Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Fry, Philip V. W. September 4, 1883 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com June 18, 2009, 12:04 am Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company PHILIP V. W. FRY. The business interests of Portland are important and varied, offering splendid opportunities for advancement to the man of ambition and enterprise. Competition in the different lines of business, however, is exceedingly keen and only those possessed of more than ordinary ability have won the full measure of success. In this classification belongs Philip V. W. Fry, an acknowledged leader in local real estate circles and one of the city's "boosters." He was born in Portland, September 4, 1883, and is a son of Willis B. Fry, a native of New York state. During the '70s the father came to Portland as northwestern manager for the Singer Manufacturing Company and filled the position for twelve years. In 1887 he was appointed Pacific coast manager for the same company and made his headquarters in San Francisco. He is now living retired in Pasadena, California. His wife, Anna (Van Wagenen) Fry, was also born in the Empire state and passed away in 1891. She had become the mother of two children and the daughter, Elsie, is also deceased. The son, Philip V. W. Fry, was educated in the public schools of Oakland, California, and when a young man of nineteen entered the employ of a real estate firm of that city. In 1908 he returned to Portland and opened a real estate office. Two years later he formed a partnership with F. W. Stewart and the firm of Stewart-Fry & Company was then organized. From the start the alliance proved an advantageous one and during 1910 and 1911 they made some of the largest sales in Portland. They were associated until the death of Mr. Stewart and Mr. Fry has since conducted the business under his own name. He specializes in down-town business property and many important transfers of realty have been made through his agency. The Nortonia Hotel was sold by him in 1911 and again in 1913. He formed a syndicate to purchase from the Ladd estate the property now occupied by the Western Bond & Mortgage Company, paying one hundred and thirty thousand dollars for it, and later the property was sold for two hundred and ten thousand dollars. Mr. Fry promoted the sale of the Medical building, now known as the Park building, by securing a ninety- nine year lease for five hundred thousand dollars. Another transaction which he successfully handled was the Y. M. C. A. property at the corner of Sixth and Yamhill streets, a two hundred thousand dollar deal. He leased the property for ninety-nine years and it was later purchased by the Young Men's Christian Association. The sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars was paid for the Blackstone Hotel at Eleventh and Stark streets, a sale also effected by Mr. Fry, who has negotiated many of the largest deals consummated in Portland. In 1926 he negotiated the transfer of the Royal building, at the southeast corner of Broadway and Morrison streets, for the Sweeny Investment Company of Spokane for eight hundred and ten thousand dollars. He is an expert valuator whose opinion concerning real estate investments is considered authoritative, and the extent of his business is indicative of the confidence reposed in his sagacity and integrity. Mr. Fry is a republican and stands for progress, reform and improvement in public affairs. During 1926-27 he served as president of the local Realty Board and his duties as a director of the National Association of Real Estate Boards take him to all parts of the United States. He has served on the appraisal and publicity committees of the Portland Chamber of Commerce, taking a leading part in the activities of that organization, and is also a member of the Arlington Club and the Columbia Country Club. Mr. Fry has influenced Portland's progress to a notable extent and is a native son whose record reflects credit upon the city. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, Pages 880-883 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/photos/bios/fry785gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/fry785gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 4.6 Kb