Herb Dalke with early Dalke Construction truck, c1940 [Photo: Dalke Family Collection] 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.
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.
Marvin Dalke & Larry Dalke represent the Dalke Family & Dalke Construction Company, 2019 Larry Dalke, current owner/manager, and his uncle Marvin Dalke talked with us today about their family business that was begun in 1919 by Mavin's brother (Larry's grandfather), Thomas Dalke, a recent arrival from Oklahoma. This four-generation family concern continues to be a well-known, well-respected, and well-run business heading into its second century of serving the Salem area, and beyond.
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 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.
 John & Maria Ediger with their 1912 Everett, c1913 [Photo: Ediger Family] |  Ediger family in front of "Oak Villa" in Dallas, OR, c1913 [Photo: Ediger Family] |
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 Dalke, left, had quite a physical presence. Family lore says he wore a 54-inch belt. He passed away in 1967. Marie Ediger Dalke nurtured her young family, through several relocations in the Salem/Dallas area before they settled in West Salem. She died in 1981. [Photos: Dalke & Ediger Families] |  |
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.
| Dalke Construction was innovative in constructing tilt-up cement buildings after Tom had first seen their use in Alaska. Soon this would become a major part of their contract work.  |  Thomas Dalke with crew at a tilt-up construction site {Photo: Dalke Fam. Coll.] |
Tom ran for mayor of the City of West Salem in 1944 using his "Ain't Mad at Nobody" campaign slogan, but lost to his good friend Guy Newgent by just two votes. The city of West Salem looked much different then than it does today. After several major flooding events drained the City coffers, West Salem turned in its City Charter in 1949 and became part of the City of Salem, across the Willamette River to the east.
 Tom & Marie Dalke's Downtown Courtel, c1960 [Photo: Dalke Family Coll.] |  The Downtown Courtel on Liberty Street SE c1960. Now site of Salem Civic Center [Dalke Family] |
After retiring from the construction business, Tom and Marie Dalke built a motel, the Downtown Courtel, in the block bordered by Liberty Street and Commercial Street SE where the Civic Center is today. Governor McKay lived there for a few years, as did Uncle Marvin--who said you never knew who might be joining you at Marie's large table: the governor, Slim Pickens, Oral Roberts, or Aunt Jemima. Larry Dalke remembers being called to come down and meet his first "celebrity"--Aunt Jemima. "Quite exciting for a small town boy," he recalls.
 Herb Dalke, pictured here c1957, was a founding member of the Salem Home Builders Assn. [Photo: Dalke Family] | Tom's second son, Herbert "Herb" Dalke, served in the military as a Navy Seabee (as did his brothers), and moved to Long Beach, California, after the war. There he met Dorothy Doane, marrying her in 1948. Their five children are Kathryn (Boles), Kenneth, Lawrence, Thomas and David. Herb would eventually return to Salem and assume the leadership role for the Dalke Construction Company, choosing in 1958 to transition their work from residential to industrial and commercial projects to provide more time with his young family. |
 Learning the family business are Ken, Larry & Tom Dalke, c1960 [Photo: Dalke Family] |  The Little D's grew up on the Jobsites [Photo: Dalke Family] |
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.
 Early Dalke jobsite c 1945 [Photo: Dalke Family]  New Dalke Construction Company Office, c1967 [Photo: Dalke Family] |  Dalke Construction Crew, c1980 {Dalke Construction Facebook]  New Dalke Construction Office, 2012 [Dalke Construction Facebook] |
Larry Dalke & son Scott Dalke seen at Office entrance, c2012 [Photo: Dalke Family] 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.
Ken, Larry & Tom Dalke and friends build a fort c1962 [Dalke Family] 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.
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.
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.
~~Posted by Deb Meaghers
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