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What a Year!  Our Favorite Shows

1/29/2016

 
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December 31, 2015 Episode.

Our show has been airing for one entire year--how could that be?  We have interviewed so many interesting folks and learned so much more about our area and its history than we ever would have imagined, and had great fun while doing so.  Today, Kimberli and Deb talked about some of their favorite shows of the past year.

PictureMcRae Carmichael, Sunday Streets
Kimberli started out by saying her favorite show was when we chatted with Lynn Mack, the impetus for the West Salem book, because this was a labor of love for her. Kimberli introduced Deb to Lynn, who share a mutual interest in the history of West Salem, and encouraged the collaboration on this book.  This experience spawned another collaboration, this time with Sue Rohde working on the Dallas book and spending time at a little gem of a museum in Rickreall run by the Polk County Historical Society.

PictureDennis Griffin, State Archaeologist
Kim admitted she was surprised how much she enjoyed learning about the darker side of history in our sate.  She enjoyed hearing about Salem Ghost Tours with Tim King (April 12 episode), who brings such a diverse journalistic experience to his current project. John Ritter shared his discoveries about the darker underbelly of Salem, the opium dens and secret fraternal groups.  Both of us, along with our engineer Jim Wilson, noted that our conversation with Diane Goeres-Gardner (December 3) was a real favorite.  Her research into crime and punishment in early Oregon fascinated us.  She has also written on the Oregon State Prison, the Insane Asylum, and several books on women and crime.  ​

PictureTammy Wild, Keizer Book
Deb mentioned that spending time with two women who she considers to be mentors was especially enjoyable.  We talked with Virginia Green (January 15), a relatively new Salemite who found our history to be very interesting and set out to document it and share it with others in town in a variety of formats.  Hazel Patton (February 26) has a long history of historic preservation in Salem, moving and renovating  historic homes, helping nominate an historic district or two, spearheading public participation such as was seen with the Riverfront Carousel project, and working to establish a Museum of Mental Health at the Oregon State Hospital.  Both of these women demonstrate that actively pursuing your interests with passion keeps one young at heart.

PictureStephenie Flora, Lee Mission Cemetery
Our four-part series on historic cemeteries allowed us to learn more about our ancestors and how to protect these sanctified areas.  We also learned the ins and outs of running historic museums and gardens from folks from Bush House, Historic Deepwood, Willamette Heritage Center, and the Lord & Schryver Conservancy. We talked with experts who shared their knowledge about archaeology, programs providing financial resources, and technical maintenance expertise.  We chatted with area authors and learned more of the history of neighboring communities, Keizer, Silverton, Woodburn.  We went "behind the scenes" with the owners of major rehabilitation projects in the downtown area and  were welcomed into the homes of the Grant Neighborhood, Salem's first Heritage Neighborhood.  We explored the history of African Americans, famous cartoonists, and western architecture.
Whew--all this in just a half hour every week!!

PictureJim Wilson, Engineer Extraordinaire
​​Salem History Matters will be on hiatus for a few weeks so we can recoup and recharge.  In the meantime, Encore Episodes of the show will be aired. You can also access our recorded archives by clicking the Downloads and Podcasts button at the top of the page.  Chat with you later!

Historic Preservation - Year-End Review

1/22/2016

 
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December 24, 2015 Episode.

My, oh my!  How this year has flown by!  We've spoken about so many historic preservation projects this year.  Kimberli Fitzgerald, Salem's Historic Preservation officer, joined us today to provide updates on many of these projects. She began with an update on the work of the Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC).  In 2010, Salem adopted a new 20-year historic preservation plan, and as part of that plan there were five main goals. Kimberli reported that as of 2015, the HLC had completed most of these goals, which included developing and implementing a more user-friendly historic preservation code; expanding education and public outreach opportunities; developing recognition/award and incentive programs; protecting neighborhood resources (Heritage Neighborhoods); and enhancing heritage tourism and local history by developing partnerships with other heritage groups (Salem Heritage All Star Forum).  Work is continuing and will build on each of these main goals.

