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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (March 28, 1951)
Tie Oregon Statesman, Salem. Or. "Cavalcade oi a Century" Edition Wednesday, March 23. 1SSI Page 3 Volunteer Firemen Date to '57 A 1935 fire, a retired fire chief, and three-long disbanded volun teer companies dominate the romantic history of Salem'i fire deoartment. The fire, which all of Salem remembers, swept . through Ore gon's historic old capitol building on an April night in 1935, claiming the life of one fireman and des troying ' property valued at well ever $1,000,000. - The fire chief was Harry (Buck) Hutton whose service to Salem covered half century of rapid strides in fire protection, equip ment and fire prevention. Three Companies But Salem's fire department lHt;tory actually begins with three volunteer engine companies The Alerts," "the Tigers' and "the riTitnlc shfl hattled the flames ..of the city's youth. t begins with the organization of Alert Hook and Ladder com pray No. l on December 4, 1857. George W. Belt was the chief of that first band of fire eaters. The company became a part of the city's services on January 8, 1861 when the city council adopted ordinance number 8. Passing of the Alerts was unheralded and its records have been lost to time. In 1865, Webfoots company No. 1 was added to Salem's fire fight ing forces. The Webfoots gave the city its first engine company and the little pumper was housed on the west side of Liberty street near Ferry. It was on April 17, 1865 that the Alerts and the Webfoots got their first real test. On that clay a fire, starting in Plomondon s ; Toon, destroyed a whole block of wooden buildings on the west tide of Commercial street. A fire bell, to ring out the warn ing and alert firemen, was added May 2, 1865. Pumper Retained The Webfoots gave wy to Capitol engine company No. 1 in May of 1867 and the new volun teer unit took over the pumper which remains today in the East Solem station as a reminder of the great advancements in fire fight in? machinery. On May 20, 1869, Tiger Engine co.npany joined the department and was probably the true fore runner of the present organization. By 1871 the department had grown to three-cofnpany size with the addition of a hook and ladder company to the old engine com panies. Strictly volunteer, the companies were headquartered two along State street and one on North Liberty near the Mill creek. There were a total of 127 volurj-l Becomes City Lots The process of cutting proper ties from farms into residential lots for Salem's growth began in earnest early in the 20th century amd has continued, in spurts, to trie present. The years since World War II have seen the great est surge of platting. . " The same half century has dis played a phenomenal rise in dollar value of all types of property in the Salem area, expansion of the practice of real estate brokerage and new regulation of transactions and operators. " Development Rapid Long-time realty agents . here recall that there was little selling of city property by agents until bout 1910. The following decade, using the city's large annexation of 1903, saw development in all di rections. Lots were cut out of farms and orchards on Fairmount hill, in Tuxedo 'Park near Leslie school, east of the railway depot, on ' Kingwood heights and around Richmond school, among others. Later there were Salem Heights, the Highland section, Englewood, Rosedale (near the fairgrounds). Eince the recent war expansion has been into new marginal areas, gain in all directions. The past decade also has brought the filling in of many lots previously passed vp in residential districts. ' Acreage in Demand During the depression of the 1830s, the trend was toward small