Salem in 1956

World Events

• Gamal Abdul Nassar nationalizes the British and French controlled Suez Canal, hoping to use tolls to pay for dam on the Nile. Israel invaded Egypt, but due to international pressure the Israeli forces left in March, 1957. The Canal reopened under Egyptian control.
• The Hungarians revolt against the Warsaw Pact. Soviet forces agreed to negotiate, but then moved to crush the rebellion resulting in mass executions and arrests. 200,000 refugees fled the country.
• Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon re-elected as President and Vice President for second terms.
• Negroes in Montgomery with Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. as a leader, begin boycott after Rosa Parks is arrested for sitting in the front section of a city bus.
• The Andrea Doria sinks off Nantucket Island.
• Interstate Highways approved as important to national defense.
• "Rock and Roll" takes over popular music with Elvis Presley becoming a star attraction.
• "Around the World in Eighty Days" was this year's film that won the Academy Award (1957). National Book Award (Fiction): Ten North Frederick, John O'Hara.

In Salem

Paul Wallace leaves 24 acres of prime riverfront land in a bequest to the citizens of Salem. Subsequent purchases and gifts have increased the size of Wallace Marine Park to 68 acres. Although it quickly became a popular place for riverfront recreation during the basic development of the park, it was not designed or constructed to resist the high waters of the Willamette River: the Christmas flood of 1964 swept away the two boat launching ramps, roadways and picnic facilities that had been developed. New facilities were constructed in 1967.

When you visit
Many recreational opportunities are available in our largest park with softball tournaments especially popular and well attended. There is a boat launching dock, places for individuals who like to fish, picnic benches and walking trails. In 2009, the Union Street Railroad Bridge and Trestle was renovated as a pedestrian and bicycle path, connecting our two parks, Waterfront Park on the east side of the Willamette River and Wallace Marine Park on the west side. New sidewalks, including one leading to a river-viewing platform, have been constructed by the city in 2012. New paved walk/biking trails are completed around the sports fields and between the Union Street Trestle and Glen Creek Road are completed in 2014.
In 1969, a Parks and Recreation Advisory Board was established. Anyone interested in the development of Salem public parks and playgrounds is invited to apply. All residents are invited to become volunteers: The Salem Parks Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote, develop, facilitate, and sustain stewardship dedicated to the enhancement of the parks of our city. It is also affiliated with the Oregon Cultural Trust. Their public meetings are 1st Thursdays, 6 p.m., Parks Operation Building #14, on 22nd. Street.

Other events

• His political supporters convinced Douglas McKay to leave his appointment as US Secretary of the Interior to run against Wayne Morse for the United States Senate. This was the first election McKay lost. He then served President Eisenhower on the International Waterways Commission.
• A five year effort by the YMCA is completed. In 1951, the Nelson property on Court Street, adjoining the Y had been purchased, and a Capital Fund drive organized. By 1954, funds were raised and the new Youth Wing was completed in 1956.
• St. Timothy's Episcopal Church is established with temporary locations. It would be twelve years before their sanctuary on Ladd Avenue would be completed.
• Business events include the opening of the American Can Company and the closing of Hunt Brothers cannery with their location acquired by the Keith Brown Lumber Company.

• The Chamber of Commerce moves into new headquarters on Cottage Street. This Colonial style residence had been the home of George Rodgers, a former mayor and president of the Salem Paper Company. The property, on the northeast corner of Cottage and Court Streets, had originally been the location of the property of Joseph Holman, outstanding pioneer merchant at the founding of the city. The Chamber occupied this building until 1995 when it moved and the YMCA bought the property. The building burned in 1997.
• The 1952 Turner Reservoir is in full operation this year when J. L. Fransen retires as our first City Manager. The reservoir is named for him. Kent Mathewson receives an enhanced salary of $14,000 a year, compared to Fransen's $11,500.
• A photograph taken at the entrance of Lipman, Wolfe and Company store in downtown Salem shows mature ladies in dresses, most also in hats. Another catches a younger woman in full "poodle" skirt. Trousers on females would have been very unusual. The men appear to be dressed informally much as they are today.
• During the winter of 1956, the Capitol and the Elsinore operate only at night, except for Saturday and Sunday afternoon matinees. The Hollywood remains open as usual. A general lack of patronage, due to the popularity of TV home entertainment is the reason for closure.
• The L. H. McMahon home at 891 Front Street is still a charming cottage in 1956. Built by David McCully in 1864, it will continue to survive into the present (2010), although in a new location at 1365 John Street. The residence was purchased by Judge Leonard H. McMahan and his wife (the former Bertha Byrd) in 1919. After his death, she continued to live there until the house was severely damaged by a falling tree during the windstorm of 1962. The house was moved and became the residence of David Duniway. Mr. Duniway, Oregon State Archivist, was prominent in the promotion of Salem historic properties.

Salem in 1922

World Events

• Mahatma Gandhi is sent to prison in India for civil disobedience. His campaign for ahimsa (nonviolence) inspired movements for civil justice throughout the world.
• Egypt gains self-government from Britain, Fuad I becomes king. Later in the year, Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon are the first to enter King Tutankhamen's tomb in 3000 years.
• The Ottoman Empire is abolished after 600 years. The Turkish War of Independence was won under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal, later given the name Ataturk.
• Inflation is so high in Germany that it takes 7000 marks to exchange for a single U. S. dollar.
• In the Tea Pot Dome scandal, Secretary of the Interior Albert Fall is convicted of bribery in leasing of U.S. oil reserves, becomes the first Cabinet member to go to prison. 
• Louie Armstrong joins "King" Oliver's band; temperance leaders declare jazz to be "moral decadence". The Eskimo Pie is invented.
• In Paris, Sylvia Beach publishes Ulysses by James Joyce. In many American homes, readers enjoy One of Our Own by Willa Cather, the new book of Etiquette by Emily Post and Readers Digest. 

