THE OFFICIAL WEBPAGE
OF ROBERT D. WEST
Living in Salem, Oregon for two years, I amassed a lot of pictures of the city; so many that one page wasn't enough. This is Part 4, featuring various places in Salem that don't fit in the other sections, including more modern buildings and anachronisms. The following links will jump to the other sections.
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Part 4: Miscellaneous Sites |
I referred to many internet resources for this project, including the City of Salem, the Salem Historic Landmarks Commission, Salem Online History, the Oregon Historic Photograph Collections, Salem Historical Quarterly and the Salem Oregon Community Guide. Other internet resources are linked throughout the pages. I also used a 1965-1966 copy of the Oregon Blue Book. Historical photographs and some graphics were photographed from interpretive displays at various locations in Salem. Most other graphics, including maps, are my own creations, though they may be based on maps from other sources.
Introduction
The items in this last section are things that I came across that I found interesting. Included here are some fairly modern Salem buildings, but most of these places are just unusual items; sometimes anachronistic traces that hint at a past long forgotten or simply unique signage that can't be found anywhere else.
1. Boise Cascade Mill
315 Commercial Street SE
In the 1860s,
the Salem Flouring Mill opened near here. In 1866, Capitol Lumbering
Company opened a sawmill next to the flour mill. In 1909 the Spaulding
Lumber Company bought the sawmill. In 1919, the Oregon Pulp & Paper
Company bought the flour mill company and built this paper mill building
in the 1920s. In 1949 it
was Salem's largest employer except for the
state. The sawmill closed in 1955.
Boise Cascade bought the paper mill
in 1962 and added a cardboard container plant in 1964. The pulp mill
closed in 1982, and the cardboard plant moved to the Fairview
Industrial Park in 1984. In January 2007, Boise Cascade announced the paper converting plant would
close in 9 months.
Additional Links:
Oregon Pulp & Paper Company at the Salem Oregon Community Guide
Historical Photos:
Oregon Pulp & Paper Plant, circa 1925
Oregon Pulp & Paper Company, 1920
Boise Cascade Mill Building, 1972-1975
Boise Cascade Mill Building, 1970-1975
Out
behind the Boise Cascade Mill are these two structures, which appear to
be some kind of tanks of silos that I think were part of the paper mill.
Adjacent to the Boise Cascade Mill is the Fry Warehouse, which was built in the 1920s and was used to store hops. The large, odd-shaped concrete building is a city-designated fallout shelter.
The
Southern Pacific Railroad once had tracks running down Trade Street to
connect the main line along 12th Street to the tracks along Front
Street. The Trade Street tracks are long gone, but they once skirted
right alongside the Fry Warehouse, and traces of them are still visible.
2. Southern Pacific Railroad Undercrossing
Portland Road NE
In
north Salem, the former Southern Pacific Railroad (now
Union Pacific)
main line crosses over Portland Road on this elaborate structure. This undercrossing was built under a cooperative agreement between the United
States Bureau of Public Roads and the Oregon State Highway Commission in
1936. Kern & Kibbe were the contractors.
In
addition to carrying the railroad over the road, there are also
sidewalks on both sides. The sidewalks are separated from the road and
are several feet above it. Gothic ironwork, far nicer than anything that
would be installed today, keeps pedestrians from throwing items into the
road
Other
details on the Art Deco undercrossing that wouldn't be seen in modern
highway construction include the decorative pillars at the end of the
handrails, and the Southern Pacific Railroad's herald in the concrete
above the roadway.
A similar undercrossing was built the same year in Oregon City.
3. Oregon Electric - A-Line Safety Committee Sign
Salem Industrial Drive NE
Also
in north Salem, the former Oregon Electric (O.E.) Railway (later
Burlington Northern Railroad and now the
Portland & Western Railroad)
had a small base of operations near Salem Industrial Drive. The Oregon
Electric was owned by the Spokane, Portland & Seattle (SP&S) Railway,
which also operated the route to Astoria nicknamed the "A Line." This
safety sign, which depicts the railroads in the game of Monopoly while
declaring "Railroading is not a game: work safely when on board" was
erected by the O.E. - A Line Safety Committee, and may predate the 1970
merger that absorbed the SP&S into the Burlington Northern Railroad.
4. Y.M.C.A.
685 Court Street NE
The
Salem YMCA was
established in 1892. This YMCA building was dedicated
on March 16, 1926. The building suffered a fire in 1962. By 1964, the
ground floor windows and entries were rebuilt, and they have mostly
stayed that way.
