Central Area in Salem in Marion County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Adolph Block

1880

— Salem Downtown Historic District —

Adolph Block Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, October 14, 2025

1. Adolph Block Marker

The second marker reads:

Adolph Building No. 1 and No. 2
1880
This property has been listed on the
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

Inscription. In 1880, after fire destroyed the wooden buildings here, Samuel Adolph constructed a brick building offering space for three businesses. Smith & Millican, butchers, and Adolph’s saloon were the first two. The third store included jewelers and The White House Restaurant. The J. L. Cooke and James A. Henery family has owned and operated the Cooke Stationery Company in the western two stores since 1935.

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 1880.

Location. 44° 56.402′ N, 123° 2.372′ W. Marker is in Salem, Oregon, in Marion County. It is in the Central Area. It is on State Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 360-362 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.

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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: First National Bank, Old/Capitol Tower Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Pomeroy Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Gray Building (within shouting distance of this marker); All Aboard! (within shouting distance of this marker); Durbin Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Watkins-Dearborn Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Ekerlen (Bishop) Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Roth Company Building (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Salem.

Additional commentary.
1. Contributing Building
The Adolph Block is not individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places but is a contributing building as part of the Salem Downtown State Street-Commercial Street Historic District. The following verbiage is taken from the NRHP Registration Form from

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, October 14, 2025

2. Adolph Block Marker

The markers are located in the center of the middle building block, as seen in the photo.

2001:

History and Significance: In 1880 three wood buildings that occupied the south side of State Street in the 300 block burned to the ground. Samuel Adolph purchased those parcels and announced he would construct a brick building on the site that would offer space for three separate businesses. The building was finished in December of that year.'^’ The Adolph Block is a Contributing resource in the historic district; it has retained key design elements that distinguish it as an Italianate style building and it is associated with Samuel Adolph, who contributed to the commercial and civic up-building of Salem.

Samuel Adolph, the original proprietor of the building immigrated to the United States from the outskirts of Berlin in 1855. He enlisted in the Army and served eight years, reaching the rank of lieutenant. In 1867 he came to Salem and entered the brewery business with John Brown. He served on the city council and built several business blocks in downtown Salem.

J.S. Coulter designed this building; Adolph and Smith financed its construction. It was completed in December 1880. In that same month. Smith & Millican, butchers,

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moved into their store in the new Adolph Block, and Sam Adolph opened his saloon in another ground-floor space. Interestingly, Smith and Millican had their butcher shop in the former building on this site that burned and was replaced by this new brick building. Numerous lessees occupied the third store in the building over the years, including a jeweler (J.C. Barr); a watchmaker and jeweler (S.W. Thompson & Co.); and a restaurant (The White House Restaurant).

In 1935 J.L. Cooke, having purchased the business started by J.K. Gill next door (at 356 State Street), moved the business to this location. In 1951 J.L. Cooke died and James A. Henry purchased Cooke Stationery Company in 1957. Cooke's Stationery in recent years has expanded into the ground floor of the westerly portion (362 State). As of this writing, Jim Henry's son. Kip, and daughter, Colleen, continue to operate Cooke Stationery Company.

— Submitted October 25, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 44 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 25, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.