Historic Salem #7: Boon’s Treasury

888 Liberty Street NE

Boon’s Treasury on September 9, 2006

Boon's Treasury was built in May, 1860. It was built of brick with the intention of being fireproof. It was threatened by the flood of 1861 but survived. Boon died in 1864. William Lincoln Wade, son of Alfred and Sally Wade who owned the boarding house next door, moved in his general merchandise store. In 1885, 10-year-old Herbert Hoover came from Iowa to live with his uncle, John Minthorn, in Newberg, Oregon. He became friends with William Lincoln Wade's son, Murray Lincoln Wade. One day the boys carved their initials into the store's bricks. After the repeal of prohibition in 1933, Fred Karr bought the building and turned it into Kerr's Tavern. In the 1970's, the tavern was sold and the name changed to Boon's Treasury. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 20, 1975. McMenamins acquired the business in 1998. Salem Monthly operated out of the upper floor for a time.

Additional Links:
Boon Brick Store/Treasury Building at Discover-Neighborhood-History

Historical Photos:
Boon's Treasury 1941 (Salem Public Library)
Boon's Treasury, 1941 (Salem Public Library)
Boon's Treasury Interior, 1974 (Salem Public Library)
Boon's Treasury, 1976 (Salem Public Library)
Boon's Treasury, 1992 (Salem Public Library)
Boon's Treasury, 1992 (Salem Public Library)

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