About 1913, the Christian H Wiedmer, his wife and their four children moved into this bungalow-style home at 574 Cottage Street after living next door for about 6 years. Swiss-born, Christian had moved to the United States at 21 and married Carrie in Minnesota where their children were born. They came to Salem in 1900.For $1000, they purchased the land for both houses from D. H. and Mary LaFollette, Oregon pioneers. Mr. Wiedmer had a blacksmith shop at 98 Chemeketa Street with John Reigelman and later with other blacksmiths. His wife died in 1935 and he is 1939, after which his daughter Florence resided in the home. The Garfield Office Company owned it in 1982 when Jeanette Gardner and John Miniken opened the Heritage Tree Restaurant, specializing in quiche, homemade soups and deserts in an "Old Country" style decor.
A large black walnut tree stood behind the building, the nuts from which the tree grew having been brought by the La Follette family in their covered wagon. It was designated as a Salem Heritage Tree.
Unfortunately, the tree was cut down in 2007 when the house was moved. The building is now Serendipity, a retail shop located at 2580 State Street. (see photograph below.)
I have always loved trees. It began in my childhood in Evanston, where the streets were lined with arched elms that provided welcome Online Plant Nursery
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