Andy Zimmerman at KMUZ studio, October 2018 [Photo: SHM] November 1, 2018 Episode.
Reading the latest installment in the Statesman-Journal's special series on local history, "Time Capsule," is something I look forward to every other week. In fact, we have often looked to these stories for both inspiration and corroboration. What fun it was for us, then, to be able to chat with the writer of the series, Andy Zimmerman.
Andy told us he worked as an assistant in the Statesman-Journal's (SJ) sports department while studying at Western Oregon University and also worked on the college newspaper. He continued with the Salem newspaper after graduating, working mostly as a copy editor designing the pages and writing the headlines. In 2013, the paper's executive director suggested he write a weekly series on local history, highlighting the many historic buildings and major events from Salem's past. He was asked to continue writing the series even when he moved on to another job at the Oregon Department of Agriculture in 2014, so the series now appears only twice a month. He describes this series as a sort of "Reader's Digest" of local history, condensed but offering enough information about the building or event to appeal to all levels of history buffs, both the casual and the ardent.
Reading the latest installment in the Statesman-Journal's special series on local history, "Time Capsule," is something I look forward to every other week. In fact, we have often looked to these stories for both inspiration and corroboration. What fun it was for us, then, to be able to chat with the writer of the series, Andy Zimmerman.
Andy told us he worked as an assistant in the Statesman-Journal's (SJ) sports department while studying at Western Oregon University and also worked on the college newspaper. He continued with the Salem newspaper after graduating, working mostly as a copy editor designing the pages and writing the headlines. In 2013, the paper's executive director suggested he write a weekly series on local history, highlighting the many historic buildings and major events from Salem's past. He was asked to continue writing the series even when he moved on to another job at the Oregon Department of Agriculture in 2014, so the series now appears only twice a month. He describes this series as a sort of "Reader's Digest" of local history, condensed but offering enough information about the building or event to appeal to all levels of history buffs, both the casual and the ardent.
What does it take to produce a series like this? Andy shared that he keeps an ongoing list of ideas for potential articles, and he welcomes suggestions. He often finds inspiration from a book by Scott McArthur, Ben Maxwell's Salem Oregon, which chronicles the work of local journalist/photographer who wrote for the Capital Journal newspaper from 1953 to 1968. Ben loved to delve into the archives, or morgue, of the newspaper to dig up obscure nuggets of local history to incorporate into his columns.
Andy then begins with cursory research on an idea to see if there is a photograph and enough background material for an article. He calls this "following the breadcrumbs," with some information leading to other discoveries and even potential future stories. If he likes what he finds, he then digs deeper into the pool of available information on his topic and begins building the story that we will later see in print.
Andy then begins with cursory research on an idea to see if there is a photograph and enough background material for an article. He calls this "following the breadcrumbs," with some information leading to other discoveries and even potential future stories. If he likes what he finds, he then digs deeper into the pool of available information on his topic and begins building the story that we will later see in print.
So what is Andy's favorite story? He loves to document historic events and one that intrigued him was when the Liberty Bell stopped in Salem on its nationwide tour. He was able to find plenty of written material about this visit, but no local photograph--only of its stop in Portland. Andy turned to the women who head up the archives at the Willamette Heritage Center, Kylie Pine and Kaylyn Mabey. They discovered an old commercial postcard that not only pictured the train's stop in Salem, but verified the date! That's pure gold to a writer!
Liberty Bell visits Salem, July 1915 [Photo: Willamette Heritage Center _P2004.003.0014]
Some topics Andy is researching for upcoming articles include the unofficial and then the official parades marking the end of World War I; the "Hotel DeMento"--a homeless men's shelter located in Salem City Hall from 1930-1942; Salem going dry in January 1914; and the memorable freeze of the Willamette River in 1924. He shared some tantalizing bits about these stories, but we'll just have to wait to learn the whole story. Andy accounted that by year's end he will have written 143 stories for this series. It doesn't seem to me he will be running out of ideas any time soon. And for that, we are so very glad!
Thank you, Andy, for sharing our mission of documenting the legacy of our people, buildings and events! They so easily disappear and are too soon forgotten, leaving frayed holes in the historic fabric that is our heritage.
Thank you, Andy, for sharing our mission of documenting the legacy of our people, buildings and events! They so easily disappear and are too soon forgotten, leaving frayed holes in the historic fabric that is our heritage.
~~Posted by Deb Meaghers
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