Salem History Matters

  • Welcome!
  • What's New on Our Blog?
    • EPISODE LIST
  • Spotlight on History
  • Links We Like
  • Contact Us



WE'VE GOT A LOT WE WANT TO SHARE!
 
​HOW ABOUT YOU?

Download A Podcast

Historic Main Streets: Revitalizing Our Downtowns - Sheri Stuart & Hazel Patton

11/22/2019

0 Comments

 
PictureSheri Stuart (left) and Hazel Patton, Salem History Matters Show, 2019
November 21, 2019 Episode.

We are privileged to live in an area where preserving the multi-faceted tapestry of our history is important to us. This is especially evident in Salem's downtown core which was designated as a National Register Historic District in 2001.  Recently, folks who are particularly concerned about maintaining a vibrant life in our historic downtown banded together to preserve and promote that area. Hazel Patton, with the Salem Main Street Association, and Sheri Stuart, the coordinator for Oregon's Main Street Program, appeared on our radio program to tell us more about this program and how it can help revitalize the historic downtowns of cities within our state.  

PictureLaunch Party for Salem Main Street Association, March 2016 [Photo: SMSA-FB]
Hazel, a longtime community activist with a deep love of the history of our area, told us that a group of Salem folks who were passionate about the historic downtown area began meeting together a few years ago to brainstorm ideas to improve the vitality and vibrancy of the downtown and riverfront areas. For several years, there had been no cohesive organization to promote and advocate for the downtown core, and the merchants and property owners were feeling this void.  So, in March 2016 these civic-minded folks formally organized under the umbrella of the Salem Main Street Association (SMSA), and chose the Main Street program as the best vehicle to achieve their stated goals. 

Picture
The SMSA is currently comprised of four working committees. The Design Committee’s goal is to enhance the downtown’s visual appeal and its connections to the riverfront through aesthetic-forward design, while creating an inviting pedestrian environment. The Economic Vitality Committee works to strengthen the downtown as the regional shopping, dining, and entertainment center in the heart of the Willamette Valley. The Organization Committee’s goal is to develop a cohesive, strong, sustainably funded organization with downtown stakeholders working together to achieve tangible results. And, most visibly, the Promotion Committee works to create enticing events and marketing strategies to draw residents and visitors to experience vibrant downtown Salem. 

The Promotion committee oversees recurring events such as First Wednesdays and On Your Feet Fridays, among other pop-up events. One of their most recent events celebrated the businesses that have been taking over the downtown alleyways by promoting a contest to name the alleyways within the historic district's downtown core.

SMSA reached out to the Historic Landmarks Commission for some historic background for potential names, and the public voted during downtown events this past summer. Eight of the nine designated alleyways were named, with the ninth name being determined by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde to commemorate our Native American heritage. The City has installed sign-toppers on the street signs, and the alley names will be marked in the concrete being installed as part of planned upcoming street improvements.

To read the HLC report, click here. To view a larger map of the alleys, click here.​
Picture
Salem Alley Days, June 2019 [Photo: SMSA-FB]

Picture
Map Courtesy of City of Salem
Picture[Courtesy of Oregon Main Street Program]
Sheri Stuart advised us that the Oregon Main Street Program is managed by the  Heritage Division of the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department and follows the protocol of a national program administered by the National Main Street Center of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. There are four levels of participation that communities may consider. State staff then assist them in setting up the organizational pieces, such as the formation of a nonprofit corporation, providing technical and grant assistance, and then follows them through the ensuing process. 
​
Currently there are 91 communities all across Oregon participating in the program at one of the four levels. The graphic above denotes those communities participating at the higher levels. For a list of all the participating communities, check out their website highlighted above.

We are so very fortunate that a national organization expended the effort and resources to produce and promote a program that could be the very lifeline for our historic downtowns. If you know of a community struggling with its downtown viability and sense of place, share this information with them. 

Here in Salem, we are grateful for those in our community who have the desire and vision to investigate and then invest in these improvements that will mean a brighter and more secure future for our character-defining historic downtown.

To listen to the full recorded episode, click here.
~~Posted by Deb Meaghers
0 Comments

Historic Preservation Report--Things Are Changing: Kimberli Fitzgerald

11/1/2019

0 Comments

 
PictureWest intersection of Commercial and State Street, snow storm of 1937. Griswold-Murphy Building at left, Pioneer Trust Building at right [Salem Public Library Historic Photo Coll.]
October 24, 2019 Episode.

