Tag HISTORY COLUMN
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.
COLUMN: The ghosts of the Elsinore
Craig Smith of the Willamette Valley Genealogical Society dives into some spooky history surrounding one of Salem's historic theaters.
COLUMN: How Salem decided on its first flag in 1972
As the city of Salem prepares to dedicate its new cherry blossom-inspired flag at the 50th Civic Center anniversary next week, city historic preservation officer Kimberli Fitzgerald explains how the city's original 1972 flag came to be.
LOCAL HISTORY: A chronicle of Oregon’s famous strawberries
Alice Faist picking first Oregon strawberries in 1956 (Oregon Historical Society) This column was originally published in the Willamette Valley Genealogical Society’s Beaver Briefs, May 2022, in a slightly different form and is shared here with permission. The Salem bumble, honey and Mason bees had…
LOCAL HISTORY: The roadside farm and floral shop that became a tourist attraction
The former Eola Acres Floral Shop today (Photo by Sara Belousek) If you drive Highway 22 from Salem to Independence you pass two very interesting older buildings on the north side of the highway. The Eola Acres Floral Shop was located at 4785 Salem-Dallas Highway.…
SALEM HISTORY: The “bicycle craze” in Oregon’s capital
Ralph Emerson, son of Peter Emerson, in Salem in 1885 with a bicycle (Salem Public Library Historic Photograph Collections) Sue Bell (1932-2019) for many years until her passing, wrote numerous local historical research articles for local newspapers and numerous Salem focused articles as the editor for…