The Butler House

207 East Cherry St, Walla Walla

Text from the brochure for The Butler House:

Norman Francis Butler

A Citizen of High Character

Norman F. Butler was born in Maine in 1828. Foreshadowing a career as a building contractor, he apprenticed as a carpenter. Young Butler’s future plans were logical and prudent, yet gold-rush fever got the best of him. In 1849 he left Boston on the ship Eudones for a six month trip around the Horn to San Francisco. Business opportunities in the northwest piqued his interest and he moved to Forest Grove, Oregon to pursue milling. The lure of gold in the Idaho mines was strong and Butler is remembered for the “Halfway House” he opened on the upper waters of Rock Creek in Idaho. The hotel served miners and outfitters traveling to the Idaho and Montana mines. In 1864 a new gold mine was discovered in John Day country and Butler moved there.

Rebecca Westfall Boggs traveled across the plains with her husband in 1856 and settled in John Day Country. They later divorced and she was granted custody of their four children. Butler and Rebecca met and in 1865 traveled to Walla Walla to be married by Rev. P. B. Chamberlain, a prominent Congregational minister.

In 1868 Butler purchased land near the present day penitentiary and moved his family to Walla Walla. The land is still known as The Butler Addition. He and his partner, John Dovall, started and operated a furniture store and planning mill on the corner of Main and Spokane streets in Walla Walla. Their mill supplied much of the finished lumber to the area. After a short move to his 1200 acre wheat farm in Helix, Oregon, Butler returned to Walla Walla and began the contracting/building business that became his primary enterprise for the next thirty years. He was the contractor of buildings at Fort Walla Walla, located on the present V.A. Hospital grounds, Whitman College and many older buildings and residences in the Walla Walla Valley.

In 1882 Butler built this fine Victorian home for his wife at 207 East Cherry. Four years later Rebecca died at home of consumption. She left three children, Belle, age 14, Stella, age 16 and son Ed who was away at medical school. Four children died earlier.

Butler later married Miss Eleanor Brotherton, a teacher at Baker School, and built a new house for her. He died in 1913 at the age of 85.

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Butler House Brochure:
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The Butler House - Today

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