The area near the intersection of Commercial and State Streets in Salem's downtown core was the first hub of commerce in our early years. This was where you went "to town," and the city soon quickly developed around --and even over--it in the ensuing years. Soon this area within the Salem Downtown Historic District will have a totally different look. Kimberli Fitzgerald, Historic Preservation Officer for the City of Salem, joined us once again to provide an update on current and proposed historic preservation projects happening in our town center.

The parcel at the southwest corner of Commercial and State Street once housed the two-story 1858 Griswold Building/Opera House (the first brick block in Salem), followed by the three-story Griswold-Murphy Building until 1940, and then the newly constructed Murphy Building--until it burned down in 2006. In recent memory, Hogg Brothers' Furniture and McMahan's Furniture were located there, but over the years it has also been home to the Capitol Hotel, the Oregon Statesman newspaper, Les Newman's clothing and shoe store, the New Shanghai Chinese restaurant, Perry's Drugstore and the Schreder-Berg Grocery. In the late 1880s, the Masonic Hall leased space there, and the public library was on the third floor.
Picture
Picture
The 1858 Griswold Building-Opera House, left. The Griswold-Murphy Building c1940, above; [Photos: SPL-HPC]
PictureKoz on State - Nishioka Building will have retail uses along State Street, with the lobby for residential use on Commercial Street. [Rendering: City of Salem]
Now addressed as 260 State Street, a new mixed-use building with retail uses on the ground floor and residential apartments on the upper floors is being constructed.

​Due to its sensitive location, an archaeological monitor was onsite when the brick foundation of the former building was uncovered. The "inadvertent discovery" was documented and the construction work continues. 

Picture[Photo: shineonsalem.org]
Further south on Commercial Street, at the intersection of Ferry Street, is the original site of the Holman Building, later the Marion Car Park & Rental. The history of the original Holman Building is now being given new life in the form of the new Holman Riverfront Hotel.

​As you may recall from earlier stories, the Holman Building was the center of  Oregon state government following the burning of the first Capitol building, from 1857 until 1876 when the second Capitol Building was constructed.

In the before-after photos (left) from the SHINE website, the original Holman Building is seen c1940 (top) and the Marion Car Park, c2000.  

Picture[Rendering of Holman Riverfront Hotel: City of Salem]
The developers  of the Holman Riverfront Hotel plan to showcase  the illustrious history of its namesake in the designs for the interior of the new building. Below is an architectural rending of the proposed building.

Kimberli also advised that there will be a proposal for redeveloping the Laundry Building and water tower at the former Fairview Training Center site coming before the Historic Landmarks Commission in the near future. The new owner is proposeing to redevelop the building into a rollerskating rink and a women's medical facility.

​Another proposal expected soon is for construction of an accessory structure at the historic AC Gilbert Children's Museum site to house the new Bubble House, relocating the ever-popular museum attraction that was closed a few years ago to prevent further damage to the historic building. We'll keep you posted as these proposals move through the City's review processes.
October was Archaeology Month in Oregon, with the focus being on public archaeology. Additional research on the Chinese-American history was presented. Kimberli continues to build her "bone collection" to further enhance the outreach to Salem's school children, as well as to promote interest in future public archaeology projects in the Salem area. We certainly look forward to the opportunities such projects afford our community to learn more about our ancestors and our interwoven history.
PictureAsylum Line trolley sweeps through the neighborhood, c1891 [Photo: SPL-HPC]
Speaking of public archaeology, during a Public Works street project in the Court Chemeketa Residential Historic District, tracks from a line of our first trolley network, the Asylum Line, were uncovered in the roadbed. We have included a couple pictures of what they found, but you can see more in the full Staff Report linked here.

Picture
[Photo: City of Salem Public Works Dept.]
The photograph on the left depicts a curving section of trolley track found in the middle of 14th Street NE. The photograph to the right shows a straight section. Four sections were discovered during the street project.
Picture
[Photo: City of Salem Public Works Dept.]
Whether in her role as the City's Historic Preservation Officer or as its only Staff Archaeologist, the citizens of our community are well served by Ms. Fitzgerald's ability to facilitate complex projects and her passion for sharing our history in its many forms.  The preservation of our shared heritage is in good hands!  

To listen to the full podcast, click this link.
~~Posted by Deb Meaghers
0 Comments

    Your Hosts

    Deb Meaghers and Christy Van Heukelem, historians and authors, are passionate about the history of Salem and the entire mid-Willamette Valley.  We love sharing our enthusiasm for our rich historic legacy with others.  

    Picture
    Deb
    Picture
    Christy

      You Can Join in the Fun! 

    Subscribe to Blog

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photo used under Creative Commons from Johnath