By Kimberli Fitzgerald - Special to Salem Reporter
Kimberli Fitzgerald is the city of Salem's archeologist and historic preservation officer. She is a regular contributor to Salem Reporter's local history column.
COLUMN: Black History Month in Salem and beyond
Kimberli Fitzgerald, Salem's historic preservation officer, lays out the history of Black History Month and one of Oregon's first Black pioneers, who was brought to the Salem area as a slave.
COLUMN: Salem’s first Christmas tree
Salem was the first U.S. city to put lights on a living, uncut tree for Christmas in 1913.
COLUMN: Before it was a fun run, the “turkey trot” had a more controversial history
Columnist Kimberli Fitzgerald, Salem’s historic preservation officer, dives into the history of local turkey-promoting events, and the surprisingly scandalous history of the Turkey Trot dance.
COLUMN: The Depression-era art center that held Salem’s first art fairs
Ahead of Salem's Art Fair, columnist Kimberli Fitzgerald, Salem's historic preservation officer, researched the history of the event. She found Salem had community art center in the 1930s and 1940s funded by New Deal programs.
Salem artifact of the month: an 1876 vase celebrating America’s birthday
A glass vase found in Salem last summer during a sidewalk repair dates back to the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. City Archaeologist Kimberli Fitzgerald dives into the history.
Salem history moment: Fairfield, the Willamette Valley’s own ghost town
Columnist Kimberli Fitzgerald dives into the history of a small grain port town just north of Salem that vanished in the early 20th century as rail shipping became predominant.
Salem artifact of the month: Burnett’s hair Cocoaine
Salem's city archaeologist, Kimberli Fitzgerald, delves into the history of a century-old bottle of hair tonic found during a downtown sidewalk repair in Salem.
Salem history moment: the case of the mistaken school identity
A historic photo in a city collection labeled as the Eola School turned out to be an early image of Brush College instead, Kimberli Fitzgerald writes.
Salem history moment: moving and preserving Jason Lee’s house
As the city of Salem goes through its historic Ben Maxwell photo collection, Kimberli Fitzgerald, Salem's historic preservation officer, is reviewing the text accompanying photos and sharing her findings with readers.
Salem history moment: a mystery parade in 1886
As the city of Salem goes through its historic Ben Maxwell photo collection, Kimberli Fitzgerald, Salem's historic preservation officer, is reviewing the text accompanying photos and sharing her findings with readers.