Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (March 20, 2020)
MARCH 20, 2020, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A3 Home demolition turns up trove from bygone era By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes A group of dedicated Keizer volunteers demolished a home in Keizer Rapids Park in Feb- ruary. Fortunately, they dug through the attic before ripping everything down. The hunt unearthed a trove of records, some dating back more than a century. A total of eight records were found, each about three times the thickness of a quarter. Five of the records are known as Edison Diamond Discs. The records were pro- duced exclusively for the Edi- son Disc Phonograph produced between 1912 and 1929. The Edison phonograph was unique because it was fi t- ted with a permanent diamond stylus. If owners attempted to play the platters on a different type of phonograph, the steel needles damaged the shellac without producing any music. The discs costs $1 to purchase in their heyday, the equivalent of roughly $14 in modern cur- rency. The Edison discs recovered looking into the cone of the phonograph. The Victor player was invented by Eldridge R. Johnson, a machinist who be- gan producing phonographs as the fi rst records were being produced in 1900. The three Victor discs are: • Think Love of Me\ Smilin’ Through (1914-1926) • Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming (One sided) (1905-1909) • Moonlight on the Lake/ Victor Minstrels No. 10 (1908) The house that was torn down was purchased by the city in 2005 so that the land could be added to the park. The re- cords recovered in the demoli- tion are on display outside the Keizer City Council chambers in the Keizer Civic Center. Af- ter spending some time there, the city plans to donate them to the Keizer Heritage Museum in the Keizer Cultural Center. Digging in at Civic Center KEIZERTIMES/Lauren Murphy from the home in Keizer Rap- ids Park were: • Too Much Mustard – One- step / Moonlight Rag • Sing Me the Rosary / I’ll Change the Shadows to Sun- shine • Love’s Melody Waltz - Boston or Hesitation / Ecstatic ABOVE: One of a handful of Edison Diamond Discs found in a demolished home in Keizer Rapids Park. LEFT: The century-old platters are much thicker than modern day vinyl. - Waltz Hesitation • Make a Little Heaven in Your Heart / At the End of a Beautiful Day • Sweet Dreams of Home / Fifth Nocturne Many of the discs’ liners also survived the years in the attic. The sleeve for Too Much Mus- tard provides a history of the song from its French roots, an anecdote about how dancing to the song caused a ceiling to crumble in Fairfi eld, Conn., and a brief biography of the band leader – Henry Lodge, a native of Providence, Rhode Island – who led the recording. The other three records could be played on a Victor Phonograph. Its logo is the well-known Nipper the dog Members of the community pitched in to help clean up the Keizer Civic Center Saturday, March 14. ABOVE: Mark Caillier delivers marching orders. FAR LEFT: Nathan Farris (left) and Am- mon Farris. LEFT: City Manager Chris Eppley reports for duty. KEIZERTIMES/Lyndon A. Zaitz WHEN IT COMES TO REMODEL “WE LISTEN, WE CREATE” YOU ENJOY! Let us design your dream kitchen or bathroom Kitchen outdated? Give your kitchen the makeover it deserves! Look forward to spending time in your bathroom? If not, we can help. Spring Special RECEIVE 2 HOURS OF CALL TODAY — 503.409.1975 StarBuildersLLC.com • CCB #182498 Visit our 2,000 sq. ft. Showroom — 3995 Cherry Ave NE in Keizer COMPLIMENTARY DESIGN SERVICES upon project commitment of Full Kitchen or Full Bathroom Remodel *Spring special offer ends May 29, 2020.
