DESCRIPTION

Set quite a ways off the street, this elegant, simplified version of an Italianate style Victorian Mansion can be found up on a small hill, just west of its rather large, gorgeous rose gardens. The Art Association of Salem have been fine stewards of such a unique property, that not only still has the side buildings; The Bush Barn Art Center and The Greenhouse Conservatory; but also acres of flower gardens, a popular park, and other much appreciated perks, as most of the 100 acre estate belongs to the City of Salem, with The Art Association of Salem being in control of the property.

When Asahel Bush II built this mansion in 1877-78, he made sure that this mansion had all the bells and whistles deemed important for both functionality and beauty, including a central heating system, indoor plumbing, gaslights, and imported French wallpaper. Asahel also imported Italian marble for the ten, each one- of-a kind fireplaces, cut in the Italianate style.

The mansion was designed to be practical for all, and well used. Front steps lead to a large, expansive veranda, offering plenty of room to enjoy the outdoor views, and entertain. All the common rooms are of course off the grand central hall, as is Bush’s bedroom and bath. The parlor, formal dining room butler’s pantry and a rather large state of the art 19th century kitchen with a wood burning stove are on one side of the mansion, while the sitting room, the library and Bush’s personal area are on the other side.

From the central hall, a “straight,” wonderfully carved wooden oak stairway leads the visitor up to a spacious second floor hall where all the other bedrooms, a shared in-door bath, and servants’ quarters are located. Though they had to share the tub, shower and potty, each room did have its own running hot and cold water, displayed beautifully in a marble-topped sink. All the water running through the plumbing for the house came from the mansion’s large, square tower.

All of the twelve rooms open to the public are filled with choice furnishings chosen by both Asahel Bush II and Sally, and contain most of the Bush Family’s personal belongings. The tour is well worth it!

HISTORY

In 1850, a 26-year old lawyer, Asahel Bush II, came to Oregon City to start a newspaper to be the voice of the Democratic Party in Oregon. After a glorious start in his journalism career, he moved the newspaper, “The Oregon Statesman” and himself to Salem. He entered politics, and in 1859, he was elected Printer.

In Salem, he met the love of his life, Eugenia, and married her. They started their family and enjoyed a short lifetime together. Tragically, Eugenia came down with TB, and died in 1863. At the death of his beloved wife, the 39-year-old Asahel sold his newspaper, and opened up the Ladd and Bush Bank with a partner, W. S. Ladd. He probably had shorter hours, and was able to be home earlier to be with the children, being a single parent now of very young children; (6, 4, 2, & 1 year old): Estelle (1856-1942), Asahel III (1858-1953), Sally (1860-1946) and Eugenia (1862-1932)

In 1873, Asahel Bush II bought out his partner’s interest and took total control of the Ladd and Bush Bank; a bank that became very successful, the strongest financial institution in the Pacific Northwest.

In 1876-77, Asahel was now a fantastic success in the banking field, and decided it was time to build his dream house. He simply moved the Leslie Farmhouse they had been living in all these years across Mission street, and hired architect Wilbur F. Boothby, who was also superintendent of its construction, to build a lovely Victorian Italianate mansion for Bush and his family to live in, and enjoy the fruits of his labor.

Bush’s children grew up well-adjusted and did very well for themselves. Estelle, Sally and Asahel III were all college graduates. Estelle married well, Asahel III became a banker like his father, and Sally returned home after college to be the mistress of Bush Mansion, living with her father, taking care of all social responsibilities, buying items for the mansion, and managing the estate very well; happy as a clam. Even when she was a college student, she was the one who bought the furniture for the new mansion.

However, Asahel Bush II ‘s youngest daughter, Eugenia, developed schizophrenia, in 1880, while away at college in Mass., at an age when this disease often manifests. The stress of the first year of college, far away from home; a stress that many young people face and conquer, pushed Eugenia into the unhappy world of mental illness.

Urban legend falsely claims that Mr. Bush was ashamed of her, and kept his daughter in the basement of the house, but this is not true. A banker surely has enough money to find the best medical care for his child, and Asahel Bush II did just that. As he had taken care of his ailing wife, he certainly would do his best for his youngest daughter, named after his beloved wife.

Asahel found a fine clinic and home that caters to the mentally ill relatives of the rich in Boston, as there wasn’t much available on the West Coast except the state hospital. While Asahel Bush II, and Eugenia’s brother and sisters wrote and visited her often, making sure she got the best treatment for this era, Eugenia didn’t come home again until after her father died in 1913. In 1914, Eugenia came back to the Bush Mansion with a nurse at the age of 52, to live with her sister Sally for the next 18 years until she passed away at 70. All the children, including Eugenia, lived to a ripe old age.

In 1917, to honor their late Father, the surviving Bush Family members donated 57 acres east of the mansion to the City of Salem for a municipal park. When Sally and Asahel III died, the ownership of the land would be transferred to the city of Salem.

Sally continued to expand the gardens and maintain the mansion until she died, in 1946. Asahel III was the last one to live in the Bush Mansion. He moved back into the mansion in 1948 at the age of 90, when “his home was acquired” to make room for the new state mall. He installed an elevator so he could move more easily onto the 2nd floor. Though old, his mind was sharp as a tack, and he was a very good steward of the huge property and of the mansion.

Two years before Sally died, Asahel III began the process of making sure that their beloved home and the rest of the family land ended up in the city’s hands, and not developers. He originally arranged with city officials to buy the remaining 43 acres for 175,000 dollars, including the mansion at the time of his death. When the bond measure failed, Asