Historic Downtown Salem #55: J.K. Gill Building & Adolph Block

356-372 State Street

Adolph Block & J.K. Gill Building on September 4, 2006

The two-story Italianate style J. K .Gill Building (pictured on the right) was built in 1868 for book dealer J. K. Gill, who founded what became one of the most successful bookstores in the Pacific Northwest. Gill acquired the business from his mother-in-law, and opened for business as the firm of Gill and Yeaton. Gill soon relocated to Portland, and the Salem store continued under new owners. On May 15, 1869, the First Presbyterian Church of Salem was organized on the second floor of this building. In 1886, Christopher Paulus acquired the building and operated a saloon with E. Klinger. This started a long history of alcohol being served here under various names, including Paulus and Klinger, Talkington’s Bureau Saloon, Patterson’s, and the Pioneer Club. Christopher Paulus’s son Robert C. Paulus was born on the second floor of this building in 1888, and later Robert C. Paulus’s own son would be born here as well.

Adolph Block on December 9, 2005

Samuel Adolph immigrated to the U.S. from Germany in 1855 and served eight years in the Army, reaching the rank of lieutenant. He came to Salem in 1867 and entered the brewery business with John Brown. He also served on the city council and built several business blocks downtown. In 1880, three wood buildings that occupied the space next door to the J. K. Gill Building were destroyed by fire. Samuel Adolph purchased the properties and had a two-story Italianate style block of three brick stores built next door, designed by J. S. Coulter. The block was completed in December 1880. The original occupants of the building included the Smith & Millican butcher shop, which had been located in the previous building that burned, and Samuel Adolph’s saloon. The third space was occupied by a variety of businesses, including jeweler J. C. Barr, watchmaker and jeweler S. W. Thompson & Company, and The White House Restaurant. Other businesses that have occupied the Adolph Block have included a cigar store, sporting goods shop, hops office, Kraps & Long Commercial Printers and Marshall-Wells Hardware & Sporting Goods.

In 1935, J. L. Cooke purchased the stationary store business started by J. K. Gill and moved it from the J. K. Gill Building to the Adolph Block at 370 State Street. Cooke died in 1951 and James A. Henry purchased the Cooke Stationary Company in 1957. Cooke Stationary has since expanded to the west into 362 State Street and continued to be operated by the Jim Henry’s son Kip and daughter Colleen. The eastern part of the building was recently renovated and is home to The Wild Pear. The Adolph Block and J. K. Gill Building were placed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 1, 1980.

Historical Photos:
Adolph Block, 1940s (Salem Public Library)
Adolph Block, 1992 (Salem Public Library)
J. K. Gill Building, 1992 (Salem Public Library)

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