Salem in 1984

World Events

• Democrats pick Geraldine Ferraro as VP running mate with Walter Mondale. Republican Ronald Reagan easily wins re-election.
• President Reagan makes a historic visit to China, making a step toward friendlier relations between China and U.S., but the question of Taiwan as the official (democratic) Republic of China is unsolved.
• Bishop Desmond Tutu is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
• Bruce Mccandleuss and Robert Stewart make first untethered space walk. Kathy Sullivan is first woman to space walk.
• Apple's Macintosh is introduced.
• The Bell telephone system is broken into independent companies.
• The U.S.S.R. boycotts the summer Olympics in L.A. in response to the American-lad boycott of Moscow in previous summer games.
• Chicago White Sox defeat Milwaukee Brewers in longest game of major league history: 25 innings of 8 hours, six minutes.
• The Canadian entertainment, Cirque du Soleil, is founded.
• Academy Awards:"Amadeus" (US),"Dangerous Moves (Switzerland). Prize-winning Books: Victory Over Japan: A Book of Stories, Ellen Gilchrist and Ironweed, William Kennedy.

Marion County Historical Society in the former Thomas Kay Mill Office

In Salem
In the late 1940s, when proposals were made to demolish both the building that housed Oregon's capitol at statehood (the Holman Building, demolished in 1949) and the proposal to demolish Marion County's 80-year-old courthouse (which happened in 1952), many Salem residents became concerned at the loss of their heritage. Eventually, on July 11, 1950, they formed the Marion County Historical Society. The organizational meetings were held in the fireplace room of the 1912 Carnegie-aided Public Library at the corner of Winter and State streets. Led by its first president, Oregon State Archivist David Duniway, and secretary, Salem Public Library Director Hugh Morrow, the society promoted historic preservation in Marion County as well as held educational programs and published booklets of Marion County history. It led preservation efforts for historic buildings such as the Jason Lee House, the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill and Historic Deepwood Estate.
It accomplished all this with a small membership and no home of its own: meeting notes record that it met for many years wherever a room in a church or business was available the next month. About 1980, the society began a museum in a small room of Mission Mill Museum. This effort expanded in 1984 when the society purchased the mill's old retail store and converted it into an office, library and small exhibition hall. In 1999, it received a certificate of commendation (one of less than 100 awarded) from the American Association for State and Local History, and the NonProfit Member of the Year Award from the Salem Convention and Visitors Association.

When you visit
In January of 2010, the Marion County Historical Society merged with Mission Mill Museum to form the new Willamette Heritage Center on the campus they have shared for a quarter of a century. Mission Mill Museum will curate and produce exhibits and store the collection of artifacts that have been donated to MCHS and Mission Mill in the past. The former MCHS will become the library of local historical materials and genealogical records for both institutions. At the present time, documents and photographs are being archived and indexed for use at the historical society facility. When funds are available, they will be scanned for a website and available online. The library is open to the public for research Tuesday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m. and Saturday by appointment. Admission is paid at Mission Mill Museum.

Our thanks to Kyle Jansson and Elisabeth Walton Potter for their contributions to this historical information.

Other Events

• The Pioneer above the Capitol is re-gilded this year. Scaffolding is built around the statue above the structure.
• Former mayor Vern Miller dies this year. Wes Sullivan wrote a tribute: "As mayor, Dr. Vern Miller led Salem to maturity as a city. Sitting in his tiny, windowless mayor’s office in a nineteenth-century City Hall in 1965, he had visions for Salem that went beyond its just being an adjunct to the statehouse. He had the courage and dogged determination to turn these visions into reality. He brought to his office as mayor the caring and the integrity that made him a fine and respected surgeon. And where he led, people followed."
• Edith Schryver also died this year. A diminutive young lady traveling to Europe by ship was placed by mistake at the Children's Table in the Dining Salon. When she requested a glass of wine and was refused, the adult Edith Schryver insisted on being moved to another table. There she met Elizabeth Lord who would become her lifetime companion and partner in their landscaping enterprise.
• A less noticed death was that of 84-year old Ray DeAutremont, the last surviving of three brothers who led authorities on a nearly four year, worldwide manhunt. After conviction, they were incarcerated in the Oregon State Prison here in Salem, sentenced to life imprisonment. Their crime, known to history, as the 1923 "Last Great Train Robbery" was the hold up of the southbound Southern Pacific #13 near Ashland, Oregon. Four men killed and not a dime to reward the efforts of Ray, Roy and Hugh DeAutremont. Hugh, the youngest of the three, was paroled in 1958 and died less than six months later. The younger twin, Roy, died in Oregon State Hospital in 1983. Ray, the oldest of the twins, had won parole in 1961.
• The original spire of the First United Methodist Church is replaced. This landmark continues to give Salem a presence as one approaches from the west and reminds us of the missionary goals that inspired the early settlers and the eventual creation of the city.

Former riverfront industrial properties transformed into a park

• The City of Salem purchases 22 acres of prime river front property from Boise Cascade for the purpose of implementing a Salem Riverfront Master Plan, which included a conference center, hotel, outdoor theater and commercial/retail space. The plan also included an under-crossing at State Street. A citizen initiative later rejected the plan. However, Salem's former industrial site from Leslie Street to the south to Union Street at the north has, by 2012, changed radically in use and appearance. (See the current Riverfront Master Plan) The 12.95-acre site previously owned by Boise Cascade south of Riverfront Park, is now under renovation and construction. Future plans include a mix of uses including rental housing, commercial/retail and parking. A pedestrian path will lead under the Commercial Street Bridge, connecting the Civic Center Park with the Willamette River along Pringle Creek. Riverfront Park and the A. C. Gilbert Discovery Village have made the waterfront a community asset for informal social occasions and for recreation.

