Today, Volunteer George found an undated, unsourced newspaper article which describes the demolition of the old Washington School and subsequent donation of architectural fragments to the Marion County Historical Society. The article describes the Society being offered “two wooden clock faces from the top of the towers and curving pediments from each side. Samples of columns from both the east and the west porches. Ornamental capitals from the porches. The cornerstone box and class boxes or jars which are buried under various trees on the lot, and which contain the names of students planting the trees now standing on the property. Also any other articles that the society may desire.” He quite logically asked where they were.
After some digging we were able to find one architectural fragment in the collection (MCHS 999.277) — see the photo above. Luckily it was labelled as coming from Washington/East School. But it does beg the question, where did the rest of the materials go?
The demolition and replacement of Washington School took place in 1950-1951, at the very start of the Marion County Historical Society. The article has a great photo of early Society members Lewis Judson and Renska L. Swart meeting with T.M. Medford, the district manager of the Safeway store that would be built on the site of the old school property. That Safeway store, on the corner of Center and 12th Streets is still in operation today. It was originally slated to open October 15, 1951, and be one of the “largest and most modern food stores operated by the company in the Northwest.”
Built as East Salem School in 1887, the largest and most ornate school in Salem. It had a capacity for 600 students in nine grades in 12 rooms. The name was changed to Washington School in 1915.
East Salem School circa 1886. Willamette Heritage Center Collections, 2007.001.1032
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