Your walk begins at the southeast corner of Commercial and Ferry Streets. This is a 2008 view south.
1. The 1890 Burke Building was a fruit and produce house with the Illahae Club meeting upstairs. In 1912 this club merged with the Board of Trade to form the Salem Chamber of Commerce.
2. On the northwest corner is the 1947 Marion Auto Rental and Park. Following World War II, efforts to accommodate cars in the downtown encouraged the removal of older buildings for the construction of car parking facilities.
The Marion Auto Park replaced this 1857 Holman Building, a legislative hall after the first capitol burned in 1855.
3. Walk north on Commercial Street to the former Ladd and Bush Bank (LL) founded in 1869 by Asahel Bush, II (1824-1913), a prominent figure in Salem's financial and political history.
A summertime view of the former Ladd and Bush Bank.
4. Turn left. At 246 State Street is the 1908 Catlin and Lynn Building (LL), built on the site of the Tiger Engine Fire House, No. 2, from 1869 to 1893.
5. The 1908 Manning Company Building (NR) replaced a wooden building occupied by blacksmiths and carriage makers. Salem Seed and Implement Co. was located there. As you cross State Street the Carousel and Riverfront Park are to your left.
6. On the northeast corner is the 1913 Boise Building (NR) at 217 State Street. The building was designed by Fred Legg who also designed structures at the State Fairgrounds.
7. On Front Street, behind the Boise Building is the abandoned 1911 White's feed Store. By the early 1920s, D. A. White had immense warehouses on Front and Water The building remained in White family ownership until the mid-1980s.
Adjoining the Boise Building is the Smith and Wade Building. By the 1920s the west half housed George E. Waters, Inc., a wholesale cigar distributor and the east half was home to the Gospel Mission.
8. A closer view of the 1870 Smith and Wade Building (LL). It maintains the appearance of its 1910 renovation.
9. To the east is the Salvation Army Building. Notice the name blanked out above entrance. Arriving in Salem in the early 1890s, they owned this building from 1930 to 1968.
10. On the northwest corner is the US Nat'l Bank/ Pioneer Trust (LL). After acquisition of Ladd and Bush Bank by U.S. National Bank in 1940, it became Pioneer Trust.
At the same corner, a 1913 parade celebrated the opening of the Union Street Railroad Bridge. Pioneer Trust is ahead on the corner. In the distance, down State Street, is the Holman Building.
11. Directly across at 110 Commercial Street is the 1868-70 Dearborn Building. Cross Commercial Street here.
12. Walking north you see the 1880 Capital National Bank Building, adjoining Pioneer Trust. It was remodeled in 1892 to this Richardsonian Romanesque style and remodeled again in 1950 by James L. Payne, Salem architect.
13. Continuing north, the 1889 Bush-Breyman Block (NR) was originally twice the size: the Bush portion north portion was damaged by fire and subsequently demolished. A solitary post marks where the building stood.
14. The remaining portion of this structure (at the corner) is Bush and Bray Block (NR), occupied from 1924 until 1970 by the popular Busick & Sons Grocery.
An early 1900s view of Commercial Street shows the Bush-Breyman and Bush-Brey buildings, looking toward the Court Street intersection.
Around the corner to the left, the Busick Court restaurant on Court Street retains the name of the original grocery store. Cross Commercial to the east side and continue north.
15. Only 70 of the original 120 feet of the The Starkey – McCully Building (NR) remain. It was built in 1867 by Asa McCully and John L. Starkey with money from the California Gold Rush.
Starkey-McCully detail of decorative ironwork
16. South 1st Nat'l Bank Block (NR) at 247 Commercial Street was built in 1887 when wooden buildings were replaced by brick. During the 1940s, it was the Benjamin Forstner Store.
The west side of Commercial Street from Court to Chemeketa Streets just after 1887.
17. The last remaining historical building on this east side of Commercial Street is the Eldridge/Greenbaum Building (LL), originally extending south to the end of the block. The third generation of the family continues to operate “Greenbaum’s Quilted Forest” at this site.
