July 19, 2018 Episode.
Historic preservation has a passionate champion in the form of Kimberli Fitzgerald. In addition to master degrees in urban planning and historic preservation, Kimberli recently earned a masters in  archeology, with an emphasis on cultural resource management and interpretation. We are so lucky to be able to have all this expertise right here in Salem, as she works with the City's Community Development Department! Having worked with Kimberli for a number of years, I can attest to her ability to facilitate projects--both large and small and, now, even below ground--to achieve the best outcomes for both the property owner and the community. 

Kimberli joins us periodically to keep us apprised of preservation projects around the city as well as the work of the Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC). She reported that there were several events occurring in Salem as part of the recent National Historic Preservation Month observance. The HLC hosted its fourth round of annual This Place Matters historic photograph competition. [To see the winners, click here.] This year's contest introduced a new category for Youth.  Additionally, the HLC bestowed its two annual awards, the Ben Maxwell Award, recognizing the best preservation project, and the Virginia P. Green Award, recognizing exemplary efforts on behalf of historic preservation. [To check out the award presentations, click here.] Our co-host Christy Van Heukelem joined Kimberli for another event where they presented two programs on local history at Pringle Creek Elementary School. 

The HLC recently reviewed an application regarding a building in the Downtown Historic District we've mentioned before. The Gray Belle Restaurant Building (c1896) at 440 State Street, pictured above, has been the home of various restaurants over the years--many recently were Chinese. [Note: Interesting factoid, since this building is located in an area of Salem once known as Chinatown.] The current owners want to add an addition to the south facade to provide access to the second floor. This building had a period facade restoration in recent years. The owners' plans call for an indoor food-court-style restaurant on the ground floor, apartments again for the second floor, and an entertainment venue in the basement area. The HLC approved the proposal subject to the use of specific materials in several areas to make the exterior more in character with the historic district around it.

Kimberli also reported that City staff will begin the periodic review of the Historic Preservation Code this fall. There will be several opportunities for the public to add input. The HLC will be active in this review. There are currently two vacancies on that commission, so if you are interested in how Salem addresses its historic resources, contact Kimberli for more information.

Speaking of Salem's Chinese community, Kimberli provided an update on her recent Masters thesis research visit to China to try and locate family members of two deceased men whose grave markers were discovered during the recent Chinese Shrine public archaeology project. Salem's shrine was most likely funded by George Sun who was the mayor of Chinatown at the time of its construction. We talked about his story in a previous blog. The headstones that Kimberli researched were from two young men, Su Laisheng and Chen Xinchang, who left to find work in the mid-1800s. The names of their villages were inscribed on the markers so their bones could eventually be returned. Seventy percent of the men of area villages headed overseas to find work and send money back to their families during a time of great turmoil in China. 

While in China, they also searched for records of George Sun and his nephew Leong Toong Yook, son of prominent store owner Leong Hun. When Leong Toong Yook appealed to the US government to join his father in Salem, he was denied entrance. They were able to locate descendants of Mr. Leong, some of whom had never heard his story. They were also successful in locating genealogical records regarding George Sun. All in all, a most profitable trip--and one that surely helped Kimberli secure her Master of Archaeology degree!

There is more archaeological work planned for the Chinese Shrine in Pioneer Cemetery, with many of the original team coming back. With her proven expertise in cultural resource management and interpretation, we can rest assured Kimberli will be sharing their discoveries with us.  What a treat we have to look forward to!  

July 7, 2018 Episode.
Transportation is always a hot topic in communities, both in the past and currently; everyone has an opinion to share. Our guest today is Mark Kavanaugh of the Oregon Electrical Railway Historical Society whose museum is located in Powerland Heritage Park in Brooks, north of Salem. Mark, who grew up riding the streetcars in Brooklyn, New York, indicated their organization began in 1957 with the goal of preserving the history of streetcars which were beginning to disappear all over the state. Their first museum was located in the town of Glenwood, west of Portland on Highway 26. In 1995, the museum was relocated to its current location in order to provide a more appropriate preservation environment for their growing collection.

Dr. Henry Minthorn was the CEO of the streetcar company, and his young nephew, Herbert Hoover, worked for him in 1889-1891--the only known US President to have electric motorman in his resume. By 1900 electric streetcar lines criss-crossed the city, where the typical fare was five cents. Salem had the second largest streetcar system in the state, second only to Portland.  

Salem also had access to a robust interurban railway system. Portland's Oregon Electric Railway Company extended their lines to Salem in 1908 and south to Eugene in 1912. Salemites could board northbound or southbound trains at several times during the day or night. The trip to Portland took about 1.5 hours, and about two hours to Eugene, stopping at Albany if desired. Fare was about $1-$3 depending on distance. The depot for the railway was located in the Hubbard/Oregon Building on the corner of High and State Streets, kitty-corner from the Marion County Courthouse. If you had an early meeting in Portland and you preferred a smoother, leisurely night passage, you could board the sleeper car as early as 8:00 p.m. The train then left Salem around midnight, arriving in Portland between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m. You were allowed to remain on the train until 8:00 a.m., heading off to your appointments while the train returned to Salem.

The electric railway company was the sole provider of electric power for homes and businesses in Salem. Newspaper advertisements for new housing developments listed the proximity to rail lines as a desirable asset. As the lines were extended, the city grew to meet the new boundaries.

Dr. Luke A. Port, the original owner of what we now know as Deepwood House & Gardens, purposely chose the location to build his home on Mission Street near the Rail Station due to its proximity to the electric rail line. This house was one of the first houses in Salem to be fully electrified.

Electric streetcar service ended in Salem in 1927. To encourage ridership on the subsequent bus system, buses were fashioned after the the round-front-and-back design of  streetcars. The obsolete railway tracks provided a sturdy foundation for the town's newly paved streets. Even today, Public Work projects often uncover the brick foundations and the steel tracks in the downtown core.

Mark collects stories about people's experiences using the Oregon trollies. You can contact him at [email protected]. 
For more information, check out these websites:  Powerland Heritage Park
Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society:  oregontrolley.com