Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-12-20
BIG BANQUET At
cHEHEkETA HOTEL
on DEC. 70, 1870
Fo.raL Op.ring OF Finest He
tel IN Northwest Great
Event In Salem History.


Almost half century ago, there was
opened in Salem, Oregon the finest ho-
, tel in the northwest surprising in fur
nishings and equipment the thes ia
nous ST.. Charles hotel on Front street
IN Portland. 1t was known as the Che.
meketa hotel, now the Marion, appear.
ling then as the Marion appears aow.
! with but few changes.
1t was on December 26, 1870 that he
great social event took place. The lob.
by was about twice as large as in the
Marion at present and the scene as the
1 notables appeared for the grand ban
4 quet was in many ways the most in,
spring that had occurred in the capital
city for many day.
4 Z. A. Cutting was the proprietor. The
hotel was owned by the Commercial Ho
tel association which included John G.
Wright, Joseph Holman and f. Hent.
sehel. In every respect and especially
In the furnishings the hotel was equip
ped almost a generation ahead Of the
times. John +. and Miller Never
hlrsch were also part owners. i
! Of the hundreds who signed the new
ly opened register barely dozen or
more are living today. These include
John G. Wright, John H. Albert, J. A.
Baker, Mrs. Belle Martin, Miss Hattie
Clark, now Mrs. N. H. Looney, Mrs.
Il. IL. Dearborn, now of Portland, 8. Al |
len Thall, now of Portland, A. B. Cross
man of Portland, R. c. HALEY, Salem.
George P. Holman and wife now of Salt
Lake City, and Henry H. Gilfry of
Washington, d. G.
The ceremonious opening of the hotel
was On event when prominent citizen,
of the day from all paris OF tne Wi.
lamette valley were glad to come to Sa
lem to join in the rejoicing. On the
pages of the register, now almost 4s
years old may be seen the following
N. V. Brown Of Albany, state print
er for q number of years.
A. j. Monroe, prominent in the life Of
the city and later mayor of Salem.
L. s. Skiff, city councilman for
number of years.
I .B. hickey, postmaster of Salem at
the time.
l.. +. Grovar at that time governor
of Oregon anu later United States sen
ator. Oregon's first representative in
congress
l. II. Moores, former speaker of the
house Of representatives of Oregon and
and agent number of year, for tn
oregon and California railroad, now
the Southern Pacific.
II. H. Gilfry, former member of the
state legislature and in 1870 private
secretary to Governor GROCER.
j. N. Glover, at that time city mar.
shal and later one of the founders Of
Spokane.
Werner Brcyman, pioneer merchant
of the Willamette valley and at that
time leading business man of Salem.
John F Miller, leading democratic
politician who was defeated for COVER
nor in 1862.
John G. Wright, mayor of Salem for
several terms and still an active citi
zen.
John II. Albert, at that time cashier
of the Ladd & Bush bank, later presi
dent Of the Capital National bank of
Salem.
E. M. Waite, from whom is named
the Waite fountain adjoining the state /
house grounds on Winter street.
j. H. Moores, state senator and mayorl
of Salem several terms. s
j. A, Baker, still living In Salem,
city marshal later sheriff of Marion
county and member of the legislature.
Dan H. Murphy, county clerk and an
active politician in the early 70's. 6
s. A. Clarke, editor of the Statesman
r. II. Dearborn, prominent In many
ways in the civic life of tho city and ,
afterwards postmaster at Salem. :
b. +. Bonham, circuit judge and later !,
postmaster for Salem. AAs,sr !
U. $. consul at Calcutta, India. II
E. N. Cooke, state treasurer eight ,
years and grandfather of b. Cooke Pat. !
ton and Hal d. Patton.
N. B. Knight, afterwards state sen. +.
ator from Marion county.
l.. s. Scott, afterwards mayor and
and later ppointcd post
MISTER for Salem.
A. d. Crossman, afterwards appointed
postmaster for Salem. Then moving to
Portland, was appointed postmaster for
that city.
George P. Holman, who for number
,f years was member of the state leg
stature, now resident of Salt Lake
City.
ihc first few pages oi the famous