Rebirth of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill
Original wooden structure of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill destroyed by fire in November 1895. A fire devastated the Thomas Kay Woolen [...]
June 2019
January 2019
Electrifying Salem
It started out as an easy question. When was Salem first electrified? In preparing for the museum’s upcoming exhibit – Yesterdayland: Innovations of the [...]
January 2018
Hardened Bank Robber Frightened by Friday the 13th
Robber J.A. Crossley Asks to be Kept in the Oregon State Penitentiary Mugshot of J.A. Crossley after his arrest in 1909. Photo Source: [...]
April 2015
April 19, 1915
by Richard van Pelt, WWI Correspondent Infrastructure was cheap in 1915. The Capital Journal headline read “Paving Plant for Penitentiary Now Practically Sure.” The paper [...]
October 2014
October 2, 1914
by Richard van Pelt, WWI Correspondent Friday’s headlines from the Capital Journal: MEDICAL CORPS SWAMPED Losses So Enormous that Wounded Are Forced to Remain Uncared For RUSSIANS SAY [...]
August 2005
State Penitentiary
Oregon State Penitentiary Prior to 1866, Oregon convicts were housed in the prison in Portland. On May 16th of that year they were transferred [...]