Sunday, December 28, 2014

Historic Downtown Salem #23: Bush & Brey Block & Annex

179-197 Commercial Street NE

IMG_8967 Bush & Brey Block in Salem, Oregon on September 8, 2007
Bush & Brey Block & Annex on September 8, 2007.

The original Bush and Brey Block was a 72 x 90 foot building divided by a central staircase. It was designed by architect Walter Pugh for Asahel Bush II, and Mortiz Brey, a cabinet maker, and was built in 1889.

IMG_4553 Bush & Brey Block in Salem, Oregon on November 30, 2006
Bush & Brey Block on November 30, 2006.

The cast iron facade was manufactured by the Salem Iron Works, which had 27 employees in 1889, and the bricks were produced by the George Collins brickyard, which produced over 550,000 brocks for Salem’s renewal of 1889.

IMG_4554 Bush & Brey Block in Salem, Oregon on November 30, 2006
Bush & Brey Block on November 30, 2006.

Mortiz Brey was injured during construction and was replaced by W.F. Boothby as contractor. One worker died during construction. As early as 1895, the rear addition was extended 40 feet to form a two-story wing approximately 35 x 60 feet.

IMG_4552 Bush & Brey Block in Salem, Oregon on November 30, 2006
Bush & Brey Block on November 30, 2006.

A three-bay section, also designed by Walter Pugh to match the existing building, was added to the south side of the block around 1918. By 1926 the rear addition filled the lot to the alley.

IMG_8969 Bush & Brey Block in Salem, Oregon on September 8, 2007
Bush & Brey Block on September 8, 2007.

The first tenant of the building was photographer Myra Sperry who had a studio on the second floor. Byron Randall used Sperry’s studio in the 1930s and subsequently became a noted California artist. Sperry sold her business to brothers Thomas J. and William M. Cherrington who ran the studio from 1891-1893. The studio was then acquired by Anna Louise Cronise who ran it with her brother Thomas J. Cronise. Other occupants of the second floor included printers, hemstitchers and dressmakers, three savings and loan companies, a dentist, a lawyer, the Salvation Army from 1935 to 1942, the Knights of Columbus from 1947 to 1949, and the Loyal Order of Moose from 1953 to 1955. The Salem Art Association also used part of the second floor as classrooms for a Creative Art Group in the 1940s.

IMG_3203 Bush & Brey Block in Salem, Oregon on September 4, 2006
Bush & Brey Block on September 4, 2006.

From 1917 to 1934, Buren’s Furniture and Luggage Store occupied the southern-most portion of the ground floor. A series of clothing stores have occupied the building, including Dalrymple’s, Krausse, McVoy, The Chicago Store, Oregon Shoe Co., Gale & Co., and finally Les Newman's beginning in 1934. The ground floor was also occupied by J.L. Busick and Sons, Grocers from 1924 to 1970. The grocery store also occupied the rear addition, which saw its exterior remodeled. The ground floor was converted to a restaurant in 1971-1972, and the second floor was leased for offices. The rear addition was again remodeled with new ground floor facade consisting of arches made of used bricks. A wooden section between the original building and the rear addition was removed and the space was bridged by a second story skywalk and railing framed by an archway. This makes the rear addition appear to be a separate building, but they were built as one structure and remain under the same ownership.

IMG_8968 Bush & Brey Block Annex in Salem, Oregon on September 8, 2007
Bush & Brey Annex on September 8, 2007.

The Bush and Brey Block and Annex were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. More recently MVP's Restaurant & Lounge has called the main building home, and the 1895-built annex is currently home to the Busick Court Restaurant, named after the grocery store that once occupied it.

Additional Links:
Bush & Brey Block at Salem Online History

Historical Photos:
Crowd at McEvoy's Dress Shop, 1889 (Oregon State Library)
Les Newman's, 1960-1965 (Salem Public Library)
Bush & Brey Block, 1975-1985 (Salem Public Library)
Bush & Brey Block, 1975-1985 (Salem Public Library)
Bush & Brey Block, 1992 (Salem Public Library)

Continue to 24: Breyman Brothers Block

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