Shows
Salem History MomentSpotlight on Prohibition in Oregon100 years ago this week, on July 29, 1925, the first man from Marion County entered prison for violating prohibition laws. He was the first to be sentenced to the Oregon state prison. Amy Platt wrote “The Moon Shines on the Moonshine” An Oregon Bootlegging Story for the Oregon Historical Society in 2020 and she shares a story about a bootlegging adventure on the Oregon coast in 1932 which went awry and resulted in a prison break. To read more about this caper in 1932 as well as many others you can find their story (including mug shots) on the Oregon Secretary of State’s websit...2025-07-2509 min
Underground HistoryArchaeologists uncover a Native American mission school in SalemMethodist missionary Jason Lee's 1836 arrival in the Willamette Valley marked the beginning of a new period of evangelization and colonialism towards Native Americans in modern-day Oregon. This work included establishing a series of schools designed to instill Euro-American religious and cultural values on Native children. One of those schools was the Oregon Mission Indian Manual Labor Training School, opened in 1842 and closed in 1844 on what is today Willamette University's campus. Now, a new archaeological project is aiming to locate the site and recover artifacts to provide more information about its history....2025-07-1814 min
Salem History MomentSpotlight on Coast Guard SPARSDuring World War II there was also a Women’s reserve of the US Coast Guard during World War II called SPARS – this was an acronym derived from the Coast Guard’s motto “Semper Paratus” – meaning always ready. SPARs was established in 1942 along with the Army WAC and the Navy WAVES. To learn more about the history of the SPARS, please visit the United States Coast Guard webpage and search for the article by Robin Thomson about SPARS. Marilyn Johnston, a retired City of Salem Employee, has created a documentary – about her mother Theresa Davis which not only...2025-07-1705 min
Salem History MomentSpotlight on Guide Dogs for the BlindGuide Dogs for the Blind is the Largest guide dog school in North America. Since their founding in 1942, they have raised and trained over 16,000 Guide dogs. Their services are provided free of charge to their Blind clients, including personalized training and ongoing support. Their work improves mobility for their clients, empowering people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired to make their way in the world. If you want to learn more about Guide Dogs for the Blind, please visit guidedogs.comTo read more about the story of Guide Dog Roselle and her owner...2025-07-0506 min
The Influential OregonianThe Influential Oregonian - Jason Lee Archeology Project Ft. Kimberli Fitzgerald & Pen McBainWelcome to The Influential Oregonian, a show where we discuss all things Oregon and interview important people who made their mark on the Beaver State! This Week, we go on our first field trip to Willamette University to visit the Jason Lee Missionary Archeology site, where we interview Kimberli Fitzgerald and Pen McBain to gain some insight on the project, as well as goof around a little with David while he works and take in the sights of campus.For more shows, social media, and content, check out www.oregonvoices.net!2025-06-281h 16
Salem History MomentSpotlight on Oregon's UFO FestivalMay is when the annual "UFO Festival" in McMinnville is celebrated. This is the second-largest UFO festival in the nation after the one held in Roswell, New Mexico. The McMinnville UFO festival began in 1999 – and was a way to honor the 1950 sighting where two local citizens witness and photographed a UFO. The photos were printed in Life magazine by Paul and Evelyn Trent at their farm outside of McMinnville. On June 8, 1950, Powell's story of the incident—accompanied by the two photos—was published as a front-page story in the McMinnville Telephone-Register. The headline read: "At Long Last—Authentic Photographs Of Flyin...2025-05-1706 min
Salem History MomentSpotlight on Salem's Lord & Schryver ConservancyApril is World Landscape Architecture Month (WLAM). Elizabeth Lord and Edith Schryver practiced landscape architecture together in Salem, Oregon, from 1929 to the 1969. Their firm was the first office of professional women landscape architects on the West Coast.In Salem, the Lord and Schryver Conservancy works to ensure the home gardens designed by Elisabeth Lord and Edith Schryver are maintained.To learn more:Read the Book: “Northwest Gardens of Lord and Schryver”Visit Lord and Schryver Conservancy: lordschryver.orgNew in 2025: Drop by and enjoy Gaiety Hollow Garden at on Wedn...2025-04-1906 min
Salem History MomentSpotlight on Salem's Chinese History: Helen Ng Mun TayneOn April 5th we celebrated our 7th annual Qing Ming Festival. Qing Ming is an annual celebration where we honor the Chinese who have lived and worked in our community. This year Salem’s Mayor, Julie Hoy read the Qing Ming Proclamation and swept the Chinese community funerary table at Pioneer’s Cemetery – and also shared her connection of a relative of hers, to Helen Ng Mun Tayne, who was born here in Salem. Helen’s father had come to Salem from China in 1879, and he became a hop grower. Helen Ng Mun Tayne was born on a hop ranch no...2025-04-0808 min
Salem History MomentSalem's ChinatownSalem had a Chinatown downtown from the late 19th Century through the early 20th Century. Salem's Chinese contributed significantly to Salem's community and culture during this period, with George Lai Sun serving as a key leader in this community. While Salem's Chinatown is no longer extant downtown, we still have evidence of their culture and tradition, which can still be found within Salem’s Pioneer Cemetery where we continue celebrating the Qing Ming Festival. To learn more please see the OHQ Article Searching for Salem’s Early Chinese Community as well as Russell Lowe’s book A...2025-03-2908 min
Salem History MomentWillamette University's First Teacher: Chloe Clarke WillsonMarch is Women’s History Month. 2025’s theme is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.”Chloe Aurelia Clark was a Methodist Missionary who initially came to Oregon in 1840 and served as a Missionary teacher in Nisqually, Oregon City and Salem. Chloe reflects the intelligence, strength and resiliency of a woman from this period. Chloe was born in Connecticut, and educated at the Wilbraham Academy, the seminary that trained a number of the Oregon missionaries including Jason Lee. Chloe married William Willson and she came to Salem in 1844 where she became Oregon Institute’s first teacher. This school lat...2025-03-2209 min
Salem History MomentThe Nation's First Woman GovernorShow notes:March is Women’s History Month. 2025’s theme is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.”Caralyn (Carrie) B. Shelton, was the Nation’s first female Governor, who served right here in Oregon in 1909. She stepped into this role after Governor Chamberlain resigned and before Governor Benson could be sworn in. This was three years before Oregon women even had the right to vote! It took another 11 years for women nationwide to finally earn the same right with the ratification of the 19th Amendment.In response to being asked by the Capitol Jo...2025-03-1307 min
Salem History MomentWomen's History MonthMarch is Women’s History Month. 2025’s theme is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.”Nell Sykes was a Salem schoolteacher, who lived at 1251 Center Street NE here in Salem during the 1920s. She was a teacher in Salem Public Schools - dietician who served the American Red Cross Commission to Siberia between 1918 and 1920. To see a photo of Nell in the Library of Congress prints and photographs online catalog from April 10, 1920, please visit their American National Red Cross photograph collection.If you want to learn more about the work of the American Red Cross in...2025-03-0809 min
Salem History MomentUFO SightingIn the Spring of 1964 an 11 year old boy named Charles from Salem Oregon sent a hand written letter to Cape Kennedy in Florida. The Chief of the Aerial Phenomena Branch at the Airforce wrote back to Charles in October of that year, and the sighting became part of the thousands of reports collected by the Air Force as part of Project Blue Book, which was the code name for the systematic study of unidentified flying objects by the US Air Force between March 1952 and December 1969. To learn more, visit vault.fbi.gov and search for Project Blue Book.2025-03-0307 min