Fennell, NW 576 McNary Street NW, (LL)

Thomas and Mary Fennell were West Salem farmers who owned the property in 1905 and probably built the south addition with a kitchen and bathroom in 1910. They sold the house and some land to Ellsworth Pickel in 1913, but bought the property back six months later. When Mary Fennell died in 1922, Thomas sold the house to Ellen Kessell, a teacher at the West Salem Grade School, for $1.00. In 1926 Thomas Fennell again held the title to the property and in 1935 sold it to Glen and Vivian Tupper.
(West Salem)

Breckenridge, 1515 Elm St. NW, (LL)

The original owner of this 1905 bungalow, Grace Breckenridge, worked for nearly 40 years as a bookkeeper for the State Board of Control retiring in 1956. When she died in January 1965, her will revealed that all but $2,000 of her $23,000 estate was bequeathed to the State of Oregon. The balance was to be used to buy an organ for the House of Representatives. The new organ was ordered and received in August 1965. This organ is still in place today, and is played at the governor's inaugural ceremonies.
(West Salem)

Thompson, 3575 Liberty Road S, (D)

This former 1905 residence was built by Frederic Thompson for his parents. Later owners included Jacob and Elva Fielder who operated a store on the premises. When Jack and Lillian Beck acquired the house in 1963, they renovated it for a decorating business. It housed Realty World Homeland and Peter’s Little Bavaria before opening as McMenamin’s Thompson Brewery and Public House in 1990.
(South Salem)

Ratcliff, 970 Ratcliff Drive SE, (D)

As early as 1905, two Ratcliff names are found on the tax roles of Marion County, each with considerable property. On Rt. 4, in 1926 are found Charles and Effie Ratcliff. By 1941 he is listed as a prune grower and as Secretary/Treasurer of the Salem Co-operative Prune Growers. In 1948, his home has the present address. The property is thought to have included land up to Morningside Drive. The city lot is now surrounded by newer houses, but one ancient prune tree survives in the rear of the house.
(Morningside)

Reynolds, 2390 Liberty Street NE, (LL)

The Reynolds family were apparently the first owners of this house c. 1905 according to city records. John Reynolds was Dean of the Willamette Law School 1902-1907 and was instrumental in organizing North Salem prune farming ~ perhaps on this property. The present owners (since 1976) had to take down one old prune tree that was 100 years old.

Records previous to the construction of the house, show that in the late 1800s the property was passed, in various combinations of ownership, among female members of the WU faculty and Pres. Van Scoy. All were active in the women suffrage movement.

L. R. Peebles was a carpenter/builder who owned the house from 1911 to 1919. The house was plumbed and wired in 1922. In the 1920s, the Rankin family probably built the structure in the rear which appears to have been used to develop photographic film for a son's business. A photograph of the property was taken in 1929. Other owners, before 1976, were Harriet Chenowith and her husband and John Stapleton.
(Highland)