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

John Hughes Company/New Salem Hotel Building

c.1924

— Salem Downtown Historic District —

John Hughes Company/New Salem Hotel Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, October 14, 2025

1. John Hughes Company/New Salem Hotel Building Marker

Inscription. Salem’s Chinatown existed on this block before the construction of this two-story building. Retail shops occupied the first floor while the “New Salem Hotel” provided lodging. John Hughes married Emma Pringle in 1857. The family opneded a mercantile store in 1863 that became one of the most important businesses in the Willamette Valley.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1924.

Location. 44° 56.335′ N, 123° 2.266′ W. Marker is in Salem, Oregon, in Marion County. It is in the Central Area. It is on High Street Southeast, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 171 High Street SE, 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,

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and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Elsinore Theatre (within shouting distance of this marker); Bligh Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Salem’s Chinatown (within shouting distance of this marker); Gray Belle Restaurant (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Salvation Army (about 400 feet away); McGilchrist Building (about 400 feet away); All Aboard! (about 400 feet away); A Grand Tradition (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Salem.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, October 14, 2025

2. John Hughes Company/New Salem Hotel Building Marker

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, October 14, 2025

3. John Hughes Company/New Salem Hotel Building Marker

The marker faces High Street and can be seen in the photo.

John Hughes Company/New Salem Hotel Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, October 15, 2025

4. John Hughes Company/New Salem Hotel Building

View of the building from Ferry St.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 30, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 50 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 30, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.