Historical Photos:
Additional Links:
Salem's YMCA at Salem Online History
YMCA Youth Wing
The
property for the YMCA's Youth Wing was purchased in 1951. Construction
funds were raised by 1954 and the Youth Wing of the YMCA was completed
in 1956.
Historical Photos:
Y.M.C.A. Youth Wing, November 3, 1967
The two main buildings of the Salem YMCA surround two other buildings on Court Street.
695 Court Street NE
I
don't know much about this three-story brick building, except that it is
at least as old as the YMCA building and has become home to the
Education Career & Healthy Opportunities (ECHO) youth group and the
NO METH
- Not In MY Neighborhood organization. I think it might be the old
Court Street Apartments building that the YMCA bought in 1972.
687 Court Street NE
This
building was built in 1951 by Donald Young & Robert DeArmond for their
law firm, which went on to become the
Sherman,
Sherman Johnnie & Hoyt firm. It has been the home of other law
practices and is currently the home of the
Ghioro Law Firm.
5. Salem Hospital - Center Street Campus
2561 Center Street NE
Salem's
first hospital opened on this site on January 1, 1896. Ground was broken
for a new building in 1917, but apparently stopped due to lack of funds.
Eventually this building was constructed. The Salem Hospital changed its
name to Salem General Hospital, perhaps to better distinguish it from
Salem
Deaconess
Hospital to the south. In 1969, Salem General Hospital merged with Salem
Memorial Hospital (formerly Salem Deaconess), the the merged hospital
took the simple name of
Salem Hospital. This facility is now used as the
Regional Rehabilitation Center and the Campbell Diabetes Education &
Nutrition Center.
Historical Photos:
Salem General Hospital, November 3, 1960
6. Salem Hospital - Winter Street Campus
665 Winter Street SE
Salem's
second hospital was founded on December 3, 1916 by Franz B. Wedel and
four Mennonite Deaconesses. Salem Deaconess Hospital and Home was
located in the old Capitol Hotel, which was on this site. The Mennonites
turned the hospital over to a board of Salem citizens in 1947, and it
was renamed Salem Memorial Hospital. It merged with Salem General
Hospital in 1969, becoming simply
Salem Hospital. The current building
was built in the late 1960s and 1970s, replacing the original building.
Historical Photos:
Salem Memorial Hospital, December 12, 1968
Additional Links:
Salem Hospital: A Century of Service at Salem Online History
7. Meier & Frank/Macy's
400 High Street NE
This
block was the site of Salem's first high school, which opened in 1906.
The school closed in 1936 with the opening of a new high school
building. The high school building didn't fill the entire block, and
part of it was occupied by the Valley Motor Company used car dealership.
The entire block, including the old school, was demolished in 1953 for
the construction of the Meier & Frank department store, which opened in
October, 1955. The store became
Macy's in 2006.
Historical Photos:
Salem High School, unknown date
Salem High School & Valley Motors Used Cars, 1953
Salem High School Demolition, 1953
Salem High School Demolition, 1953
Salem High School Demolition, 1953
Salem High School Demolition, 1954
8. J. C. Penney's
305 Liberty Street NE
A
two-story commercial building called the Nelson Building originally
stood on this corner. It still stood in 1963 but was demolished for the
construction of the J. C. Penney's department store, which was completed
by the beginning of 1965.
Historical Photos:
J. C. Penney's, January 2, 1965
9. Nordstrom/Salem Center Mall
401-420 Center Street NE
The
northeast corner of Liberty & Chemeketa was originally the site of the
First Church of Christ Scientist, which was demolished in November,
1963. In 1979, most of the block was cleared for the construction of
Salem's Nordstrom store and the Nordstrom Mall, which were open by 1980.
The Nordstrom Mall was later renamed the
Salem Center Mall.
Additional Links:
First Church of Christ Scientist at Salem Online History
Historical Photos:
Christian Science Church demolition, November, 1963
Christian Science Church demolition, November, 1963
Nordstrom Mall site, February 6, 1979
Nordstrom Mall Entrance at High & Center, February 27, 1980
10. Mervyn's/Kohl's
450 Marion Street NE
The
block north of Nordstrom is also part of the
Salem Center Mall and
includes another anchor space on the north half of the block. This
anchor was occupied by Mervyn's for many years, but the store closed in
February, 2007. The space was taken over by
Kohl's, which opened later
that year.
11. Movieland
501 Marion Street NE
This
theater near the Salem Center Mall is called Movieland. It is a
seven-screen multiplex that is the primary movie theater in the downtown
area. It is operated by
Regal Cinemas.
