The Structure
The house itself was originally built in 1908 as a single family residence, by a newly married couple, offspring of two early Portland families--the Hoyts and the Cooks. It was designed by John V. Bennes, an early disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright, in American Craftsman architectural style.
A library addition was built in 1925 and the kitchen was enlarged during the 1950’s. After the fire in 1987, the original hip roof was replaced with a gable roof, the kitchen was further expanded, an additional room was provided in the basement and an outside deck was added at the north end of the building. With these additions the available interior floor space was increased to about 8,000 square feet. A second, larger deck was added to the south side in 1993.
Building department records show that the structure was used as a temporary boarding house during the Second World War. During the 1970’s the house served as the residence of the Honorary Consul for Finland. Guests still enjoy the Finnish sauna which he added during that time.
The Peace Plaza
On the south side of the property along Tillamook Avenue is a terraced garden where weekly peace vigils are held before Sunday evening worship services. The garden is also used for formal and informal dinners and social gatherings.
A Peace Pole in the garden bears a peace message in four different languages. It is one of tens of thousands of such poles which have been planted in more than fifty countries throughout the world. The Peace Pole project began in Japan more than 30 years ago--a chain reaction effort designed as a symbolic response to the deadly nuclear chain reaction which took so many lives in Hiroshima. Our Peace Pole was a gift in about 1988 from then Portland City Commissioner Mike Lindbergh.
The Labyrinth
A classical seven circuit labyrinth was constructed in 2003 in the front yard of the Peace House by members of the Metanoia community. The seven circuits refers the seven paths that lead to the center or goal. This is an anc
ient design found in most cultures, dating back more than 4000 years. Also known as the Cretan Labyrinth, it is associated with the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. This design was found on Cretan coins.
The classical labyrinth also is associated with Christianity. A cross is the starting point used to construct this labyrinth. The cross at the center can become the focus for meditation and the experience of the labyrinth. The classical labyrinth design is found in many churches in Europe.
The Metanoia labyrinth contains two balanced rock structures on the path, and a sculpted concrete bench at its center, which may be used for meditation. The still-living stump of a tree felled by disease stands as a sign of hope and regeneration for all who meditate here.
Our labyrinth, which is listed in World-Wide Labyrinth Locator, is open to the public and may be visited without appointment seven days a week.