acreages near the city,' many of which now have been sliced into even smaller chunks. Forty years ago lots brought In the neighborhood of $250 without paving or sidewalks. Until - a decade ago, many lots now con sidered choice were available un der $500. But now the prices are ' . - . I A Acreaq ... ...J ... k.., . . V--- i I Salem's-fire department was organized 94 years ago. By 1909 it looked .at the hose cart on the left are became fire chief. Standinr in a few years ago. On the "truck" Jack Darr and Ed Townsend. teers in the three companies, min utes of the Salem council noted in 1871. Chief Engineer J. G. Wright re ported to the council then that "discipline has never been better, and noted that the city had 12 fires during the preceding six months ..with a loss estimated at $24,175. In 1893, callman system was effected in which firemen slept at the station at night and worked at regular jobs during the day. It was as one of these callmen that a young man named Harry Hutton first became connected with the fire department in May of 1896. Hutton recalls that callmen were paid $10 a month for sleeping at the station, but he noted, too, that the $10 would pay a month's board at Grandma Nichols on Front street. The station was then lo cated on the south side of State street between Commercial and Front. In 1897 the station was moved Harry (Back) natten, member ef the Salem Fire department for half a century and its chief for 31 years (1915-1946). I """"""" " ' - ;- Manbrin Gardens Just off the North River road north of Salem Is an attractive post-war residential de velopmentone of several which have enhanced the beauty of the city's growing fringe areas. ii a Candalarla Heights west ef Sonth Commercial street has been developed into one ef the finest resident ial areas ef the valley. The homes pictured above are typical ef its high average construction. three or four times as high, climb ing chiefly in the past six years. Recent years - also have ' brought the development of high-priced areas, mostly ' on the view-commanding heights around the city. Always valuable in the Willam ette - valley, farm land also has undergone a considerable rise in value since the war. , Expansion and changes in char acter of the city's business district have meant both great boosts in the prices for such . property and the disappearance of many older residential sections. Eichtr years azo the Salem dtv directory listed four real estate agents. Today about 80 firms are listed. . and ' th Kalm - Rnarri nf Realtors, part of a national organ ization oesignea to raise sxanaaras of the trade, has some 80 individ ual members. Thev recresent huv- ers or sellers for percentage com missions. Licensing fia K-n totiii?t4 ft real estatt brokers and salesmen 1 4 (left to right) Fred Anderson, Earl Blake and Peter Phillips, who later the center are Peter Graber and William Iwon, who was acting chief are (left tr right) Felix Hamilton, three! unidentified "call men," Chief to the present location of fire department headquarters in the then-new city hall. Hutton was elected chief by the city council in 1915 and for the next 31 years continued to serve in that capacity until his retire ment in 1946. On Hutton's early department were Firemen W. H. Phillips, Ray Cooper, Robert Muthe, L. K. Murphy, Elmer Cop ton, Earl Beck, Fred Anderson, Roy Hickman, L. P. Johnson and William Iwon. Callmen, of which there were seven, included Claude Jorgenson and Fred Bernard!. Billy Iwon later served as acting chief between Hutton's retirement and the hiring of present Chief W. A. Roble. New Stations Added As Salem spread, new stations were added. Of the present out lying stations, the first was East Salem, added in 1928. North Salem was opened in 1930 and