PictureArchitectural Rendering
The HLC reviewed a record 50 design review cases in 2015, signifying the improving economy. The construction of the adaptive therapy playground by Salem Hospital on the site of the former Oregon Blind School should be completed soon.  The popular but problematic Bubble Room at AC Gilbert's Discovery Village will be reopened in a newly constructed separate Bubble Structure. An eco-play area is also planned for the south end of this facility.  The renovation of Salem's REA Baggage Depot continues and is nearing completion.  For up-to-date reports, check out the ODOT webpage. 

On a sadder note, the City Council decided not to purchase and renovate LeBreton Hall on the Fairview campus as part of the proposed public park, and encouraged the owner to demolish the building prior to the City's finalizing the property purchase. Additional processes will come into play as the park's master plan is developed, with opportunities for public input. 

The City has the charge to document and preserve historic resources, both above and below the ground. As a result of recent Public Works projects, one which uncovered rail lines under High Street, the City identified a need to be more proactive in documenting below-ground historic resources so as to not overly delay construction. To this end, they are developing an agreement with the SHPO/Archaeology Division which will include creation of a map of known resources (rail lines, etc.) which could allow for an expedited permitting system, shortening the current 30-day process.  
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Furthermore, state law restricts access to the existing database of archaeological sites to a licensed archaeologist. Having an archaeologist on staff would benefit both the City staff and the public, as more timely and cost-effective expertise could be provided. To this end, Kimberli will be undertaking a two-year online course of training to become an archaeologist! Actual purview and duties for this unique cooperative position has not yet been resolved [will she also be the City Archaeologist?], but we know that all will benefit even further from her ability to share her knowledge in a practical way. We anticipate her adding an Indiana Jones-type Fedora to her collection of changing hats very soon!

Rearranging History, Part 2: Making Room for Progress?

1/8/2016

 
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December 17, 2016 Episode.

​The west-facing State Capitol building was destroyed by fire in 1935; only a few sections of exterior masonry walls remained. Many state agencies were also housed here and a majority of their archival records were lost. The need to replace the seat of Oregon's government, along with the need to house the expanding government services the populace now demanded, ushered in an era of ongoing redevelopment and expansion of what would be known as the Capitol Mall. In order to impact fewer existing institutional and commercial  buildings, it was decided to reorient the Capitol to the north, a decision fraught with impact for the area to the north known as Piety Hill--home to many of the affluent and powerful. 

PicturePiety Hill, as photographed in 1910.
Many of the homes in Piety Hill were demolished in the 1935-40 development of the new Capitol Mall, while some were saved and relocated. As expansion continued, this area was again impacted about every 20 years: the 1950s, the 1970s, the 1990s, and the early 2000s. Ten houses were relocated; 34 residences were demolished. In an attempt to master his world, man invents and improves, forcing progress forward.  But the price society pays for this progress is too often exacted by ripping ragged holes in the fabric of its shared history.

In an earlier posting, Rearranging History, Part 1 (11/22/2015) we included photos of many residences that were relocated. Today we'll highlight some of those that were demolished.   Building of the Oregon State Library and the Sunken Garden (1937-38) caused 3 houses to be relocated and 6 demolished.
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Henry Meyers House
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W.I. Staley House
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Cooke Patton House
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Gov. Z. Moody/Thomas Kay House
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Oregon State Library, Sunken Garden & Public Services Building, 1938
For the Public Services Building (1938-48), 5 were demolished:
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Spaulding House
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A.N. Bush House
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Estelle Bush Thayer House
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AN Bush & Dr. Robertson Houses
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Spaulding & Miles Houses
For the Transportation Building (1943-52), 3 houses were relocated and at least 4 removed. 
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McNary-McLeod House
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Transportation Building complete 1952
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Barnes House
By 1962, expansion of the North Capitol Mall for the Labor & Industries Building (1958-61) would further decimate the area.  Some of those lost treasures are included below.
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Pearce House & "auto" house
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Murphy/Bishop House
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Rigdon House
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Fleming House
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Moving the First Presbyterian Church
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Making room for the Labor & Industries Building on the Capitol Mall.
We are indebted to Virginia Green and her son T.N. Green, Jr., for their dedication in photographically documenting Salem's history in their five blogs, especially "Salem's Moving History," and for allowing us access to their research which preserves the stories of our Lost Treasures for future generations.

    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.  

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    Deb
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    Christy

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