Discover Neighborhood Heritage

“Discover Neighborhood Heritage” is a photographic catalog, partly based on records in the 1987 publication Historic Salem. That inventory illustrated Salem National Register and Local Landmark sites up to that date. Our album of more than 250 individual historic properties introduces viewers to other significant properties found in our own research throughout the city’s neighborhoods, each with a distinctive character and unique history. Many of these photographs were taken as long ago as 2008, and so their appearance may be different today.

Use the search tool to scroll through the neighborhoods as follows: CANDO, ELNA, Faye Wright, Grant, Highland, Morningside, NESCA, NOLA, NEN, Northgate, SCAN, South Gateway, SEMCA, SESNA, SWAN, Sunnyslope, West Salem.

You can browse to discover historic properties where you live or in other neighborhoods of interest. If you know of other properties that might be included, contact us to discuss additions to this topic.

Note on abbreviations:
LL = Local Landmark
NR = National Register

category: discover

Cross, 1635 Fairmount Avenue S in SCAN (NR)

This Spanish Colonial Revival home was built at the top of fashionable Fairmount Hill. The architect was Clarence L. Smith, however Mr. Cross, the owner, had the house completed by a Portland architect. The second owner of the house was Asel C...

Browning, 1445 Saginaw Street S in SCAN (LL)

According to David Duniway, Judson and Carrie Reeves built this house in 1899, Mr. Reeves left his wife and son Raymond four years later. In 1911, when boy was to join his father in San Francisco, Carrie took her own life. Other information records an owner of this Italianate house was T...

Bewley/Hardy, 1915 Berry Street SE in SCAN (LL)

This Vernacular style house was apparently built by Oscar Bewley in 1907-8 and shortly thereafter (1909) sold to William and Alice Hardy. Mr. Hardy’s occupation was listed as a teamster in the Salem City Directory. The Hardys occupied the house until about 1924; in the late 1930s the property was sold to Frank Koschmeder...

Alford/Bertleson, 290 Leffelle St. S in SCAN (LL)

This rural frame residence was built by Michael Alford prior to 1904. It was the home of John Bertleson and Jessie from 1922 to 1934. He was a well known local printer. Of note are the stone chimney, veranda porch and multilevel, steeply pitched gable roofs...

Adolph, 1625 Commercial Street S in SCAN (LL)

The earliest owners of this Clarence Smith designed, Spanish Provincial style home, were Samuel and Lottie Adolph. Its stucco exterior, tile roof, tower and decorative Spanish mission details give the house a unique appearance. It is now used as a medical office...

McIntire, 260 Superior Street S in SCAN (LL)

This Bungalow was probably built for Helen or Laura Adkins in 1917. The property changed hands several times with the Adkins having an interest in it from 1910 through 1924. In 1924 Charles and Addie McIntire bought the house and lived there until Mrs...

Southern Pacific RR Underpass, Portland Road in Northgate

The plaque attached to the southeast support identifies this as the Southern Pacific RR Underpass,Built under Cooperative Agreement by the US Bureau Of Public Roads, Oregon State Highway Commission. Kern & Kibbe, Contractors. The date is 1936...

Valley Packing Company, Portland Road in Northgate

In 1919 Curtis B. Cross, Fred and William Steusloff and A. N. Bush founded the Valley Packing Company. In 1924 an addition was made. Occupying 55 acres just west of the Southern Pacific Railway crossing on Portland Road, it was the only U.S. Inspected full-line meat processing plant in the state outside of Portland...

North Salem Baptist Cemetery, 4290 Portland Road in Northgate

In 1858, using lumber from his sawmill, Adam Stephens built a home and began a community. The first burial in a small nearby cemetery was that of his infant, namesake son. That cemetery still remains, a loving memory to this pioneer family and their neighbors who established the present North Salem Baptist Church...

Olson, Claxter Road NE in Northgate

This residence was built by Oscar D. (Frosty) Olson and his wife Marie on what was then Rural Rt. 7 on Portland Road. A florist, his business still continues in the original Court Street location after more than 80 years. His friends still remember that the Columbus Day windstorm of 1963 completely destroyed his three greenhouses adjacent to his home...

Franklin Log Cabin, 3960 Portland Road NE in Northgate

When the Franklin family lived in their Portland Road residence, this cabin was moved there from Lloyd Reynold’s home nearby. He had previously used it as a “clubhouse” for his gentlemen friends ~ a place where they could play cards and smoke their cigars away from women-folk’s disapproval...

Franklin, 3960 Portland Road NE in Northgate

In 1928 Orie F. Franklin and his wife Maude moved into their new home near the family business, Standard Cleaners and Dyers. The house was connected to Portland Road by way of foot and vehicle bridges over the Claggett Creek, but neither exists today...