Historic Downtown Salem #50: McGilchrist Building

102-110 Liberty Street NE

McGilchrist Building on September 4, 2006

This corner was originally known as the Verani Corner, and was the site of several small wood stores including a barber shop and L. C. Fisher's cigar shop. The families of William McGilchrist, Jr. and James McGilchrist acquired an interest in the property in 1913. This two-story Revival style brick building was built in 1916. The Capital Drug Store occupied the corner with F. W. Woolworth's filling the rest, with entrances facing on both Liberty Street and State Street. James McGilchrist later became manager of the Woolworth’s store, and was the first capitol guide when the new state capitol building opened in 1939. He held the guide position until his retirement in 1953. William and Eva McGilchrist and James and Elsie M. McGilchrist retained an interest in this building into the 1960s.

McGilchrist Building on January 23, 2009

Historical Photos:
Verani Corner, 1912 (Salem Public Library)
McGilchrist Building, early 1950s (Salem Public Library)

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