18. Return to Court Street. The rounded corner distinguishes the Pearce Building at 305-321 Court Street. This building was remodeled in 1940 for two Pearce sisters who had acquired the property from their father, George Pearce, owner since 1885.
Here is a postcard view of the Commercial & Court streets intersection before Pearce Building and Breyman "White Corner" were renovated in the 1940s for modern appearance.
19. Midway down the block, Court Street Dairy Lunch at 347 Court Street was founded in 1929 by Glen Morris. Salem's first "fast food" restaurant continued to be owned and operated by three generations of the Morris family until 1994. The walls are decorated with historical photos.
20. The 1907 Paulus Building (NR), across the alley, was previously the site of Sung Lung Washing and Ironing. The present building was constructed to provide space for a single retail establishment selling furniture. In 1931 Paulus separated the space. Doughton's Hardware occupied the west end of the building for almost sixty years (1934-1991).
21. The Reed Opera House (NR) on the corner of Court and Liberty Streets is a National Register property. Entering the building at this entrance on Court Street, provides an opportunity to see a historical exhibit.
A recent interior view of the Reed Opera House.
Cross the street for a better view. The 1869 Reed Opera House once housed the Oregon Supreme Court and State Library on the third floor, a 1,500 seat auditorium on the second, and seven stores at street level. Its closing in 1900 was the result of the opening of the Grand Theater Opera House. The interior was then redesigned for Joseph Meyers and Sons (and later Miller’s) Department Store. After a major rehabilitation of the building in 1976, the building became the focal point of a major downtown redevelopment.
From Court Street looking south along west side of Liberty to State Street: Old Capitol Tower (Livesley Building) is across the intersection. In this block are the Gray, Eckerlen, Skiff, McCormack Buildings and Reed Opera House.
A 1930s view of the west side of Liberty Street from Reed Opera House (then Miller's Department Store) looking south. The Grey and Livesley buildings are on each side of the State Street intersection.
22. Look east at this same corner. Near the corner on Liberty Street are the 1916 Moore Building (green awning) and the 1906 Skiff Block with Queen Anne architecture in the eastern half of the building.
The same Court Street block between Liberty and High Streets in the 1930s. Notice the Moore and D'Arcy Buildings are the only structures remaining today.
23. Walking north from the east side of this corner, you will see at 241 Liberty Street the facade of the 1920s PGE Building which had the Electric Apartments on the second floor. This historic structure and the business adjacent to the right are in process of renovation.
In this 2007 photograph, the historic Electric Building facade just peeks from beneath the Anderson Sporting Goods store covering.
24. At the intersection with Chemeketa Street is the 1947 First National Bank (later Wells Fargo). This modern building was designed by renowned Portland architect, Pietro Belluschi. The eight sculptures on the west elevation were done by Frederick Littman.
This view from across the intersection, gives a view of the windowed north side of First National Bank and the parking lot behind where the City Hall stood. Turn here and walk east on Chemeketa Street in that direction.
25. At the southwest corner of Chemeketa and High is a parking lot with a plaque identifying this as the site of the Old City Hall.
A 1959 photograph of the old City Hall taken from Chemeketa Street.
This a photograph taken during the 1972 demolition of the 1893 Salem City Hall is from the collection of Marylou Green. The view is west along Chemeketa Street looking toward High Street. At this corner, turn south on High Street.
26. Arriving at the corner of Court and High Streets, you pass the 1923 T. G. Bligh Building with a green awning. It has housed the Olson Florist since 1926.
The Bligh Building's low facade can be seen in the center of this photograph taken in the 1920s. The Grand Theater is to the left, at the Court Street intersection, and the old City Hall a block north at Chemeketa Street. The World War I Doughboy memorial (now moved to Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs) stands proudly in front of the old Courthouse. (Photo from collection of Carole Smith)
27. At the southwest corner of Court and High Streets is the former Odd Fellows Hall (NR), the main building designed in Richardson Romanesque style. The Grand Theater opened in Odd Fellows Hall in 1900, providing popular movie entertainment. Its use gradually declined after the Elsinore was built in 1927 and closed in 1950. After a period of temporary use by other renters, it has now been extensively renovated.(Photo courtesy of Carole Smith)
From the southeast corner, in front of the Marion County Courthouse, this view of the Odd Fellows Hall and the building to the south, the Central Stage Terminal and Hotel, allows a glimpse of the Old Capitol Tower (the Livesley Building) in the distance and the Masonic Building to the south.
