Edgefield Manor operated as Multnomah County’s farm for poor people before the days of social programs. It held elderly residents, disabled residents, poor residents, and the mentally challenged. Edgefield was well managed, with its crops feeding those who lived there and the excess sold at profit. In 1947 the site of several buildings and farmland became a nursing home. The facility closed in 1982 and remained vacant until the McMenamin brothers purchased it and began refurbishing the buildings. Now the gardens are extensive and lovely, especially in the summer and fall months. The gift shop is crammed with beautiful things, and the Black Rabbit restaurant serves delicious dinners using produce grown on-site. The restaurant offers vegetarian entrées as well.
The “Ad House” was the poor farm’s administration building, housing the superintendent and his family. It is now a bed and breakfast and some people have been awakened by the spirit of a woman at the foot of the bed, shaking their feet! It is believed that this spirit likes to reside in the Althea Room on the top floor of the house. Some guests claim she has serenaded them with nursery rhymes!
The “Power Station” now functions as a restaurant, however it was originally the farm’s power plant and laundry facility. Staff members have said they often feel a presence in the room, watching them.
Room 215 of the main building is said to be haunted. Apparently when the McMenamin brothers acquired Edgefield, this room was covered in cult graffiti which has since been removed. A few guests have complained about a large spirit dog who shoves his cold nose in their faces while they are sleeping.
A woman dressed all in white was spotted peering in a window at night, and another time a young child dressed in white was seen wandering toward the parking lot. Both sightings were of spirit beings.
Occasionally a guest will call down to the front desk, to report the sounds of someone crying. Sometimes people hear the sounds of children crying and wonder if there is a daycare on the site. There isn’t. During the 1960’s part of the site housed troubled children, and one of the wings which now offers hotel rooms was at one time the infirmary.
A lot of people lived and died at Edgefield Manor over the years. As Halloween approaches, it’s a great time to visit the massive old estate, take in the fall garden, and have a bite at one of the restaurants, or a brew in one of the pubs. The smallest and most unique is the Little Red Shed, which only seats 10! It is the converted incinerator for the property and which serves McMenamins ales and distilled spirits, guest liquors and cigars in the glow of an intimate brick fireplace!
Another small gathering place is Jerry’s Ice House which is less than ten feet away from Edgefield’s on-site brewery, winery and distillery. This is the place to enjoy music from the Grateful Dead.
The Distillery Bar shares the same building as the distillery. The old building used to be Edgefield’s potato shed and then a horse stables. The bar features pipe sculptures, a wood stove, and handsome black bar.
There are also the Power Station Theater and Pub, and Black Rabbit Restaurant for your dining pleasure. Edgefield Manor is close enough to the Columbia Gorge recreation area and to Mt. Hood ski areas to be a convenient drive to either after a pleasant night spent at Edgefield. It is located at 2126 S.W. Halsey St., Troutdale, Oregon. If you would like to book a room and try your luck at seeing or hearing ghostly sounds, you may call them toll free (800) 669-8610, or local (503) 669-8610. You would probably have to book one of the more “haunted” rooms to be able to hear or see anything. And if you do – well, no extra charge, the ghost is thrown in for free!
