North side of State Street, 300 Block, c1935 [Photo: JOgdahl coll.] November 7, 2019 Episode.
The photograph to the left was taken in 1935 from the southwest corner of Commercial and State Streets, the very hub of downtown Salem at the time. This photo has been gracing the walls of Ma Valise Boutique since Janet Ogdahl opened her shop in one half of the historic Pomeroy & Keene Building at 379 State Street in 1995.
With quite the background in retail endeavors, Janet was drawn to this building, which seemed so "French" in her mind, knowing it would be perfect for her vision of a women's boutique--Ma Valise translates into "my suitcase"--where she could display and sell all the lovely items she found so charming.
The photograph to the left was taken in 1935 from the southwest corner of Commercial and State Streets, the very hub of downtown Salem at the time. This photo has been gracing the walls of Ma Valise Boutique since Janet Ogdahl opened her shop in one half of the historic Pomeroy & Keene Building at 379 State Street in 1995.
With quite the background in retail endeavors, Janet was drawn to this building, which seemed so "French" in her mind, knowing it would be perfect for her vision of a women's boutique--Ma Valise translates into "my suitcase"--where she could display and sell all the lovely items she found so charming.
Janet Ogdahl at KMUZ Studio, 2019 Janet and Wally Ogdahl purchased a half-interest in the building in partnership with Charles Zawel. Later she was able to acquire the remaining portion of the building from the estate of Audrey Pomeroy Goodwin. Renovations were undertaken to repair and restore the beautiful cabinetry and ceiling of the 1927 renovation, and later restoration was made to the facade. Janet was the recipient of matching grant funds from the City of Salem that enabled her to complete the work in phases, with additional restoration work on the facade to begin soon.
Janet's son Toby operates a restaurant/bar next door at 383 State named W Wallace, after his father; and Toby's wife continues to operate her hair salon, Havana, on the second floor. Janet's daughter Katy took over the shop space this past summer and opened her own boutique, Gatsby, which reflects the time period of the Pomeroy & Keene renovation of 1927. The family stewardship of this well-used building continues.
Janet's son Toby operates a restaurant/bar next door at 383 State named W Wallace, after his father; and Toby's wife continues to operate her hair salon, Havana, on the second floor. Janet's daughter Katy took over the shop space this past summer and opened her own boutique, Gatsby, which reflects the time period of the Pomeroy & Keene renovation of 1927. The family stewardship of this well-used building continues.
 Land Patent (above) and Town Plat (below) courtesy of Ogdahl Collection  | Although the history of the Pomeroy & Keene Building began as the First Gray Building in the 1860s, it has housed a number of businesses, even a rooming house (aka "bordello"), over the years as Salem grew. Janet has acquired a 1925 Title Abstract that traces the ownership of the site back to the land patent granted by President Abraham Lincoln to William Willson, recorded in 1862, and includes a copy of Willson's original 1850 plat for the City of Salem (see photos to left). The 1925 abstract tracks the property through 1890, depicting changes of ownership nine times over that period. Names of the owners show the diverse ethnic population in those early days, as well as several transactions by folks with names familiar to us to this day: Willson, Powell, Uzafovage, Myers, Meredith, Farrar, Adolph, LaBranche, and Fontaine. The documents include testaments from J.K. Gill and Charles McNary, even some probate records. |
We were able to track the businesses of Charles T. Pomeroy, with various partners, back to 1905, but some sources state 1896 or even 1868. It was common for the time to have jewelers provide optical supplies as both used gold and had the delicate tools required, similar to coffin-makers also doing fine cabinetwork. The 1905 City Directory lists him under the "Watches, Clocks & Jewelry" category with an address of 288 Commercial Street. That would be the second block to the north or south of its intersection with State Street (as no direction was listed), probably on the east side due to its even number. Then in 1917, the City Directory lists him in partnership with A.L. Wallace at 125 N. Commercial Street, next to the US National Bank. The same directory lists A. A. Keene in partnership with A.B. Gardner at 386 State Street.
The 1919 photo below shows Buster Brown Shoes at the Commercial Street address, so Pomeroy had moved his business again.
The 1919 photo below shows Buster Brown Shoes at the Commercial Street address, so Pomeroy had moved his business again.
