700 Church Street SE
The Oregon School for the Blind was established on February 26, 1873, with 6 students. It provided education opportunities to children in the state who were without sight or had too little vision to make satisfactory progress in public school classes. The campus at this location was founded in 1895, on seven acres of land originally donated in 1880 by Asahel Bush II and former Portland mayor Henry Failing for use in educating the disabled. The land was originally occupied by the Oregon School for the Deaf. When that school moved to East Salem in 1894, the Oregon School for the Blind took over the property. The Oregon School for the Blind had previously been located on 12th street since 1883, and that location became Salem’s first hospital. The 1895 school building, which provided living quarters, dining, offices and classrooms for about 25 students and staff, was demolished in 1957.
In June 2009, the Oregon Legislature voted to close the Oregon School for the Blind due to budget issues. The Salem Hospital purchased the 8.12 acre property in October 2010 for $6 million, with plans to demolish all of the buildings on the site to make room for its own expansion.
Howard Hall
Howard Hall at Oregon School for the Blind on March 25, 2007
Howard Hall was built in 1923, on property once occupied by the Oregon School for the Deaf. It was designed by Portland architect John Virginius Bennes in an Italian Renaissance Revival style. Howard Hall was named for Superintendent Jerome Howard, who served the school from 1919 to 1931. His wife Helen also served as Matron during that time. Howard Hall was originally designed as a dormitory for boys, with sleeping quarters, bathrooms and living rooms for about 40 students and one supervisor. When Irvine Hall was built in 1934, Howard Hall became a dormitory for girls. In 1950, the basement was expanded from a small room at the center of the building to include space under the entire east wing for additional classroom space. A Mid-Century Modern style addition was built on the west end of the building in 1958, and the interior of the original building was reconfigured. The addition was designed by the Portland architecture firm of Jacobberger Stanton Franks and Norman, who also designed the Administration Building, Infirmary, Dining Building and Gymnasium, which were all built in 1957. In later years, as the demand for dormitory space diminished, Irvine Hall became the only dormitory building, and Howard Hall was made available for other uses. As of 1984, Howard Hall was being used by Mill Creek School and Kidspace. The Salem City Council designated Howard Hall a City of Salem Local Historic Resource on April 10, 1990. Howard Hall was placed on Marion County’s Oregon Inventory of Historic Properties in June 1993. In the 1990s, the building’s original clay tile roof was replaced with asphalt shingles. With the closure of the Oregon School for the Blind, Howard Hall was decommissioned in August 2009. By that time, Howard Hall had been used only as storage for years and was uninhabitable.
The Salem Hospital applied to demolish Howard Hall in 2011 as it demolished the other buildings on the site, but the Historic Landmarks Commission denied permission on February 17, 2011, and the hospital withdrew its application. In 2014, the Salem Hospital applied again, and on June 12, 2014, the Historic Landmarks Commission again denied the application. In July 2014, the Salem City Council overturned the Historic Landmarks Commission’s decision and approved the demolition. Opponents of the demolition appealed the decision to the state’s Land Use Board of Appeals, which upheld the city’s decision on December 17, 2014, and Howard Hall was demolished in February 2015.
Historical Photos:
Howard Hall, 1945-1965 (Salem Public Library)
Irvine Hall
Irvine Hall at the Oregon School for the Blind on March 17, 2007
Irvine Hall was built in 1934. It was designed by Salem architects Fred Legg and his son Kenneth Legge in a Georgian/Adam style. Irvine Hall was named for Benjamin Franklin Irvine, editor of the Oregon Journal from 1919 to 1937. As an adult, Irvine’s eyesight deteriorated to the point of blindness. Irvine presumably donated the funds for the construction of the building. Irvine Hall was designed as a new dormitory for boys, and when it opened Howard Hall became a dormitory for girls. In 1966, an addition called Bracher Lounge was built on the north side of Irvine Hall. In later years, as the demand for dormitory space diminished, Irvine Hall became the only dormitory building. Following the 2009 closure of the Oregon School for the Blind and 2010 purchase by the Salem Hospital, Irvine Hall was demolished in 2011.
Historical Photos:
Irvine Hall, 1970 (Salem Public Library)
Additional Links:
Oregon State School for the Blind at Salem Online History
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