In 1853, after his father’s death, he came to oregon with his mother and several other families, the Messers, the Renders and the Remplays, who settled in Scottsburg, Oregon, Douglas County.

Entering the employ of Mr. Remplay, he worked at general farming and also learned the trade of a brewer.

This lovely Gothic Revival home was built circa 1875 by John George Rast. It was originally surrounded by acres of farmland. It was constructed in what was known as the Deer Creek District before becoming Roseburg, Oregon.

John Rast was born in Canton of Luzerne, Switzerland on May 10, 1838. In the 1840s, he immigrated to St. Louis, MO with his family. Living in St. Louis, until he was fifteen years old, John George Rast was educated in the public schools of that city.

In 1853, after his father’s death, he came to oregon with his mother and several other families, the Messers, the Renders and the Remplays, who settled in Scottsburg, Oregon, Douglas County.

Entering the employ of Mr. Remplay, he worked at general farming and also learned the trade of a brewer.

On attaining his majority, he bought an interest in a brewery. He ran it in partnership with Mr. Neel for several years. Selling out, he purchased a flour mill. As a senior member of the firm of Rast & Criteser, he carried on in a successful milling business for a long time.

Subsequently purchasing the interest of his partner in the plant,the oldest flouring mill in Southern Oregon, he managed it alone until his death on Dec. 8, 1898. He was a staunch democrat in politics, and a mason belonging to Laurel Lodge No. 13, A. F. & A. M.

The home remained in the John Rast/Kidder family until 2019. In August of 2019 the home was purchased by Michael & Cherri Herrman of Grants Pass, Oregon. They restored to its natural beauty that you'll ejoy today.

It's always exciting when an old photograph still exists that shows how much of a historic home exterior is intact. For the most part, the John Rast house is well preserved. As seen in the photo above, the decorative bric-a-brac in the gables and on the small balconies above the front porches remain. Thhe windows and porches also remain intact. Past photos of the interior show that much of the original character has been preserved as well.

Now one of the oldest standing homes in Roseburg, OR, the John Rast House is a great example of Gothic Revival architecture. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and is a Heritage Landmark in Roseburg, Oregon.

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