Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Salem Government #1 Continued: Oregon State Capital Additions & Miscellaneous

…Continued from House of Representatives Chamber.

On November 11, 1975, wings were added to the Capitol building, containing administrative offices and hearing rooms. The wings were designed by the Zimmer-Gunsel-Frasca Partnership to match the building's original construction and maintain its symmetry. The new wings were first occupied on January 10, 1977 and were dedicated on June 10, 1977.

IMG_4867 Oregon State Capitol Addition Dedication Plaque in Salem, Oregon on December 22, 2006
Oregon State Capitol Addition Dedication on December 22, 2006

The following inscription dedicated the new wings:

THE ADDITION OF OFFICE WINGS AND HEARING ROOMS
TO THE OREGON STATE CAPITOL STANDS IN TRIBUTE
TO THOSE CITIZENS WHO HAVE SERVED THEIR STATE
AS SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES WITH HONESTY,
VISION AND COURAGE SINCE 1859.

IT IS DEDICATED TO ALL THE SERVICE OF ALL OREGONIANS,
WITH FAITH THAT THESE HALLS SHALL BE A PLACE OF
WISE DECISIONS, OPENLY ARRIVED AT, REPRESENTING
THE COLLECTIVE WISDOM OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF OREGON.

THE ADDITION WAS AUTHORIZED BY THE 58th LEGISLATIVE
ASSEMBLY THROUGH CHAPTER 447, 1975 LAWS, SIGNED
BY GOVERNOR ROBERT W. STRAUB ON JUNE 27, 1975.
GROUND WAS BROKEN ON NOVEMBER 11, 1975. THE
ADDITION WAS OCCUPIED BY THE 59th LEGISLATIVE
ASSEMBLY ON JANUARY 10, 1977 AND DEDICATED
JUNE 10, 1977.

THE 58th LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

JASON D. BOE
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

PHILIP D. LANG
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

ZIMMER-GUNSEL-FRASCA PARTNERSHIP, ARCHITECT
PIETRO BELLUSCHI, DESIGN CONSULTANT
TODD BUILDING COMPANY, GENERAL CONTRACTOR

Historical Photo:
New wings under construction, 1976 (Salem Public Library)

The Oregon State Capitol was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 29, 1988.

IMG_4866 Oregon State Seal Mosaic at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Oregon on December 22, 2006
Oregon State Seal Mosaic on December 22, 2006

This mosaic of the Oregon State Seal is on display in the Capitol. It was created in 1973 by Russell E. Ziolkowski, an sanitation employee of the Springfield, Oregon public works department, and consists of everyday items like marbles, beads, coins and small toys, many of which he found while working, as well as natural items. Ziolkowski passed away in 2004.

The grounds of the Oregon State Capital are divided between the grounds to the east, which have always been owned by the state, and the grounds to the west, which are called Willson Park and were owned by the city and operated as a city park until 1965.

IMG_3264 Thomas Vaughan Tree at Willson Park in Salem, Oregon on September 4, 2006
Thomas Vaughan tree on September 4, 2006

This tree along State Street was dedicated to Thomas Vaughan, who served as Executive Director of the Oregon Historical Society from 1954 to 1989 and was also elected Historian Laureate for the State of Oregon in 1989.

IMG_3263 Thomas Vaughan Tree Plaque at Willson Park in Salem, Oregon on September 4, 2006
Thomas Vaughan tree plaque on September 4, 2006

The tree was a gift of the Oregon State House of Representatives in 1989. Thomas Vaughan died on December 6, 2013.

IMG_3261 Leon Hubbard Fuchsia Bed at Willson Park in Salem, Oregon on September 4, 2006
Leon Hubbard Fuchsia Bed on September 4, 2006

This fuchsia bed along State Street are dedicated to Leon Hubbard. Leon Hubbard received a degree in Agriculture from Oregon Agricultural College (now OSU) and researched how to increase wheat yields during World War II. After retiring from a career in agriculture in 1983, Leon began volunteering at the Oregon State Fairgrounds and revived 24 abandoned fuchsias he discovered there. He and his wife Hazel became active in the American Fuchsia Society.

IMG_3260 Leon Hubbard Fuchsia Bed Plaque at Willson Park in Salem, Oregon on September 4, 2006
Leon Hubbard Fuchsia Bed Plaque on September 4, 2006

In 1989, the Salem Area Branch of the American Fuchsia Society established the fuchsia bed at the Oregon State Capitol with Leon as chairman and chief gardener. Leon tended the fuchsia beds for six years as a volunteer. Governor John Kitzhaber dedicated the Leon Hubbard fuchsia bed in 1997. Leon Hubbard died on May 14, 2014.

Continue to 1A: Breyman Brothers Fountain

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