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Sunday, December 28, 2014

Historic Downtown Salem #22: Bush-Breyman Block

135-147 Commercial Street NE

IMG_4549 Bush-Breyman Block in Salem, Oregon on November 30, 2006
Bush-Breyman Block on November 30, 2006.

The Queen Anne style Bush-Breyman Block was designed by architect Walter D. Pugh and built in 1889 as a joint development between Asahel Bush II and Werner Breyman. Bush bought the southern portion of the property in February 1889 and Breyman purchased the northern portion in May 1889. The building originally extended north up the block to the Bush & Brey Block. The buildings between were destroyed by fire in 1960, with only a single post remaining. The storefronts of this building were remodeled in 1911, 1926 and 1965, and the metal canopy over the stairway entrance was added around 1930.

IMG_4548 Bush-Breyman Block in Salem, Oregon on November 30, 2006
Bush-Breyman Block on November 30, 2006.

Originally, a drug store was located in the southern storefront and a clothing store in the northern storefront, with offices on the second floor. The drug store remained until the 1920s, and the clothing store remained for nearly 50 years. The building was home to a clothing store and the Schaeffer Drugs soda fountain in the 1940s. Among the professional offices that have occupied the second floor were the law offices of former justice and chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court Benjamin F. Bonham, district attorney for Marion, Linn, Yamhill, Polk & Tillamook counties Charles L. McNary, future U.S. district judge for Oregon John McNary, the American Red Cross and the Camp Fire Girls of Marion County. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 17, 1978.

IMG_3206 Bush-Breyman Block in Salem, Oregon on September 4, 2006
Bush-Breyman Block on September 4, 2006.

Additional Links:
Bush-Breyman Block at Salem Online History

Historical Photos:
Parade on Commercial Street, 1927 (Salem Public Library)
Bush-Breyman Block, 1949 (Salem Public Library)
Bush-Breyman Block, 1992 (Salem Public Library)

Continue to 23: Bush & Brey Block & Annex

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