Salem History Matters

  • Welcome!
  • What's New on Our Blog?
    • EPISODE LIST
  • Spotlight on History
  • Links We Like
  • Contact Us



WE'VE GOT A LOT WE WANT TO SHARE!
 
​HOW ABOUT YOU?

Download A Podcast

History Breathes Again: Historic Preservation Update

5/20/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture1858 Illustration of the 1841 Jason Lee House, 960 Broadway NE, Salem Oregon [Photo: Salem Public Library Historic Photo Col.]
April 30, 2020 Episode.

Uncovering the record of our lives following early settlement is one of the perks of being the City Archaeologist, according to Kimberli Fitzgerald, who also wears the hat of Salem's Historic Preservation Officer. 

Salem's latest Public Archaeology project is just finishing up at the site of a redevelopment project at 960-990 Broadway Street and E Street NE, just kitty-corner from the historic Boon's Treasury restaurant building. The current owner of the property contacted the City to find out about the history of the site and enthusiastically offered to host an archaeological dig site on the property. [Note: If you'd like to see what's proposed for this site, check out the Salem Planning Commission Staff Report.] 

Although the public archaeology project has just completed, you can check out three videos Kimberli created to document the process: ​Taste of History-Jason Lee Archaeological Site - Part 1; Part 2; and Part 3. 

Picture
Jason Lee house at 960 Broadway NE, Salem OR, 1927 [Photo: WHC 2004.010.0145]
Picture
Restored Jason Lee Mission House at Willamette Heritage Center [Photo: WHC-FB]
This site originally held the 1841 Jason Lee Mission house, the second house Lee built when repeated flooding necessitated relocating the original 1834 settlement from Mission Bottom, just north of Keizer on the Willamette River. The Lee house itself was removed from this site in 1963 as one of Salem's first historic preservation efforts, and then later relocated to the campus of the Willamette Heritage Center where it was restored to its original configuration. You can now tour this building along with other historic buildings that have been relocated to the WHC campus. 
Picture
[Photos: City of Salem Public Works]
Picture

​During this site work, a third inadvertant discovery of sections of the old Scotch Mills millrace occurred. You'll recall the first such discovery was in 2017 at Front Street & Division at the rail crossing, the second during work on the new Police Headquarters at Division & High Streets in 2019, and this new one at Division & Liberty Street. Public records show the entire length of the North Mill Creek millrace was collapsed and covered over in 1924 after numerous complaints about its posing a public safety hazard were lodged.  Evidently, those earlier construction efforts were very husky. 

Picture
Holman Hotel at Commercial & Ferry Streets, Salem Oregon [Photo:WHC 2013.013.0023]

Picture
Proposed Holman Riverfront Park Hotel [Photo: City of Salem]
Another story about history coming alive again is about the Holman Building in downtown Salem. This hotel building was integral in Oregon history as it served as the seat of the territorial and state governments from 1857-1876, following the burning of the second Capitol building (the first capitol also burned). Located at the northwest corner of Ferry & Commercial Street, the Holman was at the very hub of downtown Salem. The Marion Car Park was most recently located on this site. Construction of a new boutique hotel, aptly named the Holman Riverfront Park Hotel, is now underway. The owners plan to showcase its illustrious history with lobby displays.

Since history is a living thing, change becomes inevitable. Sadly, the 1927 Leslie Junior High School on Howard Street SE is being demolished to make room for an expansion of South Salem High School. Many Salemites have fond memories of their school days there, as we've shared in several "Yesterday's Voices" interviews. The Salem-Keizer School District is putting together a memorial book and video and invites you to share those fond memories. You can access that video project here.
Picture
David Leslie Junior High School c1927-1936 [Photo: WHC 1999.013.0004]
Picture
Leslie Middle School [Photo: Salem-Keizer School Distric]
No matter what folks might do in the name of progress, our history is never totally taken away--it just awaits questions from a new audience, a new search for a sense of place, a renewed appreciation of our historic legacy.  Through the efforts of lots of dedicated folks, like Kimberli, the tapestry of our rich heritage is constantly being restored, enlarged and brightened, and protected from the damage of neglectful stewardship. This is the story of us all; we should all care just as much.  
Picture
To listen to the full episode with Kimberli, click here.

