Historic Downtown Salem #2: Umpqua Bank (Site of the Nesmith Building)

245 Commercial Street SE

Umpqua Bank on April 7, 2007

This corner was originally the site of the Nesmith Building. In March, 1859, Oregon's statehood was announced from the Nesmith Building, which at the time housed the Governor's office and the State Supreme Court. Over the years, the building served as as Salem's Post Office and as the Women's Christian Temperance Hall. It became the home of the Oregon Statesman newspaper (now the Statesman-Journal), and was known from then on as the Statesman Building. The newspaper moved out in April of 1953, and the building became known as Smith's Block and was the home of Lambert's Furniture & Antiques for its later years until its demolition. Today this branch of Umpqua Bank stands on the site, just outside the Historic District.

Historical Photos:
Statesman Building, 1953 (Salem Public Library)
Statesman Building, January 3, 1953 (Salem Public Library)
Former Statesman Building, 1955 (Salem Public Library)
Smith's Block circa 1960 (Salem Public Library)

Continue to 3: Salem Conference Center (Marion Hotel site)…