Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Historic Salem #10: Bush Pasture Park

890 Mission Street SE

Bush's Pasture Park is a 90 acre parcel of land that was originally owned by prominent Salem resident Asahel Bush II. Asahel Bush II came to Oregon in 1850. He established the Oregon Statesman newspaper in Salem in 1851, and became the first state printer. Asahel married Eugenia Zieber in 1854 and they had four children: Estelle, Asahel N. Bush III, Sally and Eugenia. Mrs. Bush died in 1863, leaving Asahel to raise the four children. Asahel Bush and W. S. Ladd opened the Ladd & Bush Bank, the first bank in Salem, in 1869, and Asahel Bush eventually bought Ladd's share in the bank as well.

Asahel Bush built a home for his family on this property in 1877 and 1878. Bush donated the eastern 57 acres of his land to the City of Salem in 1917, with the intention that it be used as a city park. The rest of the property, including the Bush House, stayed in the Bush family until it too was donated to the city in 1953. Bush's Pasture Park and the houses surrounding it form the Bush Pasture Park Historic District, which was put on the National Register of Historic Places on October 10, 1986.

Asahel Bush House
600 Mission Street SE

IMG_3798 Bush House at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon on September 17, 2006
Asahel Bush House on September 17, 2006

Asahel Bush built this Italianate Victorian house in 1877 and 1878, and it remained in the Bush family, passing first to Sally, then to her brother Asahel N. Bush III, who arranged for the house and its grounds to be donated to the city after his death, which occurred in 1953.

IMG_3797 Bush House at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon on September 17, 2006
Asahel Bush House on September 17, 2006

The Bush House is owned by the City of Salem and is operated by the Salem Art Association. It still contains the furnishings it had when the Bush family lived there, most of which was selected for the house by Sally Bush. The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 21, 1974.

IMG_3794 Bush House at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon on September 17, 2006
Asahel Bush House on September 17, 2006

Additional Links:
Asahel Bush at Salem Online History
Bush House at Salem Online History
Bush House Museum & Garden at Salem Historical Quarterly
Asahel Bush House Museum at the Salem Oregon Community Guide

Historical Photos:
Asahel Bush as a young man (Oregon State Library)
Asahel Bush (Salem Public Library)
Asahel Bush (Salem Public Library)
Asahel Bush, circa 1890 (Salem Public Library)
Asahel Bush, circa 1900 (Oregon State Library)
Asahel Bush (Salem Public Library)
Asahel Bush (Oregon State Library)
Asahel Bush (Oregon State Library)
Asahel Bush (Oregon State Library)
Asahel Bush (Oregon State Library)
Asahel Bush (Oregon State Library)
Asahel Bush (Oregon State Library)
Asahel Bush (Oregon State Library)
A. N. Bush, circa 1879 (Salem Public Library)
A. N. Bush, circa 1952 (Salem Public Library)
Bush House, March 29, 1947 (Salem Public Library)
Bush House 1945-1965 (Salem Public Library)
Bush House 1965-1985 (Salem Public Library)
Bush House 1992 (Salem Public Library)

The main entrance to the house is on the north side, and leads to the hallway and staircase to the second floor, which we'll come back to.

Historical Photos:
Bush House Staircase, 1947 (Salem Public Library)

IMG_5728 Bush House Formal Sitting Room in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Formal Sitting Room on March 25, 2007

Upon entering the Bush House from the north side, the Formal Sitting Room is to the right of the staircase, in the northwest corner of the first floor.

IMG_5725 Bush House Formal Sitting Room in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Formal Sitting Room Fireplace on March 25, 2007

IMG_5729 Fireplace Mantel Clock in the Bush House Formal Sitting Room in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Clock on Bush House Sitting Room Mantle on March 25, 2007

IMG_5726 W.P. Emerson Piano in the Bush House Formal Sitting Room in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Piano in Bush House Formal Sitting Room on March 25, 2007

It contains one of 10 Italian Marble fireplaces in the house and a W. P. Emerson piano.

IMG_5727 Light Fixture in the Bush House Formal Sitting Room in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Formal Sitting Room Light Fixture on March 25, 2007

Most of the light fixtures in the house include both electric and gas lights.

Historical Photos:
Bush House Sitting Room, March 29, 1947 (Salem Public Library)

IMG_5732 Bush House Family Living Room in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Family Living Room Fireplace on March 25, 2007

To the left of the staircase in the northeast corner of the house is the Family Living Room. In addition to another fireplace, it contains an Aeolian Orchestrelle player piano and has a stereographoscope on display.