28. The present modern Courthouse is on the site of a former Victorian building.
In the background of the demolished Courthouse is the Post Office, now on Willamette University campus and renamed the Gatke Building. Beyond that is the former classic State House which burned in 1935 and was replaced on the same site by the modern Capitol. The First Methodist Church is to the right.
Another photograph of the former Courthouse, facing west. The Odd Fellows Hall is to the right in the background, the Masonic temple to the left and the Old Capitol Tower (the Livesley Building) in the distance beyond the former Guardian building which burned.
From the Courthouse corner at Court and High Streets, the view south (from left) shows the Oregon Building and Masonic Temple at the intersection of Sate and High. The former Central Stage Terminal & Hotel is adjacent to the Odd Fellows Hall (Grand Theater) on the corner.
29. The Masonic Building (LL) at 101 High Street was built in 1912 in Mediterranean/ Moorish style. This six-floor building on the northwest corner was vacant for a period of years, but has recently been remodeled and renamed as The Franklin Building. It contains offices with a ballroom on the upper floor.
Looking east at the same corner of State and High Streets, the spire of the First Methodist Church (NR) is visible one block to the east. Beyond that, the "star trees" of the Willamette University can be seen.
30. Walk south to the Elsinore Theater (NR) at 170 High Street. It opened in 1926 with a DeMille silent film, The Volga Boatman”. This theater featured film, stage shows and, for a time, movies with vaudeville. The Elsinore has been restored as one of the few remaining examples of Tudor Gothic theater design. Cross at the Ferry Street corner and walk back up High for a better view of the theater.
31. The 1913 Hubbard or Oregon Building at the southwest corner of State and High Streets was the original Salem depot for the Oregon Electric Railway, whose Salem-to-Eugene tracks ran down High Street. Harry M. Hawkins and Thomas Roberts bought the Hubbard Building in 1921. During their ownership, the building housed Metropolitan Stores, Sears, and various law offices.
At State Street, look west toward Liberty. The Old Capitol Tower (NR) is Salem's only skyscraper at 11 stories tall. This 1926 building was financed by Thomas A. Livesley (through the First National Bank). Livesley was a leading hop grower in the Northwest as well as a politician, and Salem entrepreneur.
State Street looking west in the 1930s was defined by the Masonic Temple on the right (at Hugh Street) and the Pionner Trust at Commercial. To the left is the Livesley building at Liberty Street.
32. Continue west to Liberty and State Streets. On the northeast corner, diagonally across from the Livesley Building, is the 1916 McGilchrist Building. The family was prominent in the commercial, social, and agricultural life of the community. They retained an interest in the McGilchrist Building into the 1960s.
In a 1920s view of the same intersection, looking back to the east. The Gilchrist Building and Masonic Temple are on the left, the Guardian Building and Hubbard Building on the right. In the distance is the State House and the First Methodist Church.
About a dozen years later, the State House began burning on the afternoon of April 25, with this dramatic effect as seen downtown that night.
33. In 1894 the three Gray brothers constructed this two-story building (LL) on the northwest corner of State and Liberty Streets. In early 1900, Charles Gray sold the building to Russell Catlin and James R. Lynn. The present owners are direct descendants of Russell Catlin.
Looking north from the corner of Liberty and State Streets are (from left) the Gray, Eckerlen (former Bishop's), Skiff (former Montgomery Ward) and McCormick Buildings. Reed Opera House anchors the Court Street corner. Walk up this street to enjoy the restored buildings.
