TAGE ELEVEN
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The OREGON STATESMAN, Salem. Oregon, Friday Morning, June 4, 1937
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When the new, modern Montgomery Ward store
opens tomorrow at 155 Liberty street, the
thoughts of many Salem old timers will turn
hack 70 years. This is especially true of Mark
S. Skiff from whom Wards purchased the prop
perty. It was on April 4, 1867, that Mark's fa
ther, L. SSkiff, bought the lot! He paid $1,000
for it. He later sold a 20 foot strip to Reid's
Opera House for $1,500, and still later passed
the remainder on to his son, Mark.
The older Mr. Skiff had purchased the lot for
a home, and a few months after he obtained it
he built an 8 room frame house with a .white
picket fence around it. In 1885 he built a den-
tist's office alongside the house. Mark prac
ticed dentistry in this office for 48 years, filling,
pulling or otherwise treating the teeth of every
governor and every treasurer of the state as
well as hundreds of others in the county! Later
he moved to the Masonic building and is now
retired.
In the 90s the Worth department store was
i
constructed adjoining the house and later sev
eral small shops were built in front of it. Last
year Wards purchased the lot for their new
store, and the small shops were removed. For
the .story in pictures read from left to right and
down the page.
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IThe new WVrd atore opens tomorrow on the It is built of brick painted white. The first floor Is
historic Skiff property. It will haTe four floors. faced with granite. A picturesque effect Is achieved
a basement and mezxanine. All floors will have the by the Mansard roof, balusters, chimneys and dormer
latest la fixtures and displays. The design of the windows. A sidewalk canopy harmonise with ad
bail ding Is Colonial, but this stylo has been modified v Joining buildings,
to fit 1937 materials and methods of construction.
a This deed dated 1867 Is still In existence although worn and frayed. II
records that I. 8. Skiff paid tl.OOO to W. R. Anderson for the property,
now number 155 X. Liberty street. Tomorrow, TO years and 2 months later
almost to the day. Wards opens a new. store on the same property. In a
building which will be as modern and attractlre as any that now stands in
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3 This picture was taken in the '80s. It shows the years. He also became "circuit rider" In dentistry,
white frame house built in 1867. On the porch traTellng from town to town to treat his patients,
are the late Mrs. L. S. Skiff and one of her daughters. There are still families living in Salem on which Mark
Mark Skiff, a son. lived In the house with his wife practiced his vocation for 4 generations, either In the
practiced dentistry in an adjoining office for 48 office or on his "circuit."
4 The dentist's office alongside the Skiff house was the left, on the property adjoining the office, erred
buflt ia 1885. Mark is shown standing tn front as a ansae for many prominent people. Among them
of the office. In the window Is a pail overflowing wore Matt Berry, Dr. C H. Hall, Thomas Ross and
with teeth which Mark had extracted. These formed the father of Oswald West. The younger West was the
a unique dentist display In those days. The house at governor of Oregon from 1911 to 1918.
SJj. 8. Skiff, who was a pioneer dentist
in Salem. He purchased the property
where the new Ward store stands In 1867
and It remained tn the family until its
sale to Ward's la 1986.
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6 Modern, commercial buildings began te spring np around pressed some doubt of his ability to make a living. Te prove
the eld Skiff homestead before the turn of the century, his earning ability Mark pointed to the fact that be bad pulled
Thla photograph was taken In the '90s and shows the beginning or filled at least one tooth in every family tn the community in
f the framework for the Worth department store. By this time a period of ten days. Objections to the marriage were then
Mark was establishing himself professionally and financially, wlthdrasw
But before his marriage, his prospective father-in-law bad ex-
7 Other commercial buildings followed the Worth department this picture was taken the buildings and the bouse were removed
stem, this time actually on the Skiff property. The picket and construction work was begun on the new Ward store. Hot
fence was removed to make room for n row of small, frame- oniy is uus new sore a nsooern mn""s " r"
buildinga on the front of the lot. Bat the white house remained, erally considered to make the business block oae of the -finest la
It can be seen here half hidden from the camera. Shortly after Salem. The official opening takes place tomorrow at 9:39,