The Family

**Our Story: A Century of Family Tradition**

For over a century, The Gorge White House has stood as a cherished landmark in the heart of the Hood River Valley. This idyllic piece of paradise was originally owned by the pioneering Hill family, and it remained in their care through the generations, eventually passing to the Nunamaker and Hukari families.

In 2012, a new chapter began when local farming brothers, Pat and Barry Kennedy, along with their wives, Mary Beth and Carrie, became the proud owners of this 30-acre property. Eager to embrace their new role, the Kennedys wasted no time. They introduced a gourmet food cart, crafted their own hard cider, expanded the wine selection, and opened U-Pick fields for all to enjoy.

Today, Pat and Mary Beth continue to oversee and nurture The Gorge White House, preserving the legacy of both the business and the family's farms. Pat and Andy K. diligently farm the original properties, Mary Beth K. is at the heart of the business, crafting fresh burger buns each morning and tending to the tasting room with her warm hospitality, Jack K. is on-site serving up farm-fresh culinary delights, and Sadie K. handles the website, menus, and advertising.

As a family, we are thrilled to share this exceptional place with you and sincerely hope you relish it as much as we do.

Warmly, The Kennedy Family

The House

The Gorge White House was built in 1910 by M. M. (Martin Michael) Hill, formerly of Waterloo, Iowa. M. M. Hill was a progressive farmer who assisted in organizing and implementing trends significant to the fruit industry in the Hood River Valley. M. M. Hill was born on September 14, 1869 in Waterloo, Iowa. He married Carrie B. Smith in 1892. He left his wife with relatives in Long Beach, California and went north to Oregon. According to “Pine Grove Memories” by Patricia Krussow, M. M.

Hill came to Hood River and found a 50 acre piece of land he wanted. He located the owner, Mr. Johnson, a street car conductor in Portland, and rode that streetcar until Mr. Johnson agreed to sell the property to him. He bought the land, set up camp and began building a small house, not telling his wife of what he had done. When she did come north, he told her he had bought the property and if she would stay, he would build her the finest house in the valley. Mrs. Hill was from a very wealthy mid-western family and cried when her husband gave her the news of his land purchase, as to her, the Hood River Valley was an uncivilized, barbaric area, void of expected comforts. Because of his pledge to build her this house, she agreed to stay. In 1910 the M. M. Hill House was completed, making good on his promise to his wife. The Gorge White House remained in the Hill family until his daughter, Ruth Hill Beacon sold the house and orchard in 1947 to Don and Aileen Nunamaker, Camille Hukari’s grandparents. Camille’s parents, Ross and Daphne (Nunamaker) Hukari purchased the home in 1950. Camille grew up in The Gorge White House.

The Gorge White House is an excellent intact example of a Dutch Colonial Revival House in a rural setting in the Hood River Valley. The Colonial Revival Style was popular from 1890 through 1915 and was an effort to establish a uniquely American style based on Colonial architecture of the 1700s. The Gorge White House has many of the characteristic elements of this style including the gambrel roof, classic entablature, oval windows with keystones, fanlights (lunettes) attic windows, transoms, dentils at the cornice, balconies, screened sun porch, tripartite windows with decorative leaded beveled glass, fluted round porch columns, union jack railings, arched window with keystone in the west facing gable and side lights framing the doors. The Gorge White House also has the classic style elements of wood frame construction with thin horizontal cedar siding, dentil moldings, fluted columns, pilasters, leaded glass windows, porches, balconies, and a central prominent entrance (porte-cochere).

Both the exterior and interior of the house are intact, with minor alterations. The interior main salon has original quarter-sawn white oak columns, coffered ceilings, floors, staircase, newel posts, doors, windows, moldings and baseboards are original in finish, patina and materials.