IMG_5731 Aeolian Orchestrelle Player Piano in the Bush House Family Living Room in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Player Piano in Bush House Living Room on March 25, 2007

IMG_5730 Stereographoscope in the Bush House Family Living Room in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Stereographoscope in Family Living Room on March 25, 2007

Historical Photos:
Bush House Family Living Room, 1947 (Salem Public Library)

IMG_5733 Bush House Library in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Library on March 25, 2007

Connected to the Family Living Room is the Library, which is also connected to Asahel Bush's bedroom. In addition to another fireplace and a large collection of books, the Library also contains a large painting of Asahel Bush.

IMG_5734 Bush House Library in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Cabinet in Bush House Library on March 25, 2007

Historical Photos:
Bush House Library, 1947 (Salem Public Library)

IMG_5735 Bush House Master Bedroom in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Bedroom on March 25, 2007

The Library connects to Asahel Bush's bedroom in the southeast corner, the main bedroom in the house.

IMG_5736 Bush House Master Bedroom in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Bedroom on March 25, 2007

As Mrs. Bush had died long before the house was built, the master bedroom is furnished for a single person.

IMG_5737 Bush House Master Bedroom in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Bedroom Fireplace on March 25, 2007

This is the only bedroom on the main floor.

IMG_5739 Bush House Bathroom in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Bathroom on March 25, 2007

Between the bedroom and the kitchen is the bathroom.

IMG_5740 Bush House Bathroom in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Bathtub on March 25, 2007

IMG_5741 Bush House Bathroom in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Bathroom Sink on March 25, 2007

IMG_5738 Bush House Bathroom in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Toilet on March 25, 2007

The bathroom includes a large bathtub, a marble sink, and a toilet with a elevated cistern and a pull chain attached to the flush valve.

IMG_5743 Bush House Kitchen in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Cabinet in Bush House Kitchen on March 25, 2007

The Kitchen is in the southwest corner of the first floor and is fairly large. It includes a wood-fired French stove with a broiler, built at the Oregon State Penitentiary.

IMG_5742 Bush House Kitchen in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
French Stove in Bush House Kitchen on March 25, 2007

Historical Photos:
French stove in Bush House Kitchen, 1947 (Salem Public Library)

IMG_5747 Bush House Dining Room in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Dining Room Fireplace on March 25, 2007

The Dining Room is naturally attached to the kitchen. It includes another fireplace and contains a number of china cabinets.

IMG_5744 Bush House Dining Room in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Cabinet in Bush House Dining Room on March 25, 2007

IMG_5746 Bush House Dining Room in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Cabinet in Bush House Dining Room on March 25, 2007

IMG_5748 Bush House Dining Room in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Cabinet in Bush House Dining Room on March 25, 2007

IMG_5745 Bush House Telephone in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Telephone on March 25, 2007

A niche off the dining room contains a magneto wall box telephone.

IMG_5749 Bush House Hallway in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House First Floor Hallway on March 25, 2007

The Dining Room leads back to the hallway with the stairs to the second floor. A large mirror occupies the end of the hallway on the lower floor.

IMG_5767 Bush House Stairs in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Staircase on March 25, 2007

An antique grandfather clock is at the top of the stairs on the second floor.

IMG_5757 Clock in the Bush House Second Floor Hallway in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Grandfather Clock in the Bush House on March 25, 2007

Other furnishings fill the space in the second floor hallway as well.

IMG_5756 Bush House Second Floor Hallway in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Second Floor Hallway on March 25, 2007

IMG_5761 Bush House Second Floor Hallway in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Second Floor Hallway on March 25, 2007

IMG_5760 Bush House Second Floor Hallway in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Second Floor Hallway on March 25, 2007

The second floor consists primarily of bedrooms for Asahel Bush's four children plus a guest bedroom.

IMG_5759 Bush House Bedroom in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Second Floor Bedroom on March 25, 2007

This second-floor bedroom is at the top of the stairs and to the right, in the southwest corner. I think this was the bedroom of Asahel Bush's youngest daughter. It contains original wallpaper, plus a fireplace.

IMG_5758 Bush House Bedroom Light Fixture in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Bedroom Light Fixture on March 25, 2007

Also, note the light fixture, which is different than those in the other bedrooms.

IMG_5755 Bush House Bedroom in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Second Floor Bedroom on March 25, 2007

IMG_5765 Bush House Bedroom in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Second Floor Bedroom on March 25, 2007

IMG_5764 Bush House Bedroom Light Fixture in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Bedroom Light Fixture on March 25, 2007

This bedroom in is the northeast corner, and was shared by Bush's two youngest daughters.

