Tag: COLUMN

SALEM HISTORY: Two Oregon governors and a mystery man ring the bell for Salvation Army

(WHC Collections 1998.024.0002) Editor’s note: This column is part of an effort from Salem Reporter to highlight local history in collaboration with area historians and historical organizations. Former Governors Charles Arthur Sprague and Douglas McKay (left and center) get into the holiday spirit ringing for the Salvation Army Christmas kettle[Read More…]

SALEM HISTORY: The life of Chief Quinaby

A sketch of Chief Quinaby, c.1870. (Courtesy Oregon Hist. Soc. Research Lib., OrHi76207) The Salem Art Association currently has an exhibit, “Native Salem,” featuring the history and culture of the original Kalapuyans who lived here for thousands of years, in the area we now know as Salem. While exploring the[Read More…]

COLUMN: Enrollment open through Dec. 7 for Medicare Advantage, prescription drug coverage

Sometimes delving into Medicare questions produces good results. The 68-year-old Medicare beneficiary had recently moved to Oregon and wanted help finding new Medicare insurance. He made an appointment with a Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) counselor. As the man described the no-premium Medicare insurance he had in another state,[Read More…]

SALEM HISTORY: Can you help identify these teachers from local schools?

In this time of year when we are starting to focus on gratitude, I have been feeling particularly thankful for teachers and school staff, now and in times past.  That is why I was particularly inspired when discovering a packet of unlabeled school staff photos from the 1968-69 school year in the Willamette Heritage Center’s collections[Read More…]

SALEM HISTORY: The downtown building where Herbert Hoover once worked

The Star Exchange Building on Commercial Street Northeast in Salem, 1946 (Salem Public Library/Ben Maxwell Collection) The State Insurance Co. Building located in Salem’s downtown has a really interesting history. The building is located at the northwest corner of Commercial and Chemeketa Streets in our downtown, but it doesn’t look[Read More…]

Uncategorized

SALEM HISTORY: Do you know who’s in this mystery photo?

A mystery undated photo from Willamette Heritage Center’s collections. (WHC X2021.006.0001) Editor’s note: This column is part of an effort from Salem Reporter to highlight local history in collaboration with area historians and historical organizations. In May, Salem Reporter ran a photo from the early broadcast days of KOCO, one[Read More…]