Welcome to Salem Heritage Network, a web/blog that invites you to recall the economic and cultural events of the past that have shaped the city of today and may determine its future.
Beginning on January 22 (or thereabouts), SHINE on Salem 150 will celebrate the sesquicentennial of our city's charter by featuring, each day, one event of those 150 years: 1860 to 2010. This will be is your opportunity to contribute to our civic historical record. You will be able to use "Comment" to add other significant events for that year.
It is not surprise to see one of our favorite paths in Minto-Brown Park underwater at this time of year. However, with 8 miles of trails on the 898 acres, there is still plenty of dry ground to explore ~ or repeat ~ so go out and enjoy (with the ducks) this natural treasure in the midst of our city.
The location of the photograph above, taken today, is below. The section underwater is north of the marker.
Among the bungalows and craftsman houses of Gaiety Hill Historic Residential District, this house on the corner of Liberty and Mission streets was unique. It was the first house built in the Jones Addition of the late 1870s, the tract of houses developed after a bridge was built on Liberty Street to across Pringle Creek at the southern edge of Salem. Just a block to the east, Asahel Bush's mansion was built at about the same time. More than fifty years ago, Bush House was purchased by the city and is now a museum dedicated to him and his family. This modest house had been unoccupied in recent years. No records remain to honor the stories of the unknown families that lived in this modest residence for more than 125 years. The house itself was demolished this week.
This 1920s bungalow at 440 Mission Street SE was demolished this week leaving a tangle of weathered lumber, shattered household debris and discarded foliage. Three of its neighbors along Liberty Street are also scheduled to be razed. Within the Gaiety Hill/Bush's Pasture Park Historic Residential District, their condition had deteriorated in the last several years because of no maintenance or occupancy. Finally, the Community Development Department of the City of Salem condemned all four for reasons of public safety. Historic houses like these, recognized on the US Department of Interior National Register of Historic Places, are community assets: they establish the character of our neighborhoods. All along the neighboring Liberty Street, there are many examples of residential historic preservation as either living or work space. Unfortunately, these were not valued in the same way.
While walking in Minto-Brown Park a few days ago, we discovered this antique car, not in the best condition, resting against a tree trunk just a few steps from a well-traveled path. Was this a tragic wrong turn, or was the car deposited here after a collision somewhere else? Can any viewer identify the make of car and the model year? Surely there is some historic tale to go with this sad sight.
Yesterday, November 14, Mission Mill Museum sponsored a program by June Schumann of the Portland Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center. Her excellently prepared (and charmingly delivered) presentation reminded us of the experiences of the American West Coast families of Japanese descent who were "relocated" in 1942 during World War II. The chart above shows the areas effected by relocation. Families east of the line were not spared discrimination: they lived under strict restrictions and oppressive surveillance.
The photo below shows a typical family as they departed, leaving their homes and all their possessions, taking only one suitcase apiece. At the presentation, we were each given a tag like the ones shown.
We might ask ourselves two questions: How would we feel wearing such identification as our own families left our homes with the uncertain future they faced? What happened to the families who stood on the platform of the Salem Railroad Station more that sixty-five years ago wearing these tags?
The Union Street bridge closed tonight for the next six months. On a last walk across from the west side, Tom caught these photos with his iPhone. Above, the graceful curve of the trestle. Below, the last few steps before the bridge ends at Water Street. See you there in May of 2010!
We have been waiting for the orange colored cones to go away so we could take an "after" photo to go with the one above and now we have it! It wasn't so long ago that the southwest corner of Broadway and Market Streets looked like this with the Eagles building being demolished.
What a difference Broadway Town Square (below) has made and we all enjoy the Broadway Theater! But we don't want to forget what a noble building this was and so encourage anyone with a historic photo of it in its glory years to send us a copy.
It is not surprise to see one of our favorite paths in Minto-Brown Park underwater at this time of year. However, with 8 miles of trails on the 898 acres, there is still plenty of dry ground to explore ~ or repeat ~ so go out and enjoy (with the ducks) this natural treasure in the midst of our city.
Among the bungalows and craftsman houses of Gaiety Hill Historic Residential District, this house on the corner of Liberty and Mission streets was unique. It was the first house built in the Jones Addition of the late 1870s, the tract of houses developed after a bridge was built on Liberty Street to across Pringle Creek at the southern edge of Salem. Just a block to the east, Asahel Bush's mansion was built at about the same time. More than fifty years ago, Bush House was purchased by the city and is now a museum dedicated to him and his family. This modest house had been unoccupied in recent years. No records remain to honor the stories of the unknown families that lived in this modest residence for more than 125 years. The house itself was demolished this week.
This 1920s bungalow at 440 Mission Street SE was demolished this week leaving a tangle of weathered lumber, shattered household debris and discarded foliage. Three of its neighbors along Liberty Street are also scheduled to be razed. Within the Gaiety Hill/Bush's Pasture Park Historic Residential District, their condition had deteriorated in the last several years because of no maintenance or occupancy. Finally, the Community Development Department of the City of Salem condemned all four for reasons of public safety. Historic houses like these, recognized on the US Department of Interior National Register of Historic Places, are community assets: they establish the character of our neighborhoods. All along the neighboring Liberty Street, there are many examples of residential historic preservation as either living or work space. Unfortunately, these were not valued in the same way.
While walking in Minto-Brown Park a few days ago, we discovered this antique car, not in the best condition, resting against a tree trunk just a few steps from a well-traveled path. Was this a tragic wrong turn, or was the car deposited here after a collision somewhere else? Can any viewer identify the make of car and the model year? Surely there is some historic tale to go with this sad sight.
Yesterday, November 14, Mission Mill Museum sponsored a program by June Schumann of the Portland Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center. Her excellently prepared (and charmingly delivered) presentation reminded us of the experiences of the American West Coast families of Japanese descent who were "relocated" in 1942 during World War II. The chart above shows the areas effected by relocation. Families east of the line were not spared discrimination: they lived under strict restrictions and oppressive surveillance.
The Union Street bridge closed tonight for the next six months. On a last walk across from the west side, Tom caught these photos with his iPhone. Above, the graceful curve of the trestle. Below, the last few steps before the bridge ends at Water Street. See you there in May of 2010!
We have been waiting for the orange colored cones to go away so we could take an "after" photo to go with the one above and now we have it! It wasn't so long ago that the southwest corner of Broadway and Market Streets looked like this with the Eagles building being demolished.
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