The History Of

205 E Main Street Hillsboro Oregon 97123

The Morgan and Bailey Building – Hillsboro’s Most Iconic 19th-Century Landmark

Built by a Civil War surgeon and a railroad agent, this corner of Main Street tells the tale of Hillsboro’s rise through medicine, commerce, and grit.

“Few people know more about the History of Hillsboro, Oregon, than I do. And that is just a statement of fact and the result of years of idiosyncratic fascination with history, old buildings in my hometown, and the stories of the people who built them and lived and worked in them. That has come to me over time, and as a local real estate broker with 43 years of experience, I have been inside almost all the old buildings in Hillsboro and Washington County at one point or another. I have also handled numerous sales and redevelopment projects for these historic properties. In the past decade or two, I have had a hand in the sales/aquisition/redevelopment/repurposing of the Cooperstone/Blue Oxe reimagining, the Main Street Pediatric/Smith’s Grocery building, 140 NE 2nd / Harvey Medical Office, Rune & Board Building, the Well’s Estate, The Orenco Mercantile/Through The Veil, The Orenco Drug Company, the McGill House, the McDonald House, Ring’s Hills Estate, The Faul House, the Barrett House, The Johnson/Belluschi House, 9th & Cedar Clinic, The Force House, The Shute House, and the list goes on.

When I heard today that the Morgan & Bailey Building had been listed for sale (pulled off market 2026), I felt it was time to spread the word and cast a net to find the next owner, exploring what could become of it. So to do that, I once again turn to telling the historical story of the building and its creators. So grab the Popcorn, and let’s learn some history and think about what is possible for the future.”

~ Dirk Knudsen

There are 14 individual suites on the 2nd floor, including yours truly COFFEE SHOP NOTARY PDX in SUITE #13.

All suites that boarder 2nd & Main feature beautiful arched transom windows overlooking downtown Hillsboro. All suites have a lot of rustic charm in the form of red brick and period woodwork. Lucia Isabell Dress Shop and Samson Tattoo Collective occupy two extensive suites on the main level.

The iconic Morgan & Bailey Building would define Downtown Hillsboro and bring it out of its Sin City past. Francis Alonzo Bailey would have much to say about that from 1890 to 1920 as he helped shape Hillsboro into the City it is today!

🧾 Historical Significance

Built by: Dr. F.A. Bailey and John J. Morgan, between 1888–1892

Original Tenants (1892):

• Printing office

• Dry goods store

• Drug store (Hillsboro Pharmacy, relocated here)

Building had a tin roof and steam boiler

Possibly Occupied (1894) by: Wehrung & Son General Store, run by Henry and William Wehrung

Key Figures

Dr. F.A. Bailey (1839–1920)

Born in TennesseeStudied medicine at Woodlawn Academy, Lebanon College (St. Louis), Pope’s College, and Toland Medical College (San Francisco)

Confederate Army medical cadet during the Civil War (General Price’s division, c. 1862)

Some stories have him jumping off a paddle wheeler and running from the Confederacy, where he ended up in Scoggin’s Valley and became a schoolteacher, hiding his medical skills until people came to trust him.

Moved to Oregon in 1864; graduated from Willamette University Medical School in 1870

Practiced medicine in Hillsboro from 1872 to 1920

“Doc” as he was known, opened Hillsboro’s first pharmacy in 1873; relocated it into this building later. Many of you know it as the Hillsboro Pharmacy.

Doc was a three-time Hillsboro Mayor and City Council member

Served as Navy health officer in Nome, Alaska, during the Yukon Gold Rush smallpox outbreak (late 1890s)

Contributed to Oregon Medical and Surgical Reporter and San Francisco Medical Journal

Recalled as a devoted “country doctor” who served day and night in all weather

Died February 1, 1920, age 80

John J. Morgan (1851–1908) – Known as JJ Morgan

Former railroad agent and warehouse operator

Business partnerships: J.I. Imbrie, R. Imbrie, W. Simmons

Manager and speculator on Hillsboro’s growth in the late 1880s

Co-built this building with Dr. Bailey

Platted the Fairview Addition in 1891

Wife: Emma E. Morgan (b. 1854) Children: W. Clarence and J. Elwood – both died in infancy

Personal history sparsely recorded- no known photos. We know he was a skilled contractor and a real estate hustler from the articles we have read.

