Weathers Music Timeline

1914 – Walt Weathers was born

1918 (Approx.) – A”Music man” comes to Touchet, Wa. Helps organize a town band, selling uniforms and instruments. Walt Weathers’ father, a banjo player, is recruited to play tuba in the Touchet town band.

1931 -Walt Weathers graduates from H.S. in Seaside, OR.

1936 – After graduation from Linfield College, Walt begins teaching math and band at Canby Union High School

1937 – Walt marries Bernice Broer, his former classmate at Linfield College.

1942 – Walt joins the Navy – becomes radar officer on destroyer, USS Fletcher

1943 – Their son, Keith Weathers is born

1945 – Walt is discharged after war, and begins working for Doug Jaquith in Salem. selling reconditioned instruments.

1946 – Moves to Jaquith’s new music store in Eugene, which is closed soon after.

1947 – Four former Jaquith employees form Eugene Music Co.(Walt Weathers, Lyle Glazier, Red Peters, and Fred Jahn).

1950 – Returns to Salem. Starts “Salem Music Instrument Co.” across from the Elsinore Theater, with Lyle Glazier as partner.

1957 Begins Wiltsey-Weathers Music in Capital Shopping Center, with Jim and Priscilla Wiltsey.

(Glazier begins his own music store, later sold to Herb Brennan, who moved it to West Salem.)

1967 – Hires Dave Louthan as Keyboard Dept. Manager. Walt’s son, Keith Weathers, finishes USC and begins teaching at BIOLA College

1969 – The Wiltseys retire and in 1973 the business becomes the Weathers Music Corp.

1970 – Their Lancaster Mall branch is opened with Keyboards and teaching studio (Yamaha Music School), presided over by Dave Louthan.

1974 – Keith returns to Salem and joins the business

1978 – Transfer of ownership begins to .Keith Weathers, Dave Louthan, and Ken Yoder

1983 – Weathers Music moves from Capital Shopping Center to present South Commercial St location.

1985 – Lancaster Mall store is closed, relocated to Commercial St. S store.

1986 – Ken Yoder leaves the company and moves to East Coast.

1990 – Walt and Bernice Weathers retire from business. Keith Weathers becomes general manager and Dave Louthan becomes assistant general manager.

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