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About Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 1947)
Salem Frontiersmen Gave Noisy Welcome to Territorial Governor By Ben Maxwell When Chester N. Terry, clerk lor the previous year, called the Oregon territorial council to order at 10 o'clock Monday morning, December 5, 1853, he counted nine members representing 11 dif ferent counties. The house, soon 4 i to elect C. Z. Bishop as speaker, consisted of 26 members Territorial Oregon's fifth legislative session of 94 years ago did not convene in any ! capitol structure for the simple reason that none was then in existence. Rooms in the Rector building on the west side of Commercial street between Fer ry and Trade were occupied by the council or senate. Later this barnlike structure of 1851 deteriorated into a Chinese wash house and burned with great brilliance, June 3, 1885. The Nesmith-Wilson building, then located where the S. P. depot now stands, accommodated the house. On December 8, the governor i vas informed that the legislative session was now organized and Gov. John W. Davis read his 1 rnmmitniiatinn in thp house 1 Asahel Bush, Statesman editor ' whose printery was in the same building, applauded the message ' as a harbinger of a new era ending the conflict of author! vties. .. i Hoosicr Was Governor II' Governor Davis of Indiana, an " appointee of President Pierce ' , was received in Salem Decem- i ber 2, with all the boisterous J fanfare a community of 500 ! frontiersmen could develop. Nor should it be forgotten that ' Governor Davis fetched along $40,000 in federal funds for con- ! structipn of buildings essential I for territorial government. And $40,000 in this lean and hungry i community of 94 years ago j promised to go a long way in , making the right sort of per- ! sons happy. Governor Davis, : incidentally, became disgusted i and left Oregon in August, 1854 even before the $40,000 had been entirely squandered. When the sidewheeler Wil lamette with the governor's par ty aboard bucked' and conquer ed Chitwood rapids below Sa lem, there was still plenty of steam left for three great blasts from her mighty whistle. Ore gon artillerymen, such as could be rounded up for the occasion, dashed to the river's bank and shot off their muzzle loaders. Others, without guns but in fes tive mood, went to the banks of the Willamette and whooped it up. Scarcely were the Willam ette's paddles stilled before the Hon. George H. Williams, speak er for the reception committee, scrambled aboard and headed -ior the gentleman's cabin where Governor Davis awaited the re ceptionists, who escorted the governor ashore. Where Governor Davis lodged history does not record, but it may be presumed that he pass ed by the rough and tumble Holman house near the water front and headed for the fash ionable Bennett house, then newly completed on a site now occupied by the Masonic build ing. Legislators numbering 37 probably had no trouble find ing lodging. Salem had at least five hostels, though some were certainly more immaculate and desirable than others. Ben Mc cormick's restaurant offered board for $7 a week; a single meal cost 75 cents and an extra meal one dollar. Speaker Names Committees C. Z. Bishop, speaker of the house, announced the following standing committees: judiciary, elections, education, claims, militia affairs, Indian affairs, roads and highways, engrossed bills, commerce, printing, cor porations and counties. Senate committees were about the same What this session of 94 years ago accomplished is not now so vital. Much of their time was devoted to discussion of mili tary affairs and new roads for the territory. They did create four new counties: Columbia, Wasco, Coos and Tillamook. Al- they renewed discussion of that old question about a perm anent site for tne capitol. And that discussion suggested joint communication Signed by four pioneers from Benton county: John E. Porter, Adam Holden, Richard Irwin and Isaac W. Winkle wrote Governor Davis a letter fom Jennyopolis agreeing to give 200 acres of land, embracing rock of the best quality and a butte 100 feet high containing 10 acres upon which to set the statehouse if the legis lature would locate the capitol upon the said 200 acres. This location, 10 miles south of Cor- vallis, is known all over Ore gon as The Butte, now called Jennyopolis. Jennyopolis, established with Richard Irwin as postmaster, Contractors Home Owners See us for your electricol work. We have the ma terial and the time. Free estimates. Our work js priced right. Karnes Electric Co. Electrical Contracting 2060 N. Capitol PHONE 7566 March 24, 1852, has long since disappeared, but the butte, doubtless, remains as a monu ment to a pioneer promotion. Salem in January, 1853, con tained 10 general stores, all do ing a very good business, ac cording to the Reverend Ezra Fisher. Besides, there were mills, mechanics, lawyers and doctors. Five Methodist minis ters were on hand to look af ter the spiritual welfare of legis lators. It was about this time that Joab Powell, eccentric but popu lar Baptist circuit rider, was asked by mischievous legislators to open the day with prayer. They settled back with amuse ment, anticipating a long invo cation against their sins. Old Jcab looked them over and prayed: "Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do." If a legislator