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Yesterday's Voices - Patricia Zahare Elling

3/23/2017

 
PicturePatricia Zahare with "May", c1942
March 23, 2017 Episode.
Ever wish for a simpler time? Perhaps a pastoral life on a farm, attending a small country school? Well, our guest today, Patricia Zahare Elling, did just that---and then traveled the world!

Pat told us about her grandparents, Andrew and Gertrude Zahare, immigrating from Austria/Hungary in 1900 and 1902, and settling in the Seattle, Washington, area where Andrew worked in packing houses and at the shipyards. In the 1920s, the family moved to farm acreage in the Chemawa area of north Salem where they grew various types of fruit. In the 1940s they established a winery on the property and bottled wine under the "Island Belle" label which pictured a dancing hula girl.  Most likely one of, if not the first Oregon wineries.

Pat's father, Andrew M. "Mike" Zahare, began farming in the Hazel Green area of northeast Salem on 2 acres. The home farm would grow to 52 acres, with another 30 acres leased by 1965. He was well-known in the fruit-growing community, especially for his grafting techniques. He also branched out into growing seed crops--vegetables such as parsnips, turnips, and others that were grown to harvest their seeds.  Pat's mother, Margaret, was an accomplished gardener whose yard was spectacular. Mike and Margaret were charter members of the Salem branch of the Audubon Society, as well as the Mycological (mushrooms) Society, with Pat following their lead.

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Mike Zahare in his peach orchard, c1965
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Mike Zahare demonstrating a grafting technique, 1965
It was the practice in those years to have families from Mexico come to the northwest to help during the busy times of planting and harvesting. The City would establish labor camps at the Salem airport and at the Fairgrounds to house them. Each day valley farmers would drive to the camp in the early morning and hire as many workers as were needed for that day's work, with each worker being provided with a sack lunch for their mid-day meal. ​Often the same families came back each year, becoming friends with the farmers and their families. Margaret Zahare's lovely yard was often the choice gathering spot for the families working the neighboring farms to spend their noon mealtime. It was here that Pat realized her love for the Spanish language. She grasped this new language easily, and even as a child, was often called upon to translate for the workers and the farm owners. 
Pat has fond memories of growing up and working on the family farm. She sold produce for spending money, graduating to regular wages. She attended the small Hazel Green School with its 8 grades taught by just two teachers. Pat explained that the first four grades were taught by a teacher with great artistic interests. The children would put on elaborate presentations. The upper four grades were taught by a women more interested in academic endeavors. Totally different experiences, but she feels she received an exceptional education that few could compare today. ​
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The Hazel Green "Butterflies," 1938
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The Hazel Green "French Dolls" 1939
PicturePat travels in Peru, c1995
This passion for Spanish lead to advanced degrees in Spanish and Education, which she utilized at several schools over her
long career. It also lead to a desire to travel to Spanish-speaking countries, which she first exercised during the summer between semesters at Willamette University when she lived with a friend and her aunt in Mexico. Following up on that experience, she and her husband Kay Elling traveled quite extensively.

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Christy with Pat Zahare Elling, 2017
I first "met" Pat by admiring her beautiful watercolor paintings that lined the halls at Capital Manor when visiting a friend. Turns out there are many more examples of Pat's art in several media gracing the common areas there. It was truly a joy to meet this warm, artistic woman in person. Thanks, Pat, for sharing your wonderful memories with us.  
 

Historic Businesses - Hamilton Furniture, Norma Hamilton Cochran

3/17/2017

 
PictureBuren & Hamilton Furniture, c1894, at 298 Commercial St. NE.
March 9, 2017 Episode.
We continue in our Historic Businesses series by highlighting one of Salem's oldest family-operated businesses, Buren & Hamilton Furniture. The original furniture/undertaking business was begun by A.T. Yeaton in the late 1880s. It was common for furniture and undertaking to be combined since both used cabinetry and upholstery skills, as well as needing a large flatbed wagon. The business was sold to cabinetmaker A.B. Buren, who contracted out the undertaking side of the business.  In 1894, the business was sold to a partnership formed by Buren's son Max O. Buren and Clarence S. Hamilton. They successfully operated their furniture business at three locations along Commercial Street NE: Greenbaum's Building (above), the former location of Salem Hardware Company at 120 Commercial (now Spaghetti Warehouse), and 136 Commercial NE, the original location of the Metropolitan Store. In 1908 they moved the business into a newly constructed, five-story building at 340 Court Street, now the home of Sid's Furniture.

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Buren & Hamilton Furniture Storefront, c1894

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Advertisement, Daily Capital Journal, 1901
PictureThe Hamilton Men: Clarence (standing) with father David (seated) and sons Arthur, Clarence, and Ralph.
Clarence Hamilton bought out Max Buren's holdings in the company in 1916, and reorganized the company as C.S. Hamilton Furniture Company. As the company grew, Clarence's son Ralph would join the family business in 1925.  Later on, son Clarence J. "Chris" would also join the business.

Ralph was especially interested in the new technology of refrigeration. He was certified in the field of refrigeration, and had three repair stores at one time. The store was involved with the Salem community on several levels. They held a cooking school to make area homemakers more comfortable with newly available appliances. When it was determined that a new store should be built, he visited furniture stores all throughout the midwest and east coast to refine the ultimate designs for the new building.