South Salem in 1931, West Salem in 1950. Completely motorized equip ment had replaced the fire horses entirely by the early 20s. The department still continues to mod ernize with the advent of new equipment such as the recently added hook and ladder truck and the new salvage truck. Cleanup Duty Added Use of the latter marks a new duty for firemen. Only in recent years has the department included in its functions the work of clean ing up in the wake of a fire. -. Activities of the department also have greatly reduced the fire hazards in Salem and the import ance of fire prevention has: been recognized by the employment of specialists who work continuously to this good. Now, plans are being formu lated, men trained and organiza tions effected for, meeting the possibility of war disasters. If an A-bomb should fall on Salem the fire department intends to be ready to fight bomb-caused fires and to decontaminate areas of radiation. - i i w in Oregon since 1919. Under the present ; law they must be trust worthy, over 21 years of age and a citizen and be recommended by three property . owners. 1 Since 1939, they must pass an examina tion in reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic and computation, salesmanship, appraising, account ing, real estate ethics and provis ions of the state laws covering them. Their licenses can be sus pended by the state commissioner, following a hearing. i - : A large share of property sales, particularly residential, are made through newspaper classified ad vertising. . A recent innovation in Salem property transactions is the Mult iple Listing bureau, including more than 30 firms. It provides for exchange of certain types of exclusive listings, primarily resi dential, as service to property holders. In its first two years it has handled 750 sales aggregating $300,000. "PI f .... .flfcfc, ; rj like the above picture. The men I Hebrew Services Start 1919 Although Salem Ms had Jewish residents almost since its founding, Hebrew religious services have been conducted in the city only since 1919. Men of the congrega tion continue to lead the rites in a striking new tempi I. Levy, a merchant who had a store at the northwest corner of State and Commercial - streets around 1860 was among the first Jewish residents here. More came after the Civil war, j although but lew; of the present families in JalCm arrived before the turn of the ! century. New Temple Built Services could not! be held until 10 men were here to comprise a congregation, attained in 1919, when they were begun in a rented hall on Court street opposite the coukthouse. Within j a few years quarters were secured at Commer cial and Chemeketa streets and retained until 1947. I That year the congregation built Temple Beth Sholom at 1795 Broadway st., a brick structure whose basement has been made available for community use. The temple aims to serve all branches of Jewry, Orthodox Conservative and Reformed, among the 100 or so families of the mid-valley. Until the group' is of sufficient size! to have a full-time leader, a cantor is secured from Portland each fall for the Jewish New Year and Day of Atonement services. President of the congregation is Dr.j Robert Golden. Affiliated groups include B'nai B'rith lodge and auxiliary. Sisterhood and Hadassah. t f t r Remember! 