In Salem
Our Salem Chamber of Commerce dates back to 1884 when the Salem Board of Trade was established. The Illehee Club and the Commercial Club, meeting on the second floor of the Burke Building, made up the first "chamber" organization in 1913. In the post-war prosperity of the 1922 the three organizations were incorporated, taking the name “chamber of commerce” because of their association with the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. The Chamber has been dedicated to the promotion of Salem and the community: working with the federal government bring a new post office to Salem, to create Silver Falls State Park, and to relieve flooding through a Willamette Valley Project. The Chamber began the Long-Range Planning Commission in the 1940s to collaborate with government entities on zoning, transportation, taxation and education. Each year, a Leadership Group holds monthly meetings in various parts of Salem that acquaint these active citizens in both the assets and the concerns of the municipal organizations. The Chamber has made Salem's cultural heritage an important part of its wide ranging community support. One aspect of this Chamber contribution is their collection of more than a thousand historical photographs now online in the Oregon Historical Photograph Collection of the Salem Public Library. The SHINE feature you are now viewing uses many of these photographs to illustrate the story of Salem.

When you visit

The Chamber moved into the former Rodgers residence on Cottage Street in 1956. A 1963 photograph of Court Street shows the building in the background and the damage to Willson Park from the windstorm of the year previous. This Cottage Street building served the Chamber until 1995; unfortunately, this handsome structure was destroyed by fire two years later. The Chamber is now located in a facility built at the southeast corner of Market and Commercial Streets.



Other events

• A new sanctuary replaces the 1854 St. Paul's Episcopal Church at the southeast corner of Chemeketa and Court Streets. The old building is moved to an adjoining lot on Chemeketa Street. An undated photograph of the Rev. George Swift and his wife shows them standing in front of the next-door rectory. When the church was dismantled in 1954, the rectory was moved to Davidson Street, south of Bush Park. It is now a private residence on Court Street and a contributing property in the Gaiety Hill/ Bush Pasture Park Historic District. It is featured on that walking tour slide show on SHINE.

• Barber Shops were popular places for men to get together for a shave and haircut while discussing the news of the day. This one could well be our own OK Barber Shop at 337 State Street, a business that may be the longest established barber in Salem.
• In 1922 the PGE Building at 241 Liberty Street offers offices on the ground floor and the Electric Apartments on the second. It has recently been renovated to its original appearance and the familiar 1950s Anderson Sporting Goods facade removed. During research a few years ago, Luella Patton Charlton recalled living in a front apartment on the second floor during the early years of her marriage, 1927-8. See these pictures on the SHINE Downtown Walking Tour.
• Hal Patton, Luella's uncle, gives himself a 50th birthday party and invites all the most Salem prominent men to attend and speak about their lives. The remarks of a respected Chinese American, George Sun, were recorded in a printed booklet. George thanks the community for his fair treatment over the years, but regrets he is not able to vote although his children have this opportunity. "Why I be here fifty-four years altogether, why I cannot vote. I ought to be citizen too. They must make mistake. Something wrong. Well excuse. (Great applause)"
  
• The YMCA organizes Salem's first public playground programs.
• James and Greta Hiatt build a duplex on Winter Street. Mr. Hiatt was a mechanic with the State Highway Department and Mrs. Hiatt was a teacher at Garfield Elementary School. It appears the Hiatts never lived here and the two units were leased as separate rentals. The Hiatts sold the property in 1964. Still an attractive, double residence, it is a Local Landmark in the Grant neighborhood.

From the Capitol Journal:

• Salem businessmen figured they were richer by $29,000 by tourists at the municipal auto campgrounds (now Pringle Park) during 1922. Salem's up-to-date campground was kept clean, furnished wood for fuel, hot and cold water for showers, laundry trays, lavatories, stoves, tables and benches. Charge per day was 50 cents for the first day, 25 cents thereafter. Supt. T. G. Albert reported 2,810 patrons newly registered during 1922 and 3,001 layovers.
• Englewood and the northwest section of Salem were up in arms against a huge State Hospital manure pile and garbage dump in the area.  This aggregation of filth, neighbors declsred, was a breeding ground for billions of flies and millions of rats. An outbreak of diphtheria in the community was attributed to these dumps. (An epidemic was spreading at the time.)
• The City Council refused T. G. Bligh permission to place an electric sign in front of his hotel. Alderman Patton (see Hal Patton above) stated that during the state fair Bligh rented inside rooms without baths for $1.50 and $2. a night. This, the councilman insisted, was a downright insult to every member of the council and justified refusing Bligh any privilege whatsoever.
• Justice of the Peace G. F. Unruh gave persons coming before him and found guilty of excessive speed an alternative: either go to jail or drive the "reform car" that bore a placard: "This man is being taught the rues of the road." Since introduction of the reform care, no traffic violators had been arraigned in Salem's police court.

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