IMG_5763 Bush House Bedroom Sink in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Second Floor Bedroom Sink on March 25, 2007

Note the small corner sink. These sinks are in all the upstairs bedrooms, but this one has unique fixtures. Bush felt turning the typical knobs to be too difficult for the young girls, so he commissioned these squeeze-type valves that resemble rabbit ears.

IMG_5762 Bush House Guest Bedroom in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Second Floor Guest Bedroom on March 25, 2007

IMG_5754 Bush House Guest Bedroom in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Second Floor Guest Bedroom on March 25, 2007

IMG_5752 Bush House Guest Bedroom in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Second Floor Guest Bedroom on March 25, 2007

IMG_5753 Bush House Guest Bedroom Light Fixture in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Guest Bedroom Light Fixture on March 25, 2007

IMG_5751 Bush House Guest Bedroom in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Second Floor Guest Bedroom on March 25, 2007

IMG_5750 Bush House Guest Bedroom in Salem, Oregon on March 25, 2007
Bush House Second Floor Guest Bedroom on March 25, 2007

The Guest Bedroom is in the northwest corner of the second floor. It contains the same amenities as the other bedrooms, such as a hanging light fixture, fireplace, and a small sink.

Historical Photos:
Bush House Guest Bedroom, 1947 (Salem Public Library)

Bush Barn

IMG_3793 Bush Barn Art Center at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon on September 17, 2006
Bush Barn on September 17, 2006

The Bush Barn was built adjacent to the Bush House at about the same time. It burned in the early 1960s. In 1965 it was restored, and it was expanded in 1975. Today it serves the Salem Art Association as an art gallery called the Bush Barn Art Center.

IMG_3801 Bush Barn Art Center at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon on September 17, 2006
Bush Barn Art Center on September 17, 2006

Bush Conservatory

IMG_3800 Bush Conservatory at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon on September 17, 2006
Bush Conservatory on September 17, 2006

The Bush Conservatory, or greenhouse, was built in 1882.

IMG_3795 Bush Conservatory at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon on September 17, 2006
Bush Conservatory on September 17, 2006

The conservatory was restored through a Historic Preservation Grant under the direction of the Salem Art Association, the City of Salem and the Oregon-Washington Green Thumb.

IMG_5724 Bush Converatory Sign at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon on March 21, 2007
Bush Conservatory Sign on September 17, 2006

Willamette University Athletic Facilities

Bush's Pasture Park includes Willamette University's McCulloch Stadium, which consists of the Charles Bowles Track and the Ted Ogdahl Football Field.

IMG_5688 Willamette University McColloch Stadium at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon on March 17, 2007
Willamette University McCulloch Stadium on March 17, 2007

IMG_5689 Willamette University McColloch Stadium at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon on March 17, 2007
Willamette University McCulloch Stadium on March 17, 2007

IMG_5690 Willamette University McColloch Stadium at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon on March 17, 2007
Willamette University McCulloch Stadium on March 17, 2007

IMG_5686 Willamette University McColloch Stadium at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon on March 17, 2007
Willamette University McCulloch Stadium on March 17, 2007

McCulloch Stadium was built in 1950 and renovated in 1993. Beyond it is John Lewis Field and the Roy S. "Spec" Keene Baseball Stadium, built in 1989.

IMG_5687 Willamette University McColloch Stadium at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon on March 17, 2007
Willamette University McCulloch Stadium on March 17, 2007

Salem Soap Box Derby Track

IMG_5684 Salem Soap Box Derby Track at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon on March 17, 2007
Salem Soap Box Derby Track on March 17, 2007

Bush's Pasture Park also includes the Salem Soap Box Derby Track. Salem is one of the few cities in the United States to have a track dedicated to soap box derby racing.

IMG_5680 Salem Soap Box Derby Track at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon on March 17, 2007
Salem Soap Box Derby Track on March 17, 2007

IMG_5683 Salem Soap Box Derby Track at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon on March 17, 2007
Salem Soap Box Derby Track on March 17, 2007

IMG_5681 Salem Soap Box Derby Track at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon on March 17, 2007
Salem Soap Box Derby Track on March 17, 2007

IMG_5682 Salem Soap Box Derby Track at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Oregon on March 17, 2007
Salem Soap Box Derby Track on March 17, 2007

Continue to 11: Deepwood Estate (Dr. Luke A. Port House)

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