wanted a drink in 1853 he might buy it at the Nonpareil saloon. If he drank too much and acquired a hang over, May & Robb would sell him sarsaparilla, or, if his needs were more urgent, Rickey and Willson, near the steamboat landing, stocked Chologogue, really good for everything, and Ayer's Cherry Pectoral. Then, if he didn't feel better, H. B. F. Brogdcn, with a shaving salon adjacent to the Nonpareil, could make him look better with a haircut or a shampoo. Supposing he developed toothache, Dr. U. H. Dunning, with an office at Cooke's hotel, would pull the offending molar. And while there, why not let Denny Hcndee, the Daguerrean artist, make your likeness at a price ranging from $5 to $257 Now, after a bit of drinking, getting worked over by Brog den the barber, your tooth pull ed and your likeness made by Hendee now suppose you are broke. No matter. If you hold warrants for goods or services supplied during the Cayuse In dian war, Chester N. Terry, af ter some discounting, will buy those warrants for cash with payment in gold. Cold for Legislature Legislators in attendance for the 1853 session got a cold re ception. Snow fell to a depth of five inches and the tempera ture dropped to two degrees be low zero during the night of January 19. Adjournment sine die came to the fifth session of the ter ritorial legislature at 1 o'clock in the morning, February 1, 1854. After all, says Asahel Bush in his Statesman, they did pretty well. They attended to a lot of business and passed the code. Emphatically it was a working session. Guests From Dakota Are Taken on Trek Silverton Mrs. Gertrude Moen entertained at dinner and an all-day social time including a travel trek to the Silver Falls state park, complimenting visi tors, old time neighbors, from Pierpont, S. D., Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Aadland and Mr. and Mrs. Herman Paulson, who are visit ing many former neighbors now living in the Pacific northwest, making the tour by automobile. Additional dinner guests at the l EYES EXAMINED 1 BROWN'S f 1 1 Optical I l t Service 3 i I 1 84 N. Liberty St. 'msCZ--"' "' EVENT A Four'Piece MAPLE CROUP 0095 Harmonious settings increase the livability of your home. This comfortable daveno with ma ple arms is set off by a matching group of three tables to make a lovely center of interest for your living room. Then, too the daveno converts into a three-quarter bed. Upholstered in choice of cotton tapestries. Rock Wool Insulation Moisture Proof & Fireproof L. H. CLAWSON CO. 175 S. High St. Salem, Ore. All workmanship and Material guaranteed. CALL H. P. LENTON Salem Mgr. For Free Estimate PH. 6088 Gertrude Moen home included Mr. and Mrs. Hegbert Syhre of Marquam, and Mr. and Mrs. Ole Moen of Silverton. Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, Friday, Feb. 21, 1947 3 1 am Clarus Camera 35 m.m. F. 2.8 Coated Precision Machined Film-Photo Finishing Flash Bulbs Projection Lamps RADIO REPAIRS WIGGINS PHOTO & ELECTRIC 252 N. Church Ph. 6874 Diamond Rings For Engagements, Birthdays and Graduation LAi-IT-AWAV NOW "1 Fine Quality Reasonable Prices $25 to $500 Payments I RCA VICTOR ARTIST Charlie Spivak in Person at Heider's Record Shop, 428 Court, at 4:30 Today Dance to his music tonight at the Crystal Gardens. Have your Charlie Spivak record autographed here. FOLLOWING RECORDS IN STOCK: The Bells of St. Mary's You Can Cry on Somebody Else's Shoulder Spring Magic So They Tell Me Along with Me Linda Only Another Boy and Girl Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye Can't You Read Between the Lines? Santa Lucia So Would I The Old Devil Moon My Heart Goes Crazy If This Isn't Love Let's Go Home For Sentimental Reasons Stomping Room Only It's All Over Now Phone 7522 Come in! Celebrate with Sears! Save on CHILDREN'S CLOTHING! A n-firvA WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY SPECIALS FOR THE "BLACKBOARD" SET 1 sll J Fraternity Prep Trim Sport Coat 10.42 Casual campus favorite among the high school and college young men. Expert ly tailored, with padded shoulders, tapered waist. 3 - button single - breasted model. Herringbone, over plaid or check. Blue, teal, brown or tan. Sizes 10 to 20. NEW SPRING COATS 100 wool, cape and yarn trims. Sizes 1 to 6x . 7.98 Boyville Jr. 2-Tone Sport Suit Blue or Brown Combination 13.20 Bright enough for his fan cy, sturdy enough for his wear, this Boyville Jr. Sport Suit has popular lei sure coat in a two-tone wool gabardine and cassi mere combination. Gab ardine slacks have pleat front, 3 pockets. Sizes 4 to 10. Little Girls' Dresses Fast color prints, assorted designs. Sizes 1 to 6x. Little Girls' Jumpers All wool. Pleated skirt. Assorted colors. Sizes 2 to 6x 1.85 1.89 Smart Coat-Style Sweaters 100 virgin wool, button front. As sorted colors. Sizes 8 to 16 3.98 Boy's Leisure Coat Fraternity Prep 6.80 Snappy two-tone coat combining all Wool Parktuede flannel front with all wool plain or fancy back, sleeves, collar. Blue, tan, cocoa. Sizes 8-16. Striped Polo Shirt Boyville 1.15 He likes 'em colorful. Boyville bnif cotton shirt in wide assorted color tripes. Crew neck, short sleeves. Even sizes, 10-16. WrllLD a WHITE 5HOE A AG Goodyeor welt, styled to fit. . . . 1.1 ar LADIES' LEATHER LOAFERS Nealite soles. AAs and Bs. 4 to 9 5.50 BOYS' GOLD BOND DRESS SHOES Good year welt for the C Q C ruggjd boy J.Tr J HfllM 484 State St. 484 State Street
