October 18, 2018 Episode.

One would rarely think of Salem as the hotbed of archaeological events, but now we have our second "dig" in as many years!  City of Salem Historic Preservation Officer/Chief Archaeologist joined us to talk about this public archaeology site as well as other above-ground historic preservation projects happening in our fair city.

This public archaeology field dig is located on the site of the new Police Station on Division Street NE, just north of the downtown core. As federal monies are being used for part of the construction funding, this type of review and inspection was required.

Changing to her Historic Preservation Officer hat, Kimberli reported that a new development proposal for the vacant Murphy/McMahan's site at 260 State Street will be reviewed by the Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC) in the near future. This is the fourth development proposal the HLC has reviewed--the first three fell apart due to financial issues. This proposal calls for a multipurpose building, with retail on the ground floor and housing above. We'll let you know when more information becomes available. Check out the National Register listing for more information on this site.  

Kimberli advised that they are accepting applications for the second cycle of the HLC's Toolbox Grant Program, a $1000-match grant  to help with maintenance of historic properties. 

Additionally, the HLC itself is looking for new members-at-large to fill upcoming vacancies. Although the nine-member HLC must be made up of at least five professionals by statute, the other positions are open to any citizen who has an interest in historic preservation and lives or owns property within the City limits.  You can find out more at this page on the City website or by contacting Kimberli. To see how they operate, attend any of their public meetings held in Council Chambers at 5:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month.

As usual, Kimberli invites you to contact her about any of the information she shared in this episode. You can reach her by email at kfitzgerald@cityofsalem.net or by phone at 503-540-2597.

~~Posted by Deb Meaghers

October 4, 2018 Episode.

I suspect you might not know that we have archaeologists working in state government, but we do! A year or so ago, we interviewed state archaeologist Dennis Griffith, but so much has changed in this short time.  Today we talked with Jamie French who has been working with the State HIstoric Preservation Office (SHPO) in various capacities for 10 years. Two years ago she completed her archaeology degree and now is performing compliance review for mostly large-scale development projects on federal lands. She is also in charge of the GIS (geographic information system) & Technical components for SHPO. Jamie has lead many archaeological field schools on behalf of SHPO and Oregon State University throughout Oregon in such locations as French Prairie, Fort Yamhill, Carlton, and various migrant Chinese sites. 

Jamie advised us that SHPO maintains the database of all known archaeological sites in the state, as well as calaloging other sites where people have searched. Oregon has enacted stringent laws to protect these fragile sites, so only authorized professionals may access this database. ​[Note: You may recall that the City of Salem needed frequent access to this database for public works projects so Kimberli Fitzgerald, the Historic Preservation Officer, obtained an additional degree in archaeology to provide such access.]  SHPO's secondary mission is to work with landowners of potential and actual sites to develop the best practices for stewarding those sites.  

The Archaeological Services department at SHPO also provides technical support and training for archaeologists. To this end, Jamie has been working on the second annual SHPOlooza Event, a gathering for archaeologists from all over the state to learn more about new developments and practices in their field. It also provides an opportunity to network and share experiences since many participants may be the only archaeologist in their county.  

Jamie has long had an interest in history and the immigrant experience. In fact, her master's thesis project was based on the Chinese immigrant community of The Dalles, Oregon, the largest such community in Oregon due to its location as the last portage stop of the Oregon Trail.  She managed the exploratory dig at the site of the Chinese Mercantile & Laundry Building prior to the building's rehabilitation (see photos, above) This joint commodity/personal service business is extremely rare in Oregon.  It's a good thing Jamie has this background in Chinese history, as she was also appointed to be the official permanent Record Keeper for the Chinese Shrine project here in Salem at the Historic Pioneer Cemetery. 

Encouraging the public's interest in archaeology is one of Jamie's passions. She is able to pursue this as a commissioner on Salem's Historic Landmark Commission. She can bring her regulatory review experience into play at the local level, which is the most impactful level. She opined that the best protected resources are the beloved resources of any community. The HLC is continuing to develop programs that educate all of us about our historic resources--both above and below ground level. 

Jamie suggested several ways in which folks could learn more about the archaeological history of our state. The Oregon Archaeology Association hosts events at sites throughout the state beginning each October, designated as Archaeology Month [see photo, above] and lasting well into the next year. Here is a downloadable copy of the full event listing; 2018-19 Event Brochure. Other opportunities include visiting the Museum of Natural History at the University of Oregon, the official state repository for all discovered artifacts, as well as the various Tribal museums around the state. There are links to many sites on the SHPO website. For the inquiring minds out there, Jamie recommended the book Oregon Archaeology by  Melvin C. Aikens and Thomas J. Connelly, among others.  If you'd like more suggestions, feel free to contact Jamie at jamie.french@oregon.gov.

Now, go out there and discover all sorts of new and interesting things!  Just be sure to tell us about what you find!

September 6 & 20, 2018 Episodes.

Day Heating & Cooling has been keeping Salem folks and businesses warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and shiny with metal fabrications since 1935. Jim Klopfenstein, the current general manager, joined us in the studio to share with us the history of his family in this long-time Salem business. Jim's father Richard began working with the company in 1954. Richard and his wife Jean later purchased the business which has been the lifeblood of this family for more than 40 years. 

Jim shared that his paternal ancestors are of Swiss-German heritage and immigrated for religious freedom after being cast out of other countries. He believes his mother's family was originally from Hungary. Dad grew up in the Silverton area and Mom in Portland. Jim told us of growing up in the rural area of northeast Salem and the surrounding Silverton hills. His family had a small, 40-acre farm off Lardon Road, but several relatives and friends--Kuenzi, Kaufman, Hines, Simmons--owned larger working farms nearby. Besides doing his share of chores on the family place, Jim also worked on these neighboring farms, learning more about management practices as he grew. After studying accounting at Oregon State University, he worked as a CPA for a large firm in Portland where he assisted many northwest agricultural businesses. Soon the travel and work schedule wore thin with his young family, and he was pleased to permanently join the family business in 1992.

The memories Jim shared of growing up in Salem mirror many of those his contemporaries have reported--going to the movies with his buddies, being involved with his church youth group, and working hard both at school and on the farms.  Jim went to the same elementary school, Middle Grove, for all six grades, and attended Salem Academy for 7th through 12th grades. He remembers that Silverton Road was just a two-lane gravel road, and that Lancaster Drive was on the very outskirts of town. His grandparents farm was located where now McKay High School sits. Other vivid memories include the smell of popcorn at the old Sears building, greatly anticipating the State Fair every year, and the swelling patriotism he felt when the Liberty Train arrived in 1976 as part of the nation's bicentennial celebration.

We find it truly an honor to get to know these local business owners and document their stories of pursuing their dreams through the years and continuing to serve Salem. They all demonstrate a commitment to good service, to their reputation of integrity, to their families, and to our community.  Each such company weaves an inextricable thread throughout the historic fabric of the mid-Willamette Valley.  What a privilege it is to share this legacy.