Rick Gassner and Aaron Gassner have every expectation to continue this family business into the future.  The City of Salem has recently purchased the entire block on which the business sits, and future redevelopment plans are unknown at this time.  As Isaac found necessary in their evolving history, they may need to relocate the business to another address at some point. We fervently hope that the folks of our area may continue to patronize this mainstay business that has supported our community in many unheralded ways and whose unique form of friendly, above-and-beyond customer service is so well-known, for many generations to come.  

To listen to the full story of this family and business, please check out their October 3 and October 10 podcasts.

~~Posted by Deb Meaghers

Although October is the month designated to celebrate Archaeology in Oregon, several events continue throughout the coming year. The theme this year is Public Archaeology, which is quite familiar to us here in the Salem area since we have participated in "digs" at two different sites: the Chinese shrine in Historic Pioneer Cemetery, and the site of the new Salem Police Department building on Liberty at Division Street NE.

To see what events are planned for October and beyond, check out the Calendar of Events developed by the Heritage Division of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Bet you find something you'd like to explore further!

September 5 & 12, 2019 Episodes.

According to Salem mayor Chuck Bennett, only one-half of 1% of the businesses began in Salem are still in operation 100 years later. The Dalke Construction Company is one of those rare statistics.

​The Cornelius Dalke family left South Russia/Prussia in 1874 as part of the large migration (1873-1884) of Mennonite families who felt that their liberties, especially religion and schooling, were being curtailed by the Russian government, and arrived in New York on September 5, 1874. Many settled in the midwest--Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma--where there were established Mennonite settlements. Son Peter Dalke was a schoolteacher who, family lore states, was paid around $150 month to teach and do all the custodial work in and around his one-room schoolhouse.

​The Dalke family lived in Oklahoma, Kansas, homesteaded in Montana, and eventually found their way to Dallas, Oregon c1910. Peter's son Thomas Dalke, worked in the grocery business and also formed a construction business in 1919. In October 1920, Tom married Marie Ediger, daughter of Mennonite emigres from Kansas, John S. & Maria Nickel Ediger, and soon moved his new family to Salem, finally settling in the Eola area of West Salem. The majority of the extended Dalke family still live in West Salem today.

The John S. & Maria Nickel Ediger family has a long history in Dallas where they raised prunes on 40 acres and operated a prune dryer. They arrived from Inman, Kansas, by train in 1913, transporting 12 kids along with their 1912 Everett touring car. This car is now housed at the Polk County Museum in Rickreall, off Highway 99W. The Ediger family business endeavors over the years have included a cabinet business and a well-known church furniture business. Their original house, Oak Villa, still stands on east Ellendale Avenue in Dallas, between Oak Villa and Fir Villa Roads.

Thomas and Marie Dalke would raise four children.  Harold E. would become a licensed architect and practice into his nineties, both in the US and abroad. Herbert would work with his father and eventually take over the family construction business. Marvin, who joined us today, worked with his father and then had his own business, Pacific Road & Driveway Company, for 14 years. Irene married John Freese and worked as a registered nurse in Washington state.  

The Dalke boys, or the "Little D's" as they were known, learned and earned their way into the family business. Ken and Larry were both able to complete shortened apprenticeships due to their extensive experience working with father Herb. Tom went on to get an engineering degree and added his expertise to the business, eventually stepping into his own company. 

When asked about the plans and hopes for Dalke Construction Company as it enters its second century of service, Larry said that his brothers had retired from active participation, but he knew they were just a phone call away, The fourth generation is stepping up, with Larry's son Scott managing projects and Tracie Farnsworth, Ken's daughter, overseeing the administrative side of things. Larry sees great potential for employment in the building trades now and in the future, and strives to encourage young men and women to pursue such careers. ​You can check out the many familiar projects they've completed throughout our region and learn more about their company  by viewing their website or Facebook page.

Whether it's building a clubhouse from scrap lumber or the headquarters for the Oregon State Police, the folks of Dalke Construction have worked hard and played hard here in the Willamette Valley.  We hope we'll be seeing their white signs decorating the fences of construction projects for several more decades--and generations.
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I'm sorry we can't "post" the laughter we shared during their studio visit in this summary, but the friendly banter between Uncle Marvin and Larry was priceless. To hear more of the Dalke family story (and share a few giggles), please check out the podcasts of their episodes:  Part 1 and Part 2.

Every family should have a memory-keeper as sharp and personable as Marvin Dalke, especially at age 87. He was reluctant to discuss the history of his own company, which completed many large projects in the area like the Salem Airport and Highway 99 in Polk County, but his eagerness to share stories and details about those he loves and respects made this episode very special. We know we'll be picking his amazing memory again soon, documenting his wealth of knowledge about the area we all call home.