Novelist Chelsea Cain teased on social media: “Who wants to buy a sorority house in Portland, Oregon?” She’s referring to her home of 17 years, a handsome 1911 Colonial Revival in Southeast Portland with 5,331 square feet of polished living space, from the posh home theater in the finished basement to the pink-walled writing room on the fourth level.
The asking price for 1525 S.E. 22nd Ave. is $1,250,000.
Cain’s residence was originally owned by import-export tycoon Maurice Winter, who possessed a “true zest for life” and created a showpiece for soirees and parties, according to Cain’s listing agent, Dan Volkmer of Windermere Realty Trust.
Volkmer and his team market historic properties as if they were jeweled Faberge eggs, he said. They research the history and promote the provenance with breathless details. In this case, the promotional flier for Cain’s house states: “If the walls could talk, they would whisper…”
Prose aside, this place has the space, character and charm that attracts what Volkmer calls “literary geniuses” and residents with a passion for the city, art and a vibrant life. Hollywood-style glamour starts with the Corinthian columns at the entrance and continues to the dining room table under richly stained beamed ceilings. The 20-foot-long kitchen has been used to cater to 150 guests.
Cain, who bought the property in 2006 with her husband, video store owner and film reviewer Marc Mohan, raised a child here who is now in college. It’s time to bow out of a big house, she said, and invite a new host to take over.
While living here, she earned the nickname “Madame de Pompadour of Portland” for hosting gatherings of witty writers. Chatting under the chandeliers were:
- Best-selling writer and podcast host Cheryl Strayed, whose memoir, “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail,” was made into an Oscar-nominated film starring Reese Witherspoon. Her other nonfiction books are “Tiny Beautiful Things,” which is a collection of Dear Sugar columns adapted for a Hulu television show and a play, and “Brave Enough” as well as the novel “Torch.”
- Writer Chuck Palahniuk, who has published 19 novels, three nonfiction books, two graphic novels and two adult coloring books, as well as several short stories
- Lidia Yuknavitch, author of the memoir “The Chronology of Water” and the novels “The Small Backs of Children,” “Dora: A Headcase” and “The Book of Joan”
- Singer-songwriter Patterson Hood, who co-founded the band Drive-By Truckers
- Musician and multi-instrumentalist Chris Funk, best known as a member of the indie rock band The Decemberists
- Filmmaker James Westby, called “a wizard of concision and a master of discomfort” by The New York Times
- Comic book and TV writers Kelly Sue DeConnick and Matt Fraction, better known by the pen name Matt Fraction, who wrote “The Invincible Iron Man” for Marvel Comics and “Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen” for DC Comics.
- As well as “The Simpsons” writer Bill Oakley, D&D world builder and game designer Keith Baker and authors Monica Drake and Suzy Vitello.
Cain said she will remain in Portland.
— Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072
jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman
More Oregon life and culture news