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Jesse Stump family home, 1879, located at 230 Front Street NE
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Leonard Hotel
In 1944, Clarence Hamilton and his sons petitioned the War Production Board to allow construction of a new building to house their expanding furniture store. The store would be built on land owned by the Hamilton family abutting Front Street, between Court and Chemeketa Streets. Construction would require razing the Stump-Hamilton home at 230 Chemeketa and the Leonard Hotel next door (see above photos). Construction approval was finally received and demolition and ensuing construction began. They selected family friend Ed Viesko [see previous 2016 posts] to construct the building following the designs of Ralph Hamilton. The new store would have two floors and a mezzanine, as well as a full basement for repair services and freight, and  a ground-level parking lot for customers. 
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Hamilton Furniture Store, Opening Day, November 1945

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Kuebler's Furniture, 2017
The opening of the new, modern Hamilton's Furniture Store in 1945 was met with grand fanfare by the Salem populace. Unfortunately, Clarence Hamilton would not live to see his new store completed or join in the celebration, as he died just a few months earlier.  

The Hamiltons continued to operate their store at this site for another 15 years.  In 1960, their story of 66 years of furniture business in Salem ended when they sold the business to another family-run enterprise, Rubenstein's Furniture. The Rubensteins operated their furniture business here for another 32 years, closing the doors in 1992. 

Ralph Hamilton's forward-thinking designs for his family's furniture store continue to be viable today.  Kuebler's Furniture opened in this same building in 1995, continuing the operation of a furniture store on this same site today.  Quite the legacy, we account.
Incidentally, the Kueblers are descendants of early Salem settler, Fred Kuebler, for whom Kuebler Boulevard is named.  Another story, another time.

Yesterday's Voices - Norma Hamilton Cochran

3/9/2017

 
PictureJesse Stump at farm in Airlie, 1882
March 2, 2017 Episode.
Continuing with our Yesterday's Voices series, we were joined by Norma Hamilton Cochran today. Norma's family has deep roots in Oregon. Her paternal great-grandfather, Jesse Stump, originally from Illinois, purchased 800 sheep in Independence, Missouri, and drove them to the Airlie area in Polk County in 1852. He married Martha Davidson whose family had settled in nearby Suver and they established their farm on the Luckiamute River. Their daughter, Jessie Belle Stump would go on to marry Clarence Sloane Hamilton, and their son Ralph would later marry Mary Claire Davis and become Norma's father.

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Clarence S. & Jessie Belle Stump Hamilton with sons Ralph & Arthur (standing in back), and Clarence, called "Chris"
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JessieBelle Stump Hamilton, Clarence, Ralph, Arthur with grandmother Martha Davidson Stump
Norma's maternal grandfather Dwight Davis and his wife Helena Elizabeth (Lennie) settled in the Independence area in the early 1900s where he was the proprietor of a pool hall, as well as being a contractor and builder. After his untimely death, Lennie opened their home as Independence Hospital. Their daughter Claire is Norma's mother. Both Claire and Norma carried on the family tradition as nurses for Salem General Hospital. In fact, Norma was named the Nurse of the Year for District 3, Oregon Nurses Association, in 1985, being cited for her personality, professionalism, and dedication to improving nursing training and standards as being dynamic qualities of a worthy role model.
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Norma shared some of her early memories of growing up in Salem, where she attended McKinley Grade School, Leslie Junior High, and Salem High School. She recalled roller-skating at the Mellow Moon, riding her bike around the neighborhood, swimming in Leslie Pool, and daily activity programs in neighborhood parks for the children in the summer months.

She was very enthusiastic about the Mickey Mouse Club which met each Saturday at the Elsinore Theatre. This popular club boasted 3000+ members, aged 2 to16, and had its own page in the Oregon Statesman newspaper in 1936.  Each week the children were treated to a talent show or presentation, cartoons, a continuing serial movie, a newsreel, and other activities.  

There were lots of parades in Salem, and the circus coming to town was a must-see event. The circus arrived by train and they would watch the elephants erect and take down the tents. As a teenager, she remembers the weekly dances held for the high-schoolers, going to these events and even the prom on the city bus as her dad used the family car. Many couples met at these events and were later married. World War II brought with it rationing, charity work with the Red Cross, and movie newsreels bombarding them with war-time philosophies. She also remembers the horrors of the polio epidemic, as well as other contagious diseases, such as scarlet fever, which required area families to be quarantined in their homes. 
PictureChristy and Norma Cochran at Capital Manor, 2017
Norma met her first husband, Raymond G. Martin, when they were both students at University of Oregon Medical School.  During their years together she recalled that most entertainment was done in the home, with cocktails and/or dinners with friends. There were teas (very fancy) and coffees (more casual) for the ladies, and dance clubs for couples. She and her husband were founding members of the Terrace Dance Club.
Today, Norma and her second husband Robert live at Capital Manor. This vivacious, creative lady leads their Fiber Arts group, as well as dabbling in other artistic media. She has spent many hours collecting, preserving, and sharing family history materials, yet another legacy she will leave to those she loves. She truly is a Salem treasure, and we are so pleased to have been able to spend time with her.  

    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.  

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    Deb
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    Christy

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