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.
Tag: SALEM HISTORY
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.
Juneteenth history walk to highlight contributions of Bayless family
A free event June 19 will showcase the story of one of Salem’s original Black families, who escaped slavery to become noted community philanthropists.
Salem looks to revive its streetcar system
A legislative proposal hopes to go “back to the future” by studying the feasibility of a streetcar system for Salem commuters. Local historians say the hurdles that killed the system a century ago may come back into play for today’s plans.
COLUMN: 100 years ago in Salem, a fundraising drive for the state’s oldest university
Salem historic preservation officer Kimberli Fitzgerald recounts how Willamette University was founded, and how a century-old fundraising push secured the university’s future.
SALEM HISTORY: The legendary scones of the Oregon State Fair
As the state fair runs this week, Willamette Heritage Center curator Kylie Pine dug up archival photos of one of the fair’s main food attractions in the 1950s.
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: Almost 170 years ago, Marion County was a leader in reviving Oregon fairs
Oliver Standing, 2, of Forest Grove, leans in to pet a calf at the Marion County Fair in 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter) As the Marion County Fair runs this weekend, Salem Reporter asked Craig Smith of the Willamette Genealogical Society for an overview of the fair’s history. View our coverage[Read More…]
