The Paul Gaiser House is a 1.5 story Colonial Revival home built in the Lincoln neighborhood in 1935. It is patterned after a Cape Cod cottage, with double-hung sash windows and shutters. The backyard has a garage that connects to the alley.

The house was built for the family of Paul Gaiser, who came to Vancouver in 1931 to work as a principal of Vancouver High School. In 1934, he became superintendent of the Vancouver School District and stayed in that post for 18 years, steering the district through the hectic growth period of World War II. During those years, Vancouver schools grew from 3,300 students to more than 14,000 students in just 18 months. Gaiser is credited in turning potential chaos into a strong public school system.

In 1945 Gaiser was named Clark College’s first president. He served as both Vancouver school superintendent and college president until 1952, when he assumed the president’s position full time. In 1958 he stepped down to become a professor of education at the University of Portland.

• Listed on the Clark County Heritage Register in 2008.