Central Area in Salem in Marion County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)
S.A. Manning Company Building
c.1908
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, October 14, 2025
1. S.A. Manning Company Building Marker
National Register of Historic Places
by the United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
and is subject to the provisions of the
Oregon Special Assessment Program
ORS 358.475-.565
Erected by United States Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.
Location. 44° 56.436′ N, 123° 2.507′ W. Marker is in Salem, Oregon, in Marion County. It is in the Central Area. It is at the intersection of State Street and Front Street SE, on the left when traveling west on State Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 State Street, Salem OR 97301, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Oregon Wine Country and in the Willamette Valley. It is also on the American Pacific Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, in the Cascade Range, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Meredith Building (a few steps from this marker); Catlin & Linn Building (within shouting distance of this marker); R.P. Boise Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Smith & Wade Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Salvation Army Building
this page online
Also see . . . National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form (1987). Statement of Significance:
The Manning Building meets National Register criteria "a" and "c" in the context of Salem's historic role as an agricultural marketing and shipping center for a large portion of the Willamette Valley and as one of the oldest and best preserved examples of early 20th Century warehouse construction in the city.(Submitted on October 18, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.)
The riverfront area is the capital city's equivalent of Portland's Northwest Industrial "triangle." Owing to development of a Front Street by-pass which eliminated the Salem Iron Works of 1868 in 1977, the subject property is now one of the oldest and least altered buildings remaining in the historic industrial/wholesale section of downtown Salem.
The Manning Building was built between 1905 and 1908 as a traditional, two-story warehouse of heavy timber post and beam construction with brick masonry walls. Its ground plan measured 60 x 124' untilthe building was expanded by a 25' rear addition of reinforced concerete in the 1920s. Its ground story display windows are largely intact, including the two cast iron piers dividing the facade into three equal bays, although modifications were made to entrances in later years. Upper story fenestration is regular, confined to the north and west elevations, and consists of double-hung wood sash having three lights over three. The openings are without frames, and the only detailing on the facade consists of galvanized sheet metal belt and parapet cornices.Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, October 14, 20252. S.A. Manning Company Building MarkerThe marker is located at the east end of the building, as seen in the photo.
The earliest occupants of the site were blacksmiths, who served neighboring industrial plants and wholesalers. While possibly built for S. T. Northcutt as early as 1905, the nominated building was acquired soon after it was built by Samuel A. Manning, a dealer in farm machinery, automobiles and bicycles. Salem City directories from 1907 - 1921 indicate the occupancy of the building by Manning's firm. Manning held the property until 1921, leasing portions of it to such concerns as the Salem Truck and Dray Company. The elevator and rear addition date from the building's longtime use as a warehouse for grain and feed and seed after 1921.
...The S. A. Manning Company was only one of a number of firms which supplied implements and mechanized equipment to the area's farmers (in the historic period 1905-1925), butits building is one of the ten remaining and the best preserved of its type in the City.Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, October 14, 20253. S.A. Manning Company BuildingView of building interior.
...Samuel A. Manning purchased the building from S.T. Northcutt, September 3, 1908. According to an article found in the January 1, I908 issue of the Oregon Statesman, Mr. Manning operated a business located at 119 to 125 Liberty Street. He held a prominent position among the leading retail establishments of the city, which contributed to the importance of Salem as the market place or a large portion of Willamette Valley. He carried a complete line of farming implements, machinery and vehicles of all kinds. He was the local agent for Studebaker automobiles, McCormick harvesting machinery, John Deere farming equipment, and Petaluma incubators, famous throughout the west as the most nearly perfect made. He handled a large part of the bicycle business in Salem. Mr. Manning had been in this type of business for five years at various locations prior to his purchasing the building at 200 State Street in 1908. Salem City Directories revealed that Manning owned and occupied the nominated building until December 21, 1921, at which time he sold the property to Frank N. and Marion A. Derby.
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, October 14, 2025
4. S.A. Manning Company Building
Credits. This page was last revised on October 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 48 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 18, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
