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Preservation in Salem - 2017 & Beyond Kimberli Fitzgerald, City of Salem

1/20/2018

 
PictureLooking NW from Capitol Dome, 1900. (Photo: Salem Public Library)
January 18, 2018 Episode.
We can count on it being a good day when we are joined by our friend and colleague Kimberi Fitzgerald, Salem's Historic Preservation Officer.  Kimberli always has her finger on the pulse of current and upcoming projects, things the Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC) may be working on, as well as various educational opportunities for those with an interest in our history.  And did we say, she loves to share all kinds of information with our listeners?  We asked Kimberli to look back on the historic preservation projects of 2017, and to then look forward to what might be anticipated in 2018.

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Focusing first on the work of the HLC, Kimberli said that new members had been appointed to replace two retiring commissioners.  Carroll Cottingham has a Masters in Historic Preservation and has worked with the National Park Service, the keeper of the National Register of Historic Places. Carroll currently works with ODOT.  Lindsey Kerr also has a Masters in Historic Preservation, along with one in public horticulture, and is the curator and director of the Lord & Schryver Garden-Gaiety Hollow. Kimberli said that the HLC is at full capacity for the first time in several years.

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The HLC reviews its work plan each year as it develops the plan for the coming year. This report is then presented to the City Council. You can access the full 2018 work plan report here. 

Some of the highlighted accomplishments from 2017 included the designation of the SESNA neighborhood as a Heritage Neighborhood. In this program, city staff worked with neighborhood members to review their historic resources and develop ways to enhance the awareness of this heritage within its own community and the city.  A photo calendar was created, as were several walking tours. "History Wrappers" are planned for four utility vault installations. Learn more at SESNA's website.

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May is nationally designated as Historic Preservation Month. In 2017, the HLC sponsored another hands-on window workshop, along with one on seismic retrofitting. These two highly demanded workshops are again being offered in 2018.  SHPO also hosts their Historic Preservation Fair, which had 27 historic/heritage organizations participating in 2017. The "This Place Matters" photo contest had 33 entries in 2017, with even more anticipated for this year's event. This is the time of year, too, that the HLC announces it's winners for the Ben Maxwell Award, for the best historic preservation project, and the Virginia Green Award, which recognizes an individual who demonstrates exemplary service in historic preservation. 

Speaking of projects, the HLC awarded almost $12,000 in Toolbox grants in 2017, and over $60,000 since the program's inception in 2011. This public/private partnership grant program helps private homeowners maintain their historic resources. This program will continue in 2018, with two grant cycles being available. The program now adds seismic retrofitting projects to the list of eligible work.  The City is also looking at a developing a similar program to help owners of the large brick buildings in the Downtown area with retrofitting these vulnerable buildings. As all our historic resources provide a benefit to the public, it is seemly that the public should help with their maintenance. 
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In the 2018 Work Plan, the HLC identified a desire to educate and further honor the diverse heritage within our community by including their commemorations within the HLC calendar. These will include African American History in February, Asian Pacific Heritage in May, Hispanic Heritage in September, Native American Heritage in November, and National Archaeology Month in October. In order to improve public outreach and education to the Native American community, the HLC will work with the Legislative Commission on Indian Services (LCIS) to identify the tribes with deep historic and cultural ties to the City of Salem.  At the request of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, a Memorandum of Understanding is being developed to further enhance communication and cooperation between the two entities.  

Other goals for 2018 include working with a new Heritage Neighborhood, NESCA-Lansing, updating the survey information on the Downtown Historic District formed in 2001, and producing another interactive GIS map which adds an archaeology layer. The GIS staff at the City continually develop and upload maps on a number of topics. There is one map that I use often that identifies our historic resources just by clicking on any location.  Find other maps on the City's website, although you may have to click through the different pages to locate what you want. It's not the most user-friendly site.
There are a number of opportunities for you to become involved in planning for the future in several areas. There will be a review of the city's Comprehensive Plan and its historic preservation component beginning this Spring. An advisory committee on public archaeology/Chinese Shrine project has also been formed and desires public input. Check out the websites we highlighted above or contact Kimberli by email or phone at 503.540.2397.  Our community is ever so much better when we are involved in making it so.