​~~Posted by Deb Meaghers

0 Comments

Historic Treasures: Brunk Farmstead

5/14/2020

0 Comments

 
PictureEarly view of Harrison Brunk House on Salem-Dallas Road [Photo: Polk Co. Historical Society]
April 16, 2020 Episode.

​
Heading west from Salem on Highway 22 on your way to the coast, you will pass by the historic Brunk Family Pioneer Farmstead on the north side of the highway. This was the second Polk County home for  Harrison & Emily McNary Brunk's family, built in 1861. Their first  homestead was in the boggy Basket Slough area of western Polk County in 1849, where they farmed for 10 years before they acquired better farmland further east. They relocated to the new farm in 1859 and lived in  a log cabin while building this home where their family members would reside until 1974. 

Picture
These photos from the Brunk Farmstead Facebook page depict the area in 1912 (above) and the farm owners c1930 (right). The intersection of Highway 22 and Brunk Road, now Oak Grove Road, where the farmstead sits was referred to as Brunk's  Corner. 
Picture
At that time, Earl Brunk, the last member of that well-known family still living, donated the farmstead to the Polk County Historical Society. The PCHS has been lovingly caring for this fine example of a pioneer farmstead since then. Ann Gage, Education and Outreach Coordinator for PCHS, joined us to tell us about this working museum and to ask for our help in preserving this historic treasure.  
Picture
Historic Brunk Farmstead is both a National Register Historic Property and an Oregon Century Farm [Photo: Brunk House FB Archives]
The Brunk Farmstead is known for its annual events, all now being put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic we're experiencing. The auto clubs' rallies with the cherry desserts from the farm orchard, the annual cider-pressing with heritage apples and desserts, the period technique classes in the blacksmith shop or the craft room, along with many other planned events, are a major fundraiser for this picturesque venue. It is a common misconception that the Polk County Museum & the Brunk Farmstead Museum receive funds from the County, but that is not true--all revenue come from admission fees, donations or grant funds.  All the heritage and cultural venues in our region are experiencing extreme financial stress due to the forced closures. 
Picture
[Photo: PCHS-Brunk House]
Picture
[Photo: PCHS-Brunk House]
The photos above show a planned maintenance project that turned into a larger rehabilitation effort. The beautiful two-story porch that fronted the Brunk House (left) had been leaking and dry rot was detected in a few areas. Grant funds were secured to cover the costs of that work. The project grew exponentially when it was discovered during that work that the entire porch was rotted and would need total replacement. 
Thus began a major fundraising campaign for this small venue, barely off the ground when the Governor's pandemic closure directive was issued. According to a recent Facebook post, through generous donations, they have raised enough funds to begin the Phase 1 planning/drafting component, but still desperately need to secure significant additional funds to begin and then complete the remaining construction work to replace the porch.  You can find information on how you, too, can help preserve this wonderful pioneer farmstead on that Facebook Page.  
All the various heritage venues that preserve and document our history, our stories of who we are and how we got here, have been available for our enrichment because those living before us accepted the responsibility of stewardship. Even though few of us may ever personally be involved in resurrecting and preserving a unique historic resource, we all benefit from our rich historic legacy educationally and economically. It is our ongoing responsibility, both privately and publicly, to secure these treasures for the upcoming generations.  If we cannot understand our history, we have no way to appreciate our future. Please consider investing in your heritage, now!
To listen to the full episode with Ann Gage, click here.
~~Posted by Deb Meaghers
Picture
0 Comments

Making History: Living through a Pandemic

5/8/2020

0 Comments

 
PicturePandemic Necessity Invention - Phone Stand/Amplifier & Microphone Modulator, April 2020 [All Photos by Author]
Many historians are encouraging us to chronicle this history-making pandemic event for future generations to look back on, much like the various news media are presently doing by dredging up all the old stories and photos from the Spanish Influenza outbreak of 1918. 

I will certainly remember the Stay Home-Stay Healthy directive that closed the physical locations of most businesses and schools in mid-March. We learned overnight how to telecommute to work, homeschool our children online, and visit with our medical providers via screen devices. As we had previously scheduled guests set to record interviews for our Salem History Matters radio program when it became necessary to close the KMUZ studios, it was time to get creative to allow the recording to proceed.  Thus, my "satellite studio" was developed.

