Walton Guest House

“A home away from home” is what the Walton Guest House provides those out of the Salem-Keizer area who are patients, relatives or primary care givers of patients of the medical staff of the Salem Hospital. Originally the house, bequeathed by William S. Walton to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in 1958, was used as a rectory. After three decades and three rectors residing at the home, a new rector preferred other housing. With the vacated house, an ad hoc committee explored varied options, including a lodging facility modeled on the Ronald McDonald concept. In 1991, with the cooperation of St. Paul’s and Salem Hospital, the house opened as Walton Guest House.

The four private bedrooms are unique having been named Faith, Hope, Peace and Love. The house, with two bathrooms and a kitchen, dining room and living room for common use, is located in a quiet residential neighborhood adjacent to Bush Park and a 10 minute walk to the hospital. The Social Services Department at Salem Hospital makes the guest assignments. A nightly donation is suggested, but no one is denied because of inability to pay. The house is operated entirely by a non-salaried resident manager and a corps of volunteers representing the parish and the community at large. Walton Guest House is the only hospitality house to be established in the capital city to date.

Compiled and written by Shirley Herrmann

Back

Bibliography:

Information provided by the Social Services Department at the Salem Hospital, 2001

This article originally appeared on the original Salem Online History site and has not been updated since 2006.