34. A few steps into Liberty Street, is the recently restored 1894 Eckerlen Building built by the Gray brothers. Eugene Eckerlen bought the property in May 1909. In 1936, Bishop’s clothing store for men and boys, moved here and remained through the 1960s.
Directly across the street at 160 Liberty is the recently restored Metropolitan Building. The original Hughes-Durbin Building was built in 1916 at this location and remnants of the original building remain. In the 1920s it became the home of Salem’s J.C. Penny store and remained so for the next several decades. It is more recently remembered as the Metropolitan, a variety retail store.
From an upper terrace of the Metropolitan Building, there is a great view of the Gray and Livesley buildings at the corner of Liberty and State Streets.
35. Back on State Street, continuing west, the property at 379-383 was constructed in 1860 as a rooming house. In 1925 Charles T. Pomeroy and A. A. Keene purchased the building and remodeled it into two retail stores. A jewelry store at this location was managed by Audrey Pomeroy into the 1990s. Her brother had an adjoining optical shop. A central staircase (with a skylight) divides the two stores.
A State Street scene, the Pomeroy (LL) & Gray Buildings.
A closer view of the Pomeroy Jewelry as a current retail store.
36. Over the years several businesses have occupied retail space in the Farrar Building (NR). Midget Market occupied shop space at 352 State Street until 1964. The store at 363 State Street was originally the Central Cigar Store. From 1930 until July of 1981 it was the Smoke Shop. It not only sold cigars, but also served food and drinks at a long double counter; billiard and cards were played in the back. Eventually it became a community institution, serving farm and other transient laborers in the Salem area.
37. Before you cross the alley, glance north and south to see their decorations. The 1902 Bayne Building (LL) has been the home of numerous retail businesses including several businesses, such as a bakery and the Little King Restaurant. The OK Barber Shop is a long time occupant in the western half. Cross the street at the State Street at the alley.
Looking back at the north side of State Street from near Commercial: Bayne, Farrar, Pomeroy, and Gray at the corner of Liberty Street. Across the intersection is McGilchrist. The tall Masonic building can be seen two blocks to the east at High Street.
The Patton Building, a pioneer merchandising establishment was demolished at this south side of State Street when the bank was extended to the alley.
The former Patton Building.
38. East of the site of the former Patton Building, the J.K. Gill Building (NR) was constructed in 1868, making it one of the oldest in the historic district. On May 15, 1869, the First Presbyterian Church of Salem was organized on the upper floor of this building. It was constructed by the prominent Northwest book dealer, J.K. Gill.
39. The Adolph Block (NR) at 360-372, originally housed the Sam Adolph Saloon, a butcher shop and jewelers. After a fire in 1880, this brick building was constructed here to replace the wooden ones that had been destroyed.
This view back toward Liberty includes the Gill and Adolph Buildings with the Old Capitol Tower at the corner.
40. The Livesley Building has elaborate ornamentation on the north and east elevations from the eleventh floor upward to the parapet. The outer bay (on the right in this photograph) has a standing human figure with stylized wings surrounding it. Bearded human faces in relief decorate the upper section of wall. Statuary of griffins are at both the northwest and northeast corners of the building.
41. To the east of the Livesley Building is a bank building on the site of the former four story Guardian Building. It had been a prominent location for professional offices.
Standing on Liberty Street, residents watch the Guardian Building burn in 1947.
Turning south on Liberty Street, you can look back and see the site where the previous photo was taken.
Turn south at the Livesley Building and walk one block to the corner of Liberty and Ferry. To the right is the walking tour starting point and the Conference Center.
42. Ahead of you at the southeast corner of Ferry and Liberty Streets, is the former Crystal Ballroom. With dancing on the main and second floors, and a swimming pool in the basement, this was a center of entertainment for many years.
43. Cross Liberty Street and enter the lobby of the Phoenix Grand Hotel on the site of the 1900 Marion Hotel.
The Marion Hotel burned in 1971 after over a hundred years as Salem’s hospitality centerpiece.
Inside Phoenix Grand Hotel, continue through hallway to Conference Center. Notice the historic photographs of the former Marion Hotel as you end the tour.
