Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Salem Government #27: Oregon State Hospital – Cascade Hall

2600 Center Street NE

IMG_3831 Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon on September 17, 2006
Cascade Hall on September 17, 2006

The Oregon State Insane Asylum opened on October 23, 1883. The name changed to Oregon State Hospital in 1913.

IMG_3832 Cascade Hall at Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon on September 17, 2006
Cascade Hall on September 17, 2006

Cascade Hall, also known as the "J Building" for its footprint's shape, was built in 1883 as the the hospital's original building. A narrow gauge railroad connected the hospital by tunnels to the Capitol Building and the Oregon State Penitentiary. The building was extended in 1899 and is still used by the hospital.

IMG_3833 Cascade Hall at Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon on September 17, 2006
North Wing of Cascade Hall on September 17, 2006

The Oregon State Hospital Historic District was put on the National Register of Historic Places on February 28, 2008.

IMG_3834 Cascade Hall at Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon on September 17, 2006
South Wing of Cascade Hall on September 17, 2006

In late 2008 a major construction project began that would demolish much of Cascade Hall; the rest would be renovated.

IMG_3839 Cascade Hall at Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon on September 17, 2006
Cascade Hall along Center Street on September 17, 2006

The renovated portion of the surviving building is now known as the Kirkbride Building, named after Dr. Thomas Story Kirkbride of Pennsylvania, who promoted the architectural standards for mental hospitals that were used for the building’s original design.

Historical Photos:
Cascade Hall, 1886 (Salem Public Library)
Cascade Hall, unknown date (Oregon State Library)
Cascade Hall, unknown date (Oregon State Library)
Cascade Hall, unknown date (Oregon State Library)
Cascade Hall, unknown date (Oregon State Library)
Cascade Hall, 1903 (Oregon State Library)
Cascade Hall, circa 1905 (Salem Public Library)
Cascade Hall, unknown date (Oregon State Library)
Cascade Hall, August 1940 (Salem Public Library)
Aerial View of State Hospital, Aug. 1940 (Salem Public Library)

Additional Links:
Oregon State Hospital at Salem Online History
Oregon State Insane Asylum gallery by "unkannyvalley" on Flickr
Oregon State Hospital Demolition at Salem Heritage Network on April 12, 2009

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