June 22, 2017 Episode.

It was a joy to welcome back today my long-time friend and partner-in-preservation Kimberli Fitzgerald. Kimberli was also my partner in the first year of this program and continues to come alongside us in her professional role to remind us that preservation of the historic resources in our area remains a top priority with our local governmental agencies. Case in point, Kimberli announced that the Salem Historic Landmarks Commission has selected the winners for the annual "This Place Matters" photo contest. This competition began in 2015 and garners more entries every year, with 33 entries submitted for 2017.

Another photo taken by Sarah Rohrs of the Court-Chemeketa Historic District Pedestrian Bridge (top, right) was awarded First Place in the Historic Neighborhood category.  Rebekah Guest was named the winner in the Historic Place category with her photo of the Union Street Pedestrian Bridge (above, right). The Chairman's Choice award was taken by the photo of the Elsinore Theater interior by Donna Rohr (above, left). To view all the entries in this year's competition, check out the City of Salem's Facebook Page.
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Upcoming projects of interest to our readers include the demolition of the First National Bank/Wells Fargo Bank building designed by Pietro Belluschi in downtown Salem. The HLC approved demolition of this building several years ago to allow for a new building development proposal. That proposal did not come to fruition, but the City is now anticipating receiving a new proposal in the near future. A condition of the original demolition approval that still applies is that the Littman relief panels on this building shall be professionally removed and reused in any new building constructed on the site. Any proposal for new construction within the Downtown Historic District requires review and approval by the HLC, so the public will have an opportunity to view and comment on any submitted proposals.

The demolition of the majority of the buildings located on the North Campus of the Oregon State Hospital is nearing completion. The Dome Building and the Yaquina Building were exempt from the demolition plans. The State is looking to sell the remainder of the property. Again, the HLC will review any proposals for new construction on this site, so the public will have an opportunity to see what is proposed and provide comments. The old General Hospital on an adjacent parcel was also demolished, but that site is in private ownership and not part of the North Campus.

Kimberli also reported that as a requirement of her upcoming degree in archeology and cultural resource management, she will spend most of the summer participating in an archeological dig at the Fort Vancouver National Historic site outside of Vancouver, Washington. We're extremely pleased to announce that Kimberli has agreed to be a scheduled recurring guest on Salem History Matters, so we'll get to learn more about this exciting project in the not-too-distant future!  We always have a good time when she joins us!

Posted by Deb Meaghers

June 1 & June 8, 2017 Episodes.

Judging by the photograph shown here, you certainly get the impression that this young man, aged about 7 years, has a pretty high regard for the law--at least the enforcment side of things. This is a true enough statement for both of our guests today, Wally & Gloria Carson. As it so happens, Wally is probably genetically wired for the law, given the many years of family involvement in the field. Wallace P. Carson, Jr., has served the people of Oregon as a National Guard pilot, state Representative, a state Senator, a Circuit Court judge, a Supreme Court judge, and as the longest serving Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. Walking right alongside him on this journey and providing her utmost support is the love of his life, Gloria Stolk Carson.

As we mentioned, the legal field plays large throughout Wally's family history. His grandfather, John A. Carson, who immigrated to Salem from Canada in 1889, was a lawyer and state senator.  Wally's father, Wallace P. Carson, his uncles John H. and Allan G., as well as his aunts Catherine and Esther--all studied law, with most becoming attorneys.  Gloria's family, on the other hand, immigrated from Germany to the Clearlake area in north Salem. She lived in West Salem during grade school, then on a farm in the Pratum area east of town, moving next to Klamath Falls, and returning to Salem to live in the house on Ruge Street NW built by her carpenter father. Her parents were original "house-flippers," living in the houses while renovating them, and then selling them and moving on to the next home renovation project. She attended eleven different schools until returning to high school here in Salem.  She met Wally while playing tennis over by Olinger Pool in northeast Salem. They dated for four years while Wally attended college, and married in June 1956.

While in college at Stanford University, Wally joined the ROTC program and attended flight school to become a jet pilot. He was stationed in South Korea in the late 1950s where, among other duties, he was the official pilot for the South Korean president, Syngman Rhee. President Rhee preferred to fly with Wally's US crew rather than the Korean Air Force. Wally's military career spanned 34 years, both in the air and on the ground as an intelligence officer, obtaining the rank of Brigadier General with the JAG Corps, and including service with the Air Force Reserves and the Oregon National Guard.

Wally shared his memories of growing up in Salem in a house on Leslie Street, just south of downtown.  He tells of meeting another of our "Yesterday's Voices" alumni, David Rhoten, in kindergarten where he performed in the rhythm band directed by David. Thus began their long friendship, and his theatrical career as part of David's "Three Puppeteers" troup, entertaining children in schools and the public library, as well as the older generation in local nursing homes. He admits he garnered most of his business acumen while producing those gigs--charge a reasonable amount, get the monies up front, and bring your own equipment--don't rely on the house to have the right stuff.  Wally and Gloria later often double-dated with David & his sweetheart Coralie.  As we've discovered with many of our guests for this series, Wally thoroughly enjoyed the weekly Mickey Mouse Club events held at the Elsinore Theater. He still has his official membership card!

Gloria and Wally both have fond memories of "picking" in the fields, gathering crops during their youth. The camaraderie formed during the early morning bus rides and the time in the fields was accompanied by a sense of responsibility to the community, especially during the war years, as well as independence as they earned their own funds. While Gloria advanced to working in the cannery, where her mother was a floor lady, Wally secured employment with the Otto J. Wilson Buick Agency, the first Buick dealership in Oregon. He admits he was a more careful driver when he was behind the wheel of the company truck emblazoned with all the company identification.

​Picnics were a major form of entertainment for both families--with Sunday drives in the family car also being a highlight for Wally.  Some of their memories include the rationing and shortages, speed limits to preserve fuel, air raid drills, blackouts, and the underlying sense of worry during the days of WWII. Wally's mother was a Red Cross ambulance driver and his father a Civil Defense warden.  Other strong memories include the Tillamook Burn of 1933, the flames and smoke of which could be seen in Salem; watching the roof of the Marion Hotel blow off during the Columbus Day storm in 1962 but being unaware that the roof of the building where he sat, the Pioneer Trust Building, was also rolling off onto the street; and the Christmas Day flood of 1964 .

Most of us today know of Wally for his long career with the Oregon Supreme Court. He was appointed by Governor Vic Atiyeh in 1982, and was elected to the position of Chief Justice by his peers in 1991, retiring in 2005 as the longest-serving Chief Justice. Prior to this service, he was a practicing attorney in the family's law firm, and then followed the examples of his forbearers into civic duty (both his father and uncle had served as district attorneys). He served as a State Representative from 1966-1971, and then as a State Senator from 1971-1977, at which time he was sworn in as a Marion County Circuit Court judge.

Wally & Gloria are perhaps two of the most gracious, down-to-earth folks you'll probably ever have the opportunity to meet. They still live in the first house they purchased together in Salem. Their love and commitment for each other, Oregon, and particularly Salem was evident throughout our conversation.  We are all better for their part in Salem's history, as well as our future.
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