Salem in 1940

World Events

-->In Tibet, 4-year old Tenzin Gyatso is named the 13th Dalai Lama.

Winston Churchill elected Prime Minister of Great Britain. In a radio address he blames Mussolini for leading Italy into war against the British: placing "the inheritors of ancient Rome upon the side of the ferocious pagan barbarians" ("Dunkirk" film and "Darkest Hour" film, both 2017)

British forces are evacuated from Dunkirk leaving Europe under axis control.

The International Olympic Committee formally cancels the Summer Olympics.

Salem's Senator McNary was nominated for Vice President to Republican Wendell Willkie this year, but Roosevelt is elected for a third term.

The Selective Training and Service Act creates the first peacetime draft in U.S. history. Willys Corporation introduces a lightweight, all-terrain vehicle: the "Jeep" of later military use.

 Nylon stockings are placed on sale with almost 5 million sold on the first day. The McDonald brothers' restaurant opens in San Bernardino, Ca. Walter Knott begins construction of a ghost town replica that becomes Knott's Berry Farm.

Academy Award: "Rebecca". Also popular this year, the classic "Grapes of Wrath". Notable books read this year are The Nazarene, Sholom Asch and How Green Was My Valley, Richard Llewellen.

In Salem
Local excitement was the all-volunteer Salem Centennial in August. Many events were public and with costumes of pioneer days. A Centennial Pageant entitled "From Wilderness to Wonderland" was produced at the State Fairgrounds. A 25-cent, illustrated booklet (cover reproduced above) was the Souvenir Program for the five days of activities throughout the city. It lists hundreds of local residents as producers and participants.

When you visit
In the scene above, the parade marchers are headed south on Commercial Street, passing the former site of Douglas McKay's auto dealership at the northeast corner of the intersection with Marion Street. Not seen in the photograph, is a young Mark Hatfield, parading with the Salem High School band. Traffic still flows south at that intersection, but the Marion Street Bridge, added in 1954, now brings a stream of vehicles east from West Salem. Mr. McKay's business, which became Capitol Auto Group, is no longer at that location. The Marion Square Park, across Commercial to the west, is still an oasis of evergreen trees, although the grove was much diminished in the Columbus Day windstorm of 1962.

Other events

• The census reports Salem population as 30,908, one fifth the population of 2012.
• An important 1940 economic effect was the U.S. National Bank of Portland acquisition of a large portion of the Ladd and Bush Bank. Ladd and Bush Trust Company moved into the U.S. Bank building as Pioneer Trust Company. This historic institution continues to serve the Salem community as Pioneer Trust Bank.
• The first Salem family to suffer loss in World War II was that of Ralph Barnes, a foreign correspondent who had lived with his wife and two young daughters in the capitals of Europe during the years leading up to World War II. He had sent his family to England as combat began, but their safety was threatened by the German bombing of London. His wife Ester, Joan and Suzanne had returned home to Salem just a few months before Ralph died in an English reconnaissance flight crash over Yugoslavia.
• Families and friends gather at the 12th Street Railroad Station to say goodbye to young men leaving for National Guard duty.
• George Waters, in the local tobacco business, bought the Class B Western International League franchise in Bellingham, WA, and brought the pro team to Salem in 1940. On May 1, the Salem Senators christened the new Waters Field with 4,865 attendance and an 11-10 victory over the Yakima, WA, team with five runs in the ninth inning. The stadium of Waters Field later burned, leaving no prospect of rebuilding.
• The late George Strozut remembered that as a child of 7 in this year, he and other travelers were greeted with a prominent sign as they arrived at the local Greyhound bus station located at the north end of the Senator Hotel on High Street. The sign listed Salem statistics (including the fact that the population was 31,000) and concluded with the statement that the city was "99.9 percent white."

From the Capitol Journal:

• Salem was soon to become a port of call along United Airlines route between Vancouver, B. C. and San Diego.
• In July, Chairman Ray Stumbo, in charge of construction for the Salem Centennial Pageant to be staged at the fairgrounds, reported that 20 workman were already on the job. 100,000 feet of lumber would be required to build the mountain set 300 feet wide and 40 feet deep. That same month, Marion County Court gave the Salem Centennial Committee use of the Courthouse square during the celebration for the erection of an Indian village, Red Cross first aid station and a free trapeze set. In addition, Salem merchants announced that their stores would be closed for three big centennial parades. An opening fun parade would be on July 31. Succeeding days would see the pioneer parade and the major centennial parade. It was estimated that it would take three hours for the centennial parade to pass.
• In September, over 1,100 boys and girls were enrolled in the second year of Bible instruction classes in Salem public schools.
• Gov. Charles Sprague gave unqualified support to President Roosevelt's $1, 820, 000 national defense program, but doubted that the nation's civilians were prepared to stand up under total war.
• Salem Grange, under its Master, Zero Polaire, started a movement for registration of all aliens in the United States as a protection against fifth column treachery that President Roosevelt warned against.

(See Ben Maxwell's Salem, Oregon, edited by Scott McArthur, 2006.)