October 19, 2017 Episode.

When I was working on the Images of America: Dallas book with Sue Rohde, stories of various "paranormal" happenings in the area popped up on a regular basis. Some were well-known to Sue, a longtime resident, but some were new to us both. Our listeners seem to have a special affection for the more unusual and less publicized side of historic life in our local communities, as evidenced from previous shows on Salem's underground, Chinese burial shrines, and our "darker" institutions. So when we learned of Marilyn Morton's book from History Press, Haunted Independence, Oregon,  we were more than delighted when she agreed to come on our show and share her stories with you all.   

The idea for the "Ghost Walk" began years ago came after seeing a similar event in San Francisco, California with her teen-age daughter. They surmised they probably had enough stories to try doing one in Independence, and wouldn't that be fun!  She hoped for at least ten visitors for their opening night, but was surprised to find almost 350 folks waiting for her at the starting place!  For the last 17 years, this event has been held the last Friday of September, often in conjunction with the Independence Hop and Heritage Festival. She recently hosted a special ghost walk as part of this summer's Solar Eclipse celebration.

History Press, a sister company of Arcadia Publishing in Charleston, South Carolina, learned of the Ghost Walk and contacted Marilyn regarding doing a book for their "Haunted America" series.  As writing a book was one item on Marilyn's "25 Things I Really Want to Do" list, and since she had compiled all the information already, she agreed and headed to the beach to hammer out her book. She added more of the factual history of Independence so that readers could sense just what an important place Independence held as the end of the Oregon Trail: Independence, Missouri to Independence, Oregon. Her book is available online at History Press, Amazon.com and other book vendors. 

​Marilyn continues to collect unusual stories about Independence, and may do another book in the future just for herself.  If you have some information to share, either another story or some information on one of the published stories, feel free to contact Marilyn by email at [email protected].

​As you might guess, Marilyn is an enthusiastic ambassador for all things Independence, serving on their city council for 15 years. She reminded us that Independence was once named the Hop Capital of the World. We thought you might enjoy some old photographs depicting this community-wide harvest, common all over in Oregon long before our craft brew industry burst on the scene.

October 5, 2017 Episode.
Have you ever wanted to step back into a specific time period of history? Curious to see what your house/town used to look like? Perhaps wanting to find a missing ancestor or answer a family question?  Maybe just yearning for what seems to be a simpler lifestyle?  We all have!  Today's guest, Ann Gage, is surrounded by history when she works at a local museum that tells the story of our early homesteaders and also at home in her museum-worthy old home.

Ann Gage has history and volunteerism running through her veins. This recently-retired teacher spends many hours at the Polk County Museum, where she is their Education/Public Outreach Coordinator, as well as at the 1861 Brunk House & Farm, the pioneer homestead just outside of West Salem on Highway 22W maintained by the Polk County Historical Society.
Ann remarked that she comes from a family of educators. Her mother was very involved with the historical society, serving as president during the construction of the newer museum, so she has much personal experience in her background.

The Polk County Historical Society was formed in 1959 by local citizens who wanted to preserve and teach others about the history of their area. Artifacts were taken from storage in personal homes and barns and placed in the Carnegie Library in Dallas, the county seat. Soon, however, the museum outgrew its space and construction of a new museum building was begun in 1998 at its current site on the south end of the Polk County Fairgrounds in Rickreall, one of the oldest towns in the county.  The 1861 homestead of Harrison Brunk was willed to the historical society, and they took over the maintenance of this home and small farm in 1974, opening it up to the public to provide an experience of life on a pioneer homestead.

The Museum displays artifacts in vignettes, such as a schoolroom, a typical kitchen, or a local doctor's office. There are photographic displays of the smaller towns, some of which are no longer in existence, displays of military uniforms and equipment, and a large area devoted to the logging and railroad industries. A display of old typewriters grabs the attention of the kiddos, as do the natural resource and taxidermy displays. A full-sized replica of a covered wagon occupies center-stage of the first floor, and an enlarged map of the donation land claims takes up most of an adjacent wall. There is a well-respected research library housed here, with knowledgeable genealogists and an archivist on hand to help you with your project. You can also choose to have one of their able volunteers do your research for a small fee.

The Museum and the Brunk House are both supported entirely by private donations, memberships, and various fundraising efforts, and totally run by volunteers--with no paid staff. Contrary to most public assumptions, they receive no subsidy or sponsorship from any governmental agency. As with most non-profit organizations, historic and cultural groups continually struggle to establish sustainable operating funding. 

The PCHS holds several special events every year. At the Museum, Family Day occurs in March, with demonstrations of homesteading skills and Civil War re-enactors. Their annual Porch Sale happens in July, and they man a booth at the Polk County Fair in August. Brunk House & Farm hosts a cider pressing each fall in September/October to showcase their farm-grown apples, and is also the hub for the Salem Car Club's Poker Run during the Cherry Blossom Drive in the spring.  Throughout most of the year, there is a free educational program presented on the third Saturday afternoon of the month. Ann reported that in 2018 they would be following a civil-war theme, with an Abraham Lincoln presenter scheduled to provide a special program. 

As you can see, there is much to see, touch and hear "over the river" in the museums of Polk County. Take a day out of the rain, or perhaps out of the heat, and visit this local gem.  You also have an opportunity to actively participate in the life of these two unique museums by becoming a volunteer. Your time and skills are worth more than you probably realize, and may be just what they have been wishing for. Your support will be most appreciated.

For more information on hours and events, check out their website or phone them at (503)623-6251.