Year in Review - Our New "Yesterday's Voices" Series

1/4/2018

 
PictureDeb & Christy - 2017
January 4, 2018 Episode.
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As we enter into our fourth year of this broadcast adventure, Christy, Jim and I were reminiscing about the great opportunities we had in 2017 through our new Yesterday's Voices series to share the stories of some very wonderful folks who have lived in our area for many years.
 
2017 was the year Christy joined us as co-host and brought forth this idea to do a series of personal interviews with some of the "living legends" who helped shape the personality of our town and its environs. As you recall, Christy is an avid genealogist and loves to discover family connections through the years. She views history as it affects families, so she fits right in with our philosophy of making history meaningful in our contemporary lives.
 

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Christy & Norma Hamilton Cochran, 2017
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Christy & Patricia Zahare Ellis, 2017
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Mary Kay & Stuart Compton, 2017
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Wally & Gloria Carson, 2017
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David Rhoten
Photographs are such an important avenue to bring history alive. We're going to revisit our conversations with these lovely folks and also provide a link to Blog Post of their episode if you'd like to revisit their stories.

Norma Hamilton Cochran is a spunky, energetic lady who shared her life as a young person in Salem--going to the Prom on the City Bus was one--and also her long career in nursing in Salem hospitals. Her Stump-Hamilton roots grow deep in Polk County and Salem, including a first nursing home/hospital and an undertaking business which grew into a long-time Salem furniture business.  

Speaking of spunk,  Patricia Zahare Ellis spent a summer during college living with another schoolgirl friend in rural Mexico. Pat also spoke about growing up in the very agricultural Hazelgreen area in north Salem, working hard on the family farm where she first realized her love of the Spanish language--a gift she parlayed into both a career and many opportunities to experience other cultures. 

Stuart and Mary Kay Compton are very humble folks who didn't think their story was very interesting, a common expression of all those we interviewed. However, we found their story is one of deep love and respect, commitment to family, and long service to the community. Both Stuart and Mary Kay's family have long ties to banking in the Northwest, especially the four generations of Compton leadership overseeing the Pioneer Trust Bank, which still continues today.

Wally and Gloria Carson were a delight to have in the studio. All our guests have connections through their growing up and making their lives in Salem. Wally spoke of his early memories of being involved with the Mickey Mouse Club, as did Norma Cochran. Wally, who would later become the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, shared wonderful stories about performing as a puppeteer with another guest, David Rhoten, when they were in junior high and producing musical reviews together in high school.  
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David Rhoten, our first guest in this series, shepherded us through the year with his robust encouragement and ongoing suggestions for guests. This loving husband and father, practicing attorney, community organizer, musical producer and puppeteer shared so many stories of his childhood and school years, military career, and family life that we had to carry over his interview into a second episode. We lost David to cancer later in 2017, soon followed by his beloved wife, Coralie Doughton Rhoten. We cannot express how very thankful we are to have been able to share some of his treasured memories with all of you. 
We found over this year that the stories that our guests were too humble to share, whose lives they felt were not interesting enough to talk about, let alone record and play on the radio, were mesmerizing to those of us who came to Salem afterward. Most of our interviews spanned two episodes--either to share more stories or to focus on their long-time Salem businesses. This wealth of information and connectivity they shared with us is now documented in our archives, accessible for another generation. 

One unifying trait that we discovered with these guests was the importance of strong relationships in their lives--with their spouses, their families, friends, occupations, and their communities. Their circles of influence continue beyond them due to their commitment to nurture and maintain these relationships. Perhaps that is what defines the term "pioneer spirit"--a commitment to others to stick around, stick it out and strive to make it better, all the while embracing your special time here in history.  

We'll be sharing more wonderful stories of our local treasures--the people kind--in the coming year. Hope you'll join us again.


~~Posted by Deb Meaghers

    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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