Contextual Importance

The building reflects Hillsboro’s commercial emergence in the 1890s as it sought to shed its ‘Wild West’ image and move into a more prosperous era.

It is one of the oldest and most architecturally distinctive commercial structures remaining in town

Its legacy is tied deeply to the public service, medical care, and civic leadership of Dr. Bailey.

Also, a rare physical reminder of Morgan’s speculative vision for early Hillsboro

There were few, if any, people who more defined what Hillsboro has become than Dr. F.A. Bailey.

The man had a vision, and he wanted Hillsboro to be better — to rise to the occasion as the County seat and to move out of the horse manure and debauchery, shining as a bright star. He really, truly did. He was magnanimous, caring, possessed great poise, a master negotiator, a consummate gentleman, and someone to whom people came for advice and help, and it was always given.

A lifelong Democrat, “Doc” was a neighbor and best friend of the conservative powerhouse attorney-turned-US Senator, Thomas Tongue. The two were famous friends and led our community forward to the prosperity we now enjoy. This is uncommon nowadays, but it wasn’t unusual back then.

If there were ever a “Mr. Hillsboro” award, Doc Bailey would be the guy!

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Meet the Baileys- Circa 1890 – The Family Photo

Group portrait of Dr. Francis Alonzo Bailey and his family. Francis Bailey was a prosperous doctor who founded the Hillsboro Pharmacy in 1873. He also served three terms as the mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon, including around the time this photograph was taken, circa 1890. Back row, left to right: Dr. A. B. Bailey, Dr. F. J. Bailey, John Bailey. Front row, left to right: Louise Bailey, Mrs. Bailey, Tommy ‘Dr. Tom’ Bailey, Dr. Francis G. Bailey, Eva Bailey.Handwritten on back: Standing: Dr. A.B. Bailey; Dr. F. J. Bailey; John Bailey. Front row: Louise; Mrs. Bailey; Tommy (Dr. Tom); Dr. F.A. [Bailey]; Eva Bailey Lynch. About 1890.

Wash. Co. Heritage Online for more info.

Information provided by Hillsboro Historian Matt Anderson:

“After a bit of digging, in the old days, Dr. Francis A. and Letitia Bailey owned the entire eastern half of the city block bounded by Baseline and Oak Streets and 1st and 2nd Avenues. Title to the northern half of their real estate was in Dr. Bailey’s name, and the southern half in Letitia’s (a common practice back then, so if sudden tragedy struck the husband, the wife would have at least one valuable asset at her immediate disposal for financial liquidity). F.A. and Letitia Bailey’s home was on the SW corner of 2nd and Baseline. I’ve attached a photo but this is obviously not the house featured in “The West Shore” from 1888. Also, by 1909, a portion of the land in Letitia’s name (a chunk at the NW corner of 2nd and Oak) had been transferred to one of their sons, Dr. Francis J. Bailey (he shared both his father’s first name and his profession). F.J. Bailey had a residence there. Anyway, all these interesting historical notes aside, my point is that if the house in “The West Shore” actually existed in Hillsboro, it seems likely it would have sat somewhere on the eastern half of this particular city block. I bemoan our lack of *complete* archives for the Argus and Independent because, indeed, the destruction of a grand, Second Empire style house like this — historically owned by such a prominent family — would have received notice at the time.”

Information provided by Dirk Knudsen is the President of the Hillsboro Historical Society, the broker at MORE Realty- Hillsboro Office – 222 East Main Street, Hillsboro, Oregon (503) 799-8383, and the founder of the Hillsboro Herald.

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