New Police Facility Location

The City of Salem (City) had a need for a new police facility for many years before the bond measure was passed in 2017 for the construction of a new facility located on the block bounded by Mill Creek to the north, Liberty Street NE to the east, Division Street NE to the south and Commercial Street NE to the west. Prior to the time of construction, this lot was comprised of auto related commercial and industrial type buildings and parking lots.

This block was a residential neighborhood at the time when Salem was first developing. While most of the houses were small, modest residences, there was a large boarding house known as Mansion House, located at 485 Liberty Street. This building had 17 rooms, a large wrapround porch and a two-story tower.

1905 Birds Eye View Map showing the site block and surrounding context at Mill Creek https://www.loc.gov/item/75694941/

Archeological Site 

In July 2018, during monitoring of the excavation of a utility trench to serve the new Polices station, multiple historic period artifacts from the early residential use of this block were uncovered. The Oregon State Historic Preservation Office determined that the block was an archaeological site, significant for its association with this early nineteenth century residential development in Salem. Prior to construction of the new police facility, archaeological data recovery excavations were completed, and 16, 1 x 1 meter test units in four locations were excavated and 21,525 artifacts were recovered comprising both historic and Native American artifacts.

Kalapuya Interpretive Panel

The City has installed an interpretive panel off of Liberty Street at the southwest corner of the Mill Creek bridge, with information about the Santiam Kalapuya.

Mill Race Community Interpretive Wrap

The City has also installed an interpretive wrap on the northeast corner of the intersection of Division and Liberty Streets, with information about the Mill Race and the residential community on this block.