1903 Warner Breyman House

This is the first photograph we have of the Werner Breyman home, probably built in the 1870s. On this day, it it is host to guests assembled for the visit of President Teddy Roosevelt. Werner's house was located at the southeast corner of State and Cottage Streets, presently the site of the Micah Building of the United Methodist Church (formerly the Elks Temple).

The home was moved around the corner onto Cottage Street and remodeled to the building above prior to 1924.The house was three stories, the third being an addition.
The city directory of 1924 lists the Hydrotherapeudic Institute to be at this location in addition to apartments. In 1953, the 20 Palace Apartments were here.
Werner Breyman and his brother Eugene came to Salem in 1865 and operated a business at 147 Commercial Street NE until 1881 when they sold it and went into the construction business.
Eugene lived on the northeast corner of Court and Church Streets, diagonally across (over the property of the Post Office lawn) from his brother. In 1904 they presented a fountain to the city as a Spanish American War memorial, locating it at Winter Street entrance to the park. Legend recalls that they could both see it from their perspective front porches.
Neither of the houses exist today.

1913 Christian Wiedmer House

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.)