From the outside the Italianate Victorian style Bush House (1878) seems to lack the obvious personality of Deepwood (my entry), also in Bush's Pasture Park (Overview). It’s essentially a large gray irregularly shaped box with windows and doors, plain and simple. Sure there’s that great vine curling up the post supporting the front porch roof, greenhouse with period plants, pergola, adjoining rose garden (dating only from the 1950s) with gazebo, and from that little hill the house sits atop there‘s a great view through the rolling landscape of the park. Not so plain after all.
Inside there’s what seems, at first glance, an ordinary floral drawing, actually made entirely of human hair braided and woven into intricate designs making up leaves, stems, and petals, like embroidery; a decorative handiwork to pass the time. This donated piece is entirely in keeping with the way this house presents itself. Things just aren’t that simple here, nor were the people who lived here.
For example--
Extravagances and Modern Conveniences at Construction:
--10 elaborately carved working marble fireplaces and a central heating system.
--Hot/cold running water in the basins of each bedroom. The box-like tower to the rear of the house is a water tank for the house.
--The first (1882) greenhouse west of the Mississippi.
A family of high profile lives heavily involved in the community and with politics; both local and State:
--Asahel Bush II (1824-1913) was a drafter of Oregon’s constitution (pdf), founded the influential Oregon Statesman newspaper, and later (1867) the Ladd & Bush Bank, the first bank in Oregon.
--Sally, a vegetarian, ran the house after graduating college, kept 27 cats, and was renowned for her kindness, consuming slightly burnt toast for years after telling a new servant she preferred this to spare her feelings.
Widower Asahel built the house on 90.5-acres as a working farm. A family home of more than 75 years before ownership passed to the city, as per their wishes, the land becoming a park (joining the 57 acres donated in 1917) and the house a museum. The family had very carefully furnished their home and most of the original furnishings, including many wallpapers, remained. All can be seen on the house tours where the history of house and family are revealed.
On the last two days of the annual Salem Arts Festival, the third weekend in July, there are living history re-enactments of events from Bush Family history.
Tours: Tues-Sun (Oct-Apr) 2pm-5pm, (May-Sept) 12pm-5pm.
--30-40 minutes on average no set schedule exists, they‘ll fit you into a tour as soon as possible. Avoid waiting by arriving at the earliest stated time.
--No tours begin later than 4.30pm
Admission: Adults $4, seniors/students $3, children (6-12) $2
Greenhouse: 9am–4pm
Contact: 503-363-4714, bushhouse@salemart.org
Free Parking: Turn left east off High Street a half block south of Mission Street.
The barn behind the house is now the Bush Barn Art Center