Oct 19 2007
Salem’s Lost (and Saved) Treasures
Over the years Salem has lost many of its’ historic buildings. Victorian mansions such as the Patton house that once occupied what is now the Capitol Mall were demolished in the late 30’s and 40’s. Buildings considered “dated” were also lost in the 60’s and 70’s, including Salem’s City Hall and the old Marion County Courthouse.However there are many stories of successful preservation too. The Historic Elsinore theatre, The Bush House, Mission Mill, Historic Deepwood Estate, and the numerous historic treasures in our three Historic Districts all have been saved and embraced by the community.
Wilbur F. Boothby, architect of the Oregon State Hospital’s “J” Building, was also a prominent designer and builder of many of Salem’s now historic buildings. He was the architect for the Asahel Bush House, the old State Capitol (destroyed by fire), the elaborate Italiante style Marion County Courthouse (now gone,) and the State Penitentiary. He also designed and built the entire 23 bay South Eldridge Building on Commercial St NE. Today only the southern-most seven bay section of the 1889 Eldridge block remains housing Greenbaums and The Art Department.The rest of the buildings were torn down in the 1970’s to create the Chemeketa Parkade.
Nothing remains now to mark its presence but a stone shaft and plaque on the southwest corner of Chemeketa and High Streets. Erected in 1989, the monument was installed 17 years after demolition of the original City Hall building when the Civic Center Complex was completed in 1972.