12. Marion Square Parkade
400 Marion Street NE
Also
near the the Salem Center Mall is the Marion Square Parkade, a
multilevel parking garage operated by the
City
of Salem.
13. Liberty Plaza
285 Liberty Street SE
This
corner was once home to a gas station and Gevurtz Furniture. They were
demolished and the Lipman's department store was built by 1955.
Lipman's became Frederick & Nelson in 1979, and the store closed in
1987. The building was extensively renovated and opened as Liberty Plaza November 7,
1996.
Historical Photos:
14. Equitable Center
530 Center Street NE
Equitable
Center is one of Salem's largest and tallest office buildings. It was built
in 1978. The ground floor is occupied by a
Bank of America branch.
Additional Links:
Equitable Center at the Salem Oregon Community Guide
Historical Photos:
Equitable Building Under Construction, May 20, 1975
15. Mill Race Plaza
Mill
Race Plaza on the south side of Trade Street was built as part of a 1972
Urban Renewal Project. When the buildings in this area were built, the
mill race was incorporated into a park-like setting. The park spans two
blocks; this is the western block,
which
features a concrete structure with artificial waterfalls. The park may
have originally been called Mill Race Park, before the city of Salem
created its own Mill Race Park near the Waller Dam. Mill Race Plaza is a
popular hangout for Mallard ducks.
Historical Photos:
The
park in the eastern block has a much more natural look. Like the other
block, it is a popular hangout for Mallard ducks, as well as Canadian
geese.
The following video shows the ducks and goose at Mill Race Plaza
16. Prudential Building
340 Vista Avenue SE
This
blue-colored four-story office building is the tallest building in south
Salem. It was occupied by
Prudential Real Estate and is now occupied by
RE/MAX Real Estate.
Additional Links:
Prudential Building at the Salem Oregon Community Guide
17. Spinnaker Pointe
2250 McGilchrist Street SE
The
Spinnaker Pointe office building is located at the northwest corner of
Webb Lake.
18. Spinnaker Place
2501 25th Street SE
The
Spinnaker Place office building at the northeast corner of Webb Lake was
completed in 2000 as a complement to Spinnaker Pointe.
Additional Links:
Spinnaker Place at the Salem Oregon Community Guide
19. Salmon Run
471 High Street SE
Salmon
Run is a LEED-certified mixed-use building that was completed in the
2000s by Curry Brandaw Architects & Contractors. It features high-end
condominiums on the top floor with office space on the other floors. The
lobby paneling and exterior facade are
Prodema
Bakelite-resin wood-veneer
panels.
The salmon sculpture mounted on the exterior is by Josh McMurrin and is
called Copper Skillet. It was inspired by fish-shaped copper
moulds. The sculpture's copper overlaps like a fish's scales and the
nose and forehead are beaten as if it had fought its way up a river. The
sculpture was part of the 2005 "Salmon in the City" art project in
downtown Salem, and was
sponsored
by Brent and Natsumi Neilsen.
20. Don Pedro's Time Mexican & American Food
3560 Portland Road NE
I
don't know much about Don Pedro’s
Time Mexican & American Food in north Salem, but it does have an
impressive sign.
21. Rock-n-Rogers Diner
3235 Market Street NE
There
are two Rock-n-Rogers
Diners in Salem. The first location opened in 1987; I'm not sure if it
was this location or the other one. In any case, this location features
a sign made out of a pink 1959
Cadillac four-door hardtop, and I can't
resist car signs.
22. Lefty's
1230 State Street
This
building was built in 1979. Karen and John Graham opened Lefty's, a
restaurant and music venue, in mid 2003. It was named after their
daughters, who are all left handed. Lefty's suddenly closed in October
2007.
23. OK Tires
2305 Commercial Street NE
This
is one of two Salem-area tire stores that use identical large vintage
neon signs. Both are fully functional. This is the north location.
24. OK Tires
1820 12th Street SE
This
is the OK Tires sign at the southern location. I don't know how old
these signs are, or why they don't see to found anywhere else.
25. Campbell Communications Company
1865 12th Street SE
The
home of
Campbell Signs/Campbell Communications Company is an eccentric
building, which I assume is at least partly intended to showcase
possibilities for potential customers. I personally really like the
train mural, painted on what looks like an overhead door. It is
surrounded to look like the train is
emerging
from a tunnel. The number plate of the locomotive is the address of the
building.
