Historic Downtown Salem #57: Farrar Building

351-373 State Street

Farrar Building on September 4, 2006

This property was previously occupied by a building of different dimensions with four shop spaces until at least 1914. The Farrar family bought the property in 1916 from Frank and Clemma M. Durbin, and obtained a mortgage against the property from the Ladd and Bush Bank in 1917. This Revival style four-bay building was designed by Salem architect Fred A. Legg and was built in 1917. The Farrar family retained ownership of the building for over four decades.

A variety of businesses have called the Farrar Building home. The Midget Market occupied the space at 352 State Street until 1964. A series of shoe stores occupied the space at 357 State Street from 1921 through 1972, including the Cohen Shoe Company, the Kafeteria Shoe Store, The Style Arch Shoe Company, the Mercon Shoe Company, and the Shoe Box. The space at 363 State Street was originally the Central Cigar Store, and was the Smoke Shop from 1930 to July 1981, which also sold food and drinks and featured billiards and card games. The space at 371 State Street was a barbershop operated by A. Louis Tumbleson from 1928 to 1938. The space at 373 State Street was the Postal-Telegraph Cable Company office until 1942, then became Jary’s Florist in 1945, Mode O’Day Women’s Fashions in 1947, Newland Jewelers from 1949 to 1959 and W. M. Ostby Jeweler’s Repair from 1960 to 1966. The Farrar Building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 26, 1982. Arbuckle Costic Architects renovated it in 1995 and made the building their headquarters.

Historical Photos:
Farrar Building, 1992 (Salem Public Library)

Continue to 58: Pomeroy Building…

Historic Downtown Salem #56: Bayne Building

335-349 State Street

Bayne Building on September 4, 2006

This property was originally the site of two smaller buildings: a two-story building to the west and an adjoining one-story building to the east along the alley. This two-story Commercial style building was designed by William Christmas Knighton, who became Oregon's first state architect in 1913, for John Bayne, a lawyer, and George Bayne, a hop grower active in local politics, serving on the Salem City Council during 1903-1907. It was built in 1902. The OK Barber Shop has been located here since at least 1907, and was remodeled in 1961. Other occupants have included a bakery, a Western Union office, the Little King Restaurant, the Brownell Electric Company and the Burroughs Electric Company. Offices occupied the second floor. More recent occupants include the Mary Lou Zeek Gallery and Guitar Castle.

Continue to 57: Farrar Building…

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)

Continue to 56: Bayne Building…

Historic Downtown Salem #54: Capitol Center

388 State Street

Capitol Center on September 4, 2006

Built from 1923 to 1927, this eleven-story reinforced scored concrete building was designed by Portland architect Leigh L. Dougan and financed by hops dealer, mayor and bank board member Thomas Livesly (through the First National Bank). When it opened in 1926, 75 percent of the spaces were leased by predominantly physicians and dentists. The bank occupied the ground floor until the late 1940s when Stevens and Sons Jewelers established tenancy through 1982.

Capitol Center on January 27, 2007

It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 9, 1986, after being rehabilitated by Morse Bros. and renamed Capitol Center.

Capitol Center Plaque on September 4, 2006

At 164 feet in height & 319 feet above sea level at the top of the highest antenna, Capital Center is the third tallest building and third highest point in Salem, after the steeple spire of the First United Methodist Church and the Oregon State Capitol building.

Capitol Center on December 9, 2005

Additional Links:
Thomas A. Livesley at Salem Online History
Capitol Center at the Salem Oregon Community Guide
Salem Oregon's Tallest Building at the Salem Oregon Community Guide

Historical Photos:
Portrait of Thomas A. Livesley (Oregon State Library)
Capitol Tower Building, 1964 (Salem Public Library)
Capitol Center, 1991 (Salem Public Library)
Capitol Center, 1992 (Salem Public Library)

Continue to 55: J.K. Gill Building & Adolph Block…

Historic Downtown Salem #53: Western Security Bank

416 State Street

Western Security Bank Building on September 4, 2006

This corner was originally the site of an unofficial city hall in the early 1890s. The four-story Salem Bank & Trust Company Building was built here 1910-1912. It was later known as the Guardian Building, and was a prominent location for professional offices. It was destroyed by a fire on November 3, 1947. An Anita clothing store was later built here. In the 1970s, the Western Security Bank next door bought the clothing store building, remodeled it with a facade of white brick arches to match their own building, and expanded the bank to fill the corner in 1980. Today the bank is a branch of Key Bank.

Additional Links:
Guardian Building Fire at Salem Online Community Guide

Historical Photos:
Guardian Building, 1912 (Salem Public Library)
Guardian Building on fire, Nov. 3, 1947 (Salem Public Library)
Guardian Building on fire, Nov. 3, 1947 (Salem Public Library)
Anita clothing store, 1968-1970 (Salem Public Library)
Anita clothing store, 1968-1970 (Salem Public Library)
Anita clothing store, 1968-1970 (Salem Public Library)
Western Security Bank, 1975-1980 (Salem Public Library)

Continue to 54: Capitol Center…

Historic Downtown Salem #52: Grey Belle Restaurant

440 State Street

Grey Belle Restaurant on September 4, 2006

The two-story former Grey Belle Restaurant building may have been built as early as 1890, but was modified so extensively in the 1960s and 1980 that it is now unrecognizable. Today it is a Chinese restaurant called Ming's.

Continue to 53: Western Security Bank…

Historic Downtown Salem #51: Bligh Hotel-Theater Site

441 State Street

Former site of the Bligh Hotel-Theater on September 9, 2006

Thomas Gregor Bligh built the Bligh Hotel and Theater on this site in 1912. The building was demolished in June 1975. The alley in this block features a brick arch that was built in 1986-1987 as part of a city-initiated urban renewal project.

Brick arch near Bligh Hotel-Theater site on September 4, 2006

Historical Photos:
Bligh Hotel, circa 1940 (Salem Public Library)
Bligh Hotel demolition, June 17, 1975 (Salem Public Library)

Brick arch near Bligh Hotel-Theater site on September 4, 2006

Continue to 52: Grey Belle Restaurant…