1945? rrvv 3 s $1x0 1 gnrr. t 2? Cazu Lsj raaj-rrLiia cfii 30 EsoCrc-nntrBS' Seel Pifcdaei-Crrtlici! , Vt "t" - I Nantes A Partial List Of Miller -Famous Brands! PLAYTEX YOUTHLINE MARY JANE NEMO . ' MODART FLEXEES FORMFIT PERMA-LIFT ARTEMIS KICKERNICK VAN R A ALTE STYLO JAMAS TOMMIES SAYBURY EVER READY NELLY DON UNIVERSITY SACSON LYNNBROOK JOAN MILLER FOREVER YOUNG DEI MODE YOUTHMORE PAMM JEAN DONNYBROOK FERNSHIRE WOMANCRAFT 1 LOU SCHNEIDER EISENBERG SUITS BRITAIN STUDIO HATS ' BREWSTER HATS DAREE HATS HOWARD SPORTSWEAR WHITE STAG KORET OF CALIFORNIA . HENDON CAMERON i LINSTOR CUDDLEDOWN GARLAND REN ART MARJONE BURMIL BOGOFF JEWELRY ELGIN AMERICAN RICHELIEU PEARLS BELLE-SHARMER BERKSHIRE CAMEO SCHIAFARELLI i NYLONS RUSSELL-STOVER CANDIES ' . DOUBLE-KAY NUTS ALMOND ROC A CHARLES OF THE RITZ D'ORSAY EMIR HOUBIGANT YARDLEY COTY JACQUELINE COCHRAN OGILVIE SISTERS ENDOCREME MILKMAID ' MIST DERMETICS HANSEN GLOVES VAN RAALTE GLOVES RAIN WRAPS FOLDBRELLAS SKINNER SILKS MIRON WOOLS BOTANY WOOLS K-VENIENCES FORSTMANN WOOLS A.B.C. COTTONS INDIAN HEAD NASHUA i VAN-E-TEE COTTONS VOGUE PATTERNS SIMPLICITY PATTERNS BUTTER WICK PATTERNS CROSSTOWN TALON KLEENEX DURO-BELLE ! GAYLA KERK GUILD VAN HEUSEN MANHATTAN PARIS BELTS : MULTNOMAH LUGGAGE RED CROSS SHOES SPRINGMAID COTTONS BEAUTAFILM I . LA MODE BUTTONS BUTTONRITE i j UPSTARTS. SHOES DICKERSON SHOES FOAMTRED SHOES ! PENALJO SHOES DELMANETTE SHOES I ; RHYTHEM SHOES ' ENNA JETTICK SHOES , ACCENT SHOES ; CROSBY-SQUARE EDWARDS TRIMFOOT OOMPHIES ' BLUMEZE WELLCO i CINDERELLA WILSONS I STY-RITES WESTMINSTER COMMANDER " SWANK JEWELRY HANES UNDERWEAR TEXTRON REVERE WARE . KEYSTONE WARE CALIENTE POTTERY i LIBBEY GLASS FOSTORIA GLASS 1 PICKWICK GLASS i IMPERIAL GLASS EVERLAST CRAFTSMAN NORCROSS MONTAGS VIKING GLASS ! SAMSON TABLES CONGRESS CARDS BLENKO GLASS CARTER'S : NORTH STAR CHUX HOPPY MATEY'S . N ANNETTE RAMI CORDS i FOLDA-ROLLA ANY-HITE CHAIR ' WHITE SEWING MACHINE j . APEX WASH MACHINE CROSLEY RADIOS i GEN. ELEC. RADIOS ! ; REMINGTON SHAVER i, ; SUNBSAM UNIVERSAL ( WESTINGHOUSE TELECHRON LEWYT VAC i : MANNING BOWMAN i ; TOASTMASTER : ESTATE RANGES ! SANTA ANITA POTTERY WEAREVER PYREX WARE HOMER-LAUGHLIN FIESTA POTTERY EKCO WARE O-CEDAR MOPS RUBBERMAID ; NANCY ANN DOLLS i" AIR-WICK GLO-COAT GLASS WAX TAVERN CANDLES RADIO WAGONS WILENDUR LINENS KOOLFOAM PILLOWS MORGAN JONES -BATES SPREADS PURREY BLANKETS , i CALLOWAY TOWELS LIDDELL LINENS ' SIMON PILLOWS ! CANNON TOWELS PEQUOT SHEETS -KENNETH DRAPES . i KIRSCH KRENE CAMCO CURTAINS c ' CRAFTSPUN CURTAINS PAINTSET , ' : v KAREN-SUE FROCKS BARCO UNIFORMS - " ; ; BOB EVAN UNIFORMS ; I. BUCILLA YARNS - , I '. BEAR BRAND YARNS . D.M.C. CROCHET . ' " LILLY RUG YARN " - : ' JJ. COAT THREAD ' ' CLARKTS OJ.T. - -MERITAS OnXLOTH BOLSEY EASTMAN KODAK ANSCO PRODUCTS VIEW MASTERS DU PONT DEFENDER - : ARGUS GENERAL ELECTRIC WESTON RADIANT , REVERE CAMERAS KEYSTONE CAMERAS DE JUR CAMERAS . ' make M 10 if t ' . r So, we vr you . . ; . IN the tennis world the big names are Kramer and Riggs. They play to packed houses, make headlines. A game-winning home run by Joe DiMaggio brings the roar of fans ... and headlines. Names like Eisenhower, MacArthur, Toscantnl, Crosby, Rockwell, Eirrstein nd Hemingway make newt . . i headlinesl At vary turn of the road, names make news! j AND to It goes with the things you wear ; . or your f a vorlta chair, th f rlgara lor . your car . . . that '34 model that stood up so well. You buy reputable, newsma king apparel and home-furnishings because you trust them for quality, performance, economy. ! I . : . ' .-si '-' " : -l : I -"': ' BIO names make news and keep customers coming bade again and again. That's why good stores seek out famous brands . . . that's why famous-brand manu facturers seek out good stores. For nearly fifty years, Miller's has held to straight line on quality products. Every department brings you famous-name brands be cause they know they're the biggest values for your hard-earned dollars. WHETHER you buy a suit .". . a hat . ... nylons . . ; radio or textiles, think f Mil ler's ... it's a good store chosen by a good manufacturer to handle their brands. m 70 5 C ft o m 8; :JmmA: - AT I ....... have great i If .Pet news ,1 - - - J