PictureRemote Studio of Salem History Matters, April 2020
You will note by the photos I'm sharing that it was indeed a primitive and temporary solution at best, but it got the job done. We set up a laptop in my home office, placed the cellphone in a glass measuring cup for both proximity to the microphone and amplification. A sturdy woodworking clamp worked as my microphone modulator.

​Both interviews recorded that day have aired successfully, but we don't plan to conduct further interviews in this manner. It is less than ideal to conduct phone interviews as you cannot "read" the guest, nor can you enjoy the back-and-forth flow of conversation that occurs when you are seated together due to the limitations of the technology.  But it was important to get these stories out into the public arena where they can move from person to another.  We'll be airing encore episodes until the real studios can open once again.

As a wordsmith, I am more than tired of hearing the same phraseology repeated over and over, such as "living in unprecedented" or "uncertain" times;" all time is uncertain and unprecedented, not just that within a crisis period.  I've learned that I am truly a "people" person, and this forced physical separation in the name of "social distancing" has been extremely difficult for me, although I fully understand and accept its necessity. All the "video-chats," "virtual hugs" and "air kisses" do not satisfy this need to connect with those we enjoy and love.

Now, five or six weeks (or is it seven or eight--time seems to blur?) into this new life, I have adjusted better and have found ways to feel connected, apart. Not that I'm boasting, but I've completed six 1000-1500-piece jigsaw puzzles single-handedly, which I then swap with my across-the-street neighbors--using the appropriate social distancing, of course--for those they have completed.
It is important for us to document how our lives have changed, how we've adjusted to this "new normal." Just as we love learning about how our ancestors lived, so will our descendants want to know about our crazy times. I personally hope that we will remember the better parts of this crisis--making the unnecessary things and activities obvious to us and clearly marking what is important to each of us, recognizing the wealth of our relationships with family and friends, and that even the smallest acts of kindness can carry immeasurable weight in another's life.

We are being tested. Let's strive for a good outcome--one that lasts for more than a news cycle.  Take care.  We'll be back together yet again.
~~Posted by Deb Meaghers
0 Comments

Agricultural Legacies: Steffen Family Farms

4/7/2020

0 Comments

 
PictureThis 1941 Metzger map shows the area in eastern Marion County, noted as Switzerland due to the large number of Swiss immigrants located there. [Photo: SHM]
March 19 & April 2, 2020 Episodes.

The story of the Steffen family begins long before we talked with Stanley Steffen, and he wanted to be sure we were aware of that. The story starts in the area around Berne, Switzerland where his family were Mennonite dairy farmers. Religious persecution caused mass immigration of Swiss and German Mennonites to France, South America, Canada and the midwest states of the U.S. The Nickolas Steffen family immigrated in 1850 and joined other families in the Sonneburg/Kidron area of Ohio who had arrived in the first immigration wave of the 1820s, like the Abraham Lehmann family.

Stan's great-grandfather Nicholas Steffen married Barbara Lehman in 1854, they then moved to Berne Indiana. Three children were born to this union and then they divorced in 1863. Barbara Lehman Steffen and her children returned to the father's home in Sonnenburg, Ohio. In 1877 she relocated with her two youngest children, Abraham, aged 11, and Peter, 9, to Oregon to help her  daughter, Elizabeth, who had married John LIchty and moved to the Switzerland-Howell's Prairie area southwest of Silverton in 1876.

John Lichty, a woodsman and builder, had settled there on a portion of the T.C. Shaw donation land claim--a pioneer from Tennessee who played a vital role in the settling of the Willamette Valley. They soon started a sawmill business on the Pudding River near Silverton, the exact location of which the family is still trying to determine.