Campbell
Signs/Campbell Communications Company also has a custom-built replica of
a military
tank. It is built on a 1974
Cadillac Coupe deVille chassis,
retaining most of the Cadillac features, and was completed in April
,1998. It is 21 feet long and over 8 feet wide and is street legal to
drive in Oregon.
26. RC Cola/7-Up Bottling Company
2461 Pringle Road SE
This
building once belonged to the
RC Cola/7-Up Bottling Company. Today it is
the home of Rose Paper Products.
27. Union 76 Station
2315 Commercial Street SE
As of 2007, this Union 76 Station retains its classic orange & blue
styling, including its orange ball sign, which still lights up and
rotates, despite all other local 76 station having long converted to the
new red monument style.
Here's a video clip of the rotating ball
28. South Salem Drive In
365 Lancaster Drive SE
The
South Salem Drive In closed in the mid 1990s.
Regal Cinemas' Santiam 11 opened on the site in
1999, but uses a different entrance. This sign was still standing
through 2007.
Additional Links:
South Salem Drive In at CinemaTour
South Salem Drive In at Waymarking
29. Southern Pacific Grade Crossing Signal
Lancaster Drive SE
The Southern Pacific built
a branch line between Salem and Geer. The
Willamette Valley Railroad leased the Geer Branch from 1993 to its
abandonment in 1995. Aerial photos suggest this crossing was removed by
May, 1994. This signal stood until 2007. Its mate was gone by 2000.
30. Coffee In Motion
2420 Mission Street SE
According
the side away from the road, this double-decker bus was once part of a
restaurant known as The London Eatery. I assume that the building behind
the bus was the restaurant (its now an Adult Shop) and the bus was just
a attention-
getting
marketing device. Today, the bus serves as a unique espresso stand.
The
former restaurant's sign still stands, unused, as does a very old stop
sign and exit sign.
31. Key Bank - Candalaria Branch
2725 Commercial Street S
This old bank
building in the Candalaria Shopping Center was a bit of a mystery. Based
on its architecture, it would seem to have been built as a Western
Security Bank branch, as it shares a certain look with other former
Western Security Banks in Salem. The remaining signage is that of
Key Bank, though many years
out of date. Information on the
Oregon
Department of Consumer & Business Services Division of Finance and
Corporate Securities website suggests that the Key Bank of Oregon
Candalaria Branch closed in the latter half of 1996. Based on the
interior decor, I would have thought it had been much longer. The
building, or at least part of it, were used as an antique mall by
Spencer's Alley. The building was demolished in March, 2007, after a
liquidation sale in February when I took the opportunity to look inside
and take the following pictures of obsolete bank design.
Some
of the less conspicuous Key Bank signage was still in place on the
exterior of the building, advertising the long irrelevant and/or
disappeared night depository and 24-hour banking center, which I assume
was an ATM.
Across
Candalaria Boulevard is another canopy that matches those of the bank
building's drive throughs. Apparently built to cover drive-up ATM which
have long-since been removed, this structure remained after the bank
building was demolished.
Though
the bank's interior was already pretty torn up, there were some
interesting interior details that hinted at just how long this bank
building has been vacant. The dark woodwork, dark brown leather seating
and brass light fixtures haven't been seen in banks in years, if not
decades. I've never seen anything like that seating wrapped around the
column.
Though
a lot of bank equipment was long gone, the drive-up windows are
pretty-much intact. Even the vintage microphones were still in place.
The
vault was also still in place, although that wasn't as much of a
surprise. But, how often do you get a good look at a bank vault? And
more importantly, how often are you allowed to take pictures? The
Diebold Vault Ventilator was inside.
Here
is the aftermath on March 17, 2007, with the demolition almost complete.
Most of what is still standing is vault walls (the vault door was
actually still in place at this point). The drive-up teller station
photographed above can still be seen in the remains.
Jump back to one of the previous sections.
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Part 4: Miscellaneous Sites |
Salem Links
Salem Historic Landmarks Commission
Oregon Historic Photograph Collections
Oregon Department of Transportation Highway - Geo-Environmental Section: Architecture
Marion County Historical Society
Also See:
PLACES - Kelso-Longview, Washington
PLACES - Antique Powerland, Brooks, Oregon
PLACES - Evergreen Aviation Museum, McMinnville, Oregon
All website content, including graphics and pictures are © Robert D. West unless otherwise noted. Content is not to be used out of the context of this webpage without expressed permission. Any opinions expressed herein are mine and are not necessarily shared by the Milwaukee School of Engineering, or anyone else.
Questions? Comments? Critiques? Corrections? Concerns? Email me at westr@msoe.edu.