Historic Downtown Salem #14: Salvation Army Building

241 State Street

Salvation Army Building on September 4, 2006.

The Salvation Army arrived in Salem in the early 1890s, when Salem and the rest of the nation suffered from a severe economic depression. For nearly 25 years, the Salvation Army held its public religious meetings and Sunday school in meeting halls above commercial buildings on Commercial Street and at various state institutions including the Oregon State Penitentiary. After World War I, Salem's Salvation Army was in need of a building of their own. The Salem Elks Lodge held fund raising drives to raise money for a Salvation Army Building that were successful enough to allow the Salvation Army to buy a wood-frame building on this site in 1919. This brick Gothic Revival style building was constructed around 1930. The Salvation Army remained here until 1968. The building is now home to Riverfront Dance & Fitness.

Additional Links:
Salvation Army at Salem Online History

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