Denman Wildlife Refuge, located in White City, east of
Medford, is named in his honor. The Denman Family continued to reside in the house until 1967. 88
The Helms-Denman House retains substantial integrity to its historic appearance. A modern
greenhouse window, as well as exterior metal storms, detract somewhat from the original design but
the house continues to accurately convey its significant associations and remains an important
element within the Geneva-Minnesota District.
85 "East Medford is Awakening," Medford Mail Tribune, 31-January-1912, 6:1.
86 JCD 104:607, 19-May-1913.
87 Capitol's Who's Who for Oregon, 1948-1949. (Portland, Capitol Publishing Co., 1948), 147.
88 Don Denman, personal communication with the author, 17-February-1993.