Picture
Emil Abraham Leisy & Magdalena Krebill Leisy, c1880 [Photo: Steffen Family]
Picture
Daniel Abraham Steffen & Linda Leisy Steffen, c1921 [Photo: Steffen Family]
Peter Steffen, our guest's paternal grandfather, married Rosina Liechty, from another Swiss immigrant family, in 1887 in Silverton. Peter built several barns in the area and owned several pieces of specialized barn-building equipment, now fondly remembered by grandson Stan.  In 1917, one of their five children, Daniel Abraham, married Linda Leisy, daughter of  Emil Abraham & Magdalena Krebill Leisy, whose families were German Mennonites. 
Picture
The Emil A. Leisy house in Pratum c1914, [Photo: Steffen Family]
Picture
The Steffen Family house in Howell Prairie, c1950 (before 1952 remodel) ]Photo: Steffen Family]

Picture
The Daniel Steffen family c1942. Stan is the baby on Linda's lap, Wanye is seen at far right. [Photo: Steffen Family]
Picture
Stan, age 8 or 9, tinkering with his wagon [Photo: Steffen Family]

​Daniel and Linda Leisy Steffen were blessed with three daughters and four sons, the youngest of whom was Stanley Steffen, Pratum hay farmer and inventor.  On the family farm, Stan was always tinkering with things and became responsible for repairing the hay baler each time it broke down, which could be several times a week. He devised several other pieces of equipment to make the repetitive work of harvest a bit easier for himself and others working on the farm.  

Stan married Ruth deVries, whose grandparents were Peter and Rosina Gerig of Pratum, in 1963. Also in 1963, Stan and his older brother Wayne (who was married to Ruth's sister Doryce) took over the family farm when their father Daniel retired. A few years later a farming accident would leave Wayne paralyzed from the waist down. Stan realized how much he relied on his brother in the operation of their farm and their hay business.
PictureStanley Steffen at KMUZ Studio, March 2020 [Photo: SHM]
During Wayne's recovery time, Stan devised a way he could adapt their hay loader to use hand controls so Wayne could continue picking up hay bales and loading them onto trucks to be delivered to their customers all over the valley.  Stan relates that Wayne, no mechanical novice himself, wasn't home very long before he figured out how to also fit their large grain-hauling rig with hand controls. He then began hauling 22 tons of grain to Portland every day.

The Steffen boys continued devising more efficient machines over the years. In 1970, Stan opened up a shop where they worked together with other family members, friends, and neighbors--each bringing their own expertise--to build these machines. They learned to work well together, taking time to make each piece good to look at and good to last. Some years later, the enterprise would become Steffen Systems, run today by Stan's son David, selling their machinery all over the globe.  Most of Stan and Ruth's seven children have worked in one of the family businesses in some capacity.

Stan would not tell you this, but he has been awarded several significant honors over the years for his contributions to the industry that supports many farming families like the Steffens. Following a hip replacement resulting from being hit by a falling bale in 2007, Stan and Ruth decided it was time to retire. With their accountant acting as the mediator, they presented their plan to their seven "kids" who unanimously voted to keep the farm together and run it as one business.
Picture
This 1941 Metger map shows the many farming properties of the Pratum area. Note the many names that are now memorialized in the names of current streets and parks {Photo: SHM]
Stan has seen many changes to farming over the years. He says he would love to see a return to smaller, family farms with owners active in their community rather than the large corporate farms often owned by absentee landowners. He would also love to see a return to the four-crop-rotation farming system that made the Mennonites--the original organic farmers--so well-known in Europe. One-crop specialty farming, which he himself adopted as being modern practice, relies on various soil amendments to return and retain soil fertility, as well as focusing all one's resources on a single crop that could prove to be a profit loss through external pressures. 
Although "retired," today you'll find Stan still farming hay on some 120 acres. Four of his children still work the larger farm, two work in the separate manufacturing business, and one raises hazelnut trees--all still involved in the "family business," ensuring that the Steffen name will continue in the Pratum area (and beyond) for several generations to come.

If you'd like to listen to our full interview with Stan about this humble, hard-working family who, along with others seeking religious freedom, helped settle the Howell Prairie and Pratum areas, please click here: Part One  and  Part Two
~~Posted by Deb Meaghers
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Your Hosts

    Deb Meaghers and Christy Van Heukelem, historians and authors, are passionate about the history of Salem and the entire mid-Willamette Valley.  We love sharing our enthusiasm for our rich historic legacy with others.  

    Picture
    Deb
    Picture
    Christy

      You Can Join in the Fun! 

    Subscribe to Blog

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photo used under Creative Commons from Johnath