The United States National Bank (now Pioneer Trust Building) anchors the 100 Block of Commercial Street NE during a snow storm in December 1919, The third storefront to the right, Buster Brown Shoes at 125 Commercial, earlier housed Pomeroy & Wallace Jewelers & Watchmaker in 1917. [Photo: Wilamette Heritage Center-00830060017041]
Charles Pomeroy and Arthur Keene purchased the stock of A. B. Gardner in December 1920, and began their partnership. They announced their assumed business name of Pomeroy & Keene in February 1922, located at the southwest corner of Liberty and State Streets. In August 1923, the newly reorganized Capital National Bank (later First National Bank) announced plans to build a new six-story structure that would cover the ground then occupied by Pomeroy & Keene jewelry store and Red Cross Pharmacy on State Street, and Graber's Plumbing shop on the Liberty Street side--the Capital Center. They're on the move again--across the street to the site of Brownell Electric at 388 State, next to A.B. Gardner's old store.
 [Photo: Willamette Univ. Archive 10-31096-WUA9999-WP-0840-Box7] |  [Photo: City of Salem] |
In 1926, Pomeroy & Keene announced plans to remodel the facade of their new location at 388 State Street, taking out permits in the amount of $5000. The business takes occupancy in 1927. The 1934 photo, above left, shows the storefront with their signature clock out front. Note the painted advertisement for "Rooms" still visible on the upper west facade.
By the time of the 1941 photo on the right above, the prosperous business had fully taken over the building and changed the signage appropriately. The "second" Gray Building abuts them to the east. In 1942, their shop was the location for a downtown salvage drive, with a large number of clockworks adding to the piles of metal salvaged for the war effort.
In another of those curious circles-of-life instances that no longer surprise us in our long-lived community, we recall that Holly Jackson, patriarch of the Jackson Jewelers legacy, worked for 13 years as the watchmaker for Pomeroy & Keene before opening up his own shop across the street in the Capital Center in 1944, prior to moving into the location up Liberty Street we know now. Holly even installed a clock that is very similar to the one at Pomeroy & Keene's in front of his new business.
By the time of the 1941 photo on the right above, the prosperous business had fully taken over the building and changed the signage appropriately. The "second" Gray Building abuts them to the east. In 1942, their shop was the location for a downtown salvage drive, with a large number of clockworks adding to the piles of metal salvaged for the war effort.
In another of those curious circles-of-life instances that no longer surprise us in our long-lived community, we recall that Holly Jackson, patriarch of the Jackson Jewelers legacy, worked for 13 years as the watchmaker for Pomeroy & Keene before opening up his own shop across the street in the Capital Center in 1944, prior to moving into the location up Liberty Street we know now. Holly even installed a clock that is very similar to the one at Pomeroy & Keene's in front of his new business.
 State Street looking east, 1957 postcard, Pomeroy & Keene next to "blue" Gray Building [Photo:WHC0063001005900307] |  Pomeroy & Keene Jewelers, 379 State, (far left); Pomeory & Keene Bldg rooms, 381 State, and Pomeroy Optical at 383 State; Gray Building far right, c1970 [Photo: WHC 19990130304] |
Charles T. Pomeroy, grandson of pioneers Walter John Pomeroy & Elizabeth Geer who came to Oregon as part of the 1842 Elijah White wagon train, died in 1937 at the age of 72. His family operated the business with Arthur Keene, until his retirement in 1950, and then continued the business for many years to follow. Mr. Keene died in 1975 at age 92.
It is the responsible stewardship of our historic resources, such as evidenced by both the Pomeroy and Ogdahl clans, that preserves the integrity of our historic fabric so that future generations can revel in this rich legacy. Our community is truly indebted to their vision and selflessness.
While interviewing Janet about the Pomeroy & Keene Building, we learned that her family, the Fields and the Ogdahls, have interesting histories in their own rights, and Janet will be joining us again to share that story with us. Look for her family's story in early 2020!
While interviewing Janet about the Pomeroy & Keene Building, we learned that her family, the Fields and the Ogdahls, have interesting histories in their own rights, and Janet will be joining us again to share that story with us. Look for her family's story in early 2020!
~~Posted by Deb Meaghers
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