We were going through an old slide collection today and came across this pretty incredible image (X2012.016.0063) of the Reverend Obed Dickinson in front of his Grass Seed Store in Salem and the Reverend Robert E. Whitteker.
From as early as 1889-1893, the O Dickinson Seed Company was located at 292 Commercial St. By 1893 it was managed by P.H. Raymond. An advertisement in the city directory reads: “Producers and Wholesale and Retail Dealers in Seeds of All Kinds. Garden and Grass Seeds. The Famous Oregon Yellow Danvers Onion Seed is our specialty. Giving personal and careful attention to all details of producing and shipping, we guarantee genuine seeds. We have Forty acres under cultivation for seeds alone.” And our favorite part: “We are agents for the Gopher Gun. The best thing ever Invented for this purpose. SURE Death. Never Fails. The Gopher Shoots Himself.”
Oh, but there’s so much more to the Reverend’s story! He’s buried in Pioneer Cemetery, and was forced out of the pulpit in 1867 largely because of his progressive views on slavery and African-Americans. (The image has been online in the library’s historic photo collection for some time, by the way!)