MCHS Historic Marker, Liberty Street & Mill Creek NE, (D)

Put in place on September 21, 1960, this marker honored both the state’s 100th anniversary in 1959 and the founding of the city of Salem by Jason Lee. He constructed a sawmill and dam here in 1840 and his home nearby a year later. The town grew up around this "high ground” along the creek.
This Discovery is not a designated Salem historic property.
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Crystal Garden Ballroom, Liberty and Ferry Street SE, (D)

For more than twenty-five years, Salem area residents danced here on Wednesday and Saturday nights to some of the best-known bands in the nation. Modern dancing was on the main floor and old time polkas, schottishes and two-steps upstairs. Ballroom dancing declined in popularity and the last “old time dance” was held in 1964.
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Gatke Hall, WU, 900 State Street (LL)

Originally built as the Salem Post Office in 1903, this building was located behind the Marion County Courthouse on Church Street. It was moved to its present location by means of rollers moving slowly along State Street, a process taking six months in 1938. Its name honors Robert M. Gatke a Willamette University professor of Law. It served as the College of Law until the completion of the Collins Legal Center in 1967.
See many earlier photographs.
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Lausanne Hall, 900 State St. (facing Winter St.), (LL)

The present-day Lausanne Hall stands on the site of another earlier Willamette University building also called Lausanne Hall, originally the home of Chloe Clark Willson, an early Methodist teacher. It was moved to the Willamette campus, serving as the main building for women's studies, in 1888. The old wooden building was razed in 1919 and the present-day Lausanne Hall built for a new women's dormitory. See a photograph from the 1930s.
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Eaton Hall, 900 State Street, (LL)

Eaton Hall, named for its principal benefactor A. E. Eaton, first served on the Willamette campus as the college of Liberal Arts Building. It was the first major building constructed after Waller Hall in 1867, and marked the beginning of major growth in the college. Abel E. Eaton came to Oregon from New Hampshire in 1862, settling in northeastern Oregon. He farmed and invested in several businesses. He was a prominent Methodist and in 1907 pledged $50,000 toward the construction of this building on the Salem campus. See additional photographs.
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Waller Hall, WU, 900 State Street, (LL)

Waller Hall, completed in 1867, is the oldest building on the Willamette University campus. Originally called University Hall, and later named after Alvin F. Waller, it was used for chapel services and classes. The building burned twice, first in 1891 when the top two floors were lost, and again in 1919 when only the shell of the building was left standing. Of interest to visitors is the Cone Chapel on the second floor. The Chaplin’s Office, Methodist Archives, a Willamette historical exhibit and the Willamette Room are on the third floor. See additional photographs.
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Rose, 795 Winter St. NE, (LL)

The Rose House property was owned by the Boise family and sold to John & Louisa Rose in 1901. The Roses lived at this address to the 1930s. Mr. Rose was a carpenter. They sold the house to Ray & Clara Farmer. Mr. Farmer was the proprietor of Farmer's Hardware in Salem. In 1949 Mrs. Farmer sold the property to St. Paul's Parish. The building now houses offices.
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