Demolition of a Historic Landmark

Looking from the east toward the Tower of the J Building at Oregon State Hospital, the beginning of the demolition is apparent. All except the original, 1894 Kirkbride section of the building is scheduled to be replaced. The entire hospital campus is on the National Register of Historic Places and only the buildings south of Center Street are effected by the construction of the new hospital facility. (Click on image to enlarge.)

The City Hall as Art

Eric asked, "Has anyone in Salem ever done a temporary installation by projecting a film or film loop on a building to be demolished?"
No, I can't remember that happening in Salem, Eric, but why wait to use demolition as an occasion for art? Here's the Barcelona City Hall splashed with color from one of many projections during in evening of celebration last September.
When and where can we do this?

Warehouse as History/Warehouse as Art

Seattle photographer Bruce Decker makes wonderful night images, and here's one of the soon to be demolished landmark looking beautiful and mysterious.

Salem on the Willamette ~ the historic view

This is a copy of a Statesman Journal photograph showing how the Salem industrial riverfront appeared before our beautiful Riverfront Park was created in the 1990s. The triangular Fry warehouse shows clearly in the upper center. More news of this historic structure appears below.

A Salem Landmark Passing into History

In case you missed it in the Statesman Journal, here's a photo of the 1920s Fry Warehouse as demolition begins. The developer plans to create an interpretive marker on the site to tell the story of this landmark. The former Boise-Cascade property downtown, of which this is a part, will be redeveloped for retail, condos, community activities and to open Pringle Creek as it enters the Willamette. Watch for news here!

A Lively Downtown Scene ~ Veracruz Style

In Mayor Taylor's State of the City address yesterday, she mentioned our need for Salem downtown community center. Here's another Veracruz photo: on Sunday nights families gather in the Zocalo to listen to a local band playing popular music to which couples of all ages waltz or samba.

We are in process of adding historical signs in our Salem Downtown Historic District. Here is an example of the ones you will find in Veracruz, Mexico. They are very proud of being the First City in America, being established by Cortez in 1519. Today it is a crossroads of Caribbean, European, African and Mexican cultures. On Sunday evenings, neighbors gather in the central plaza to watch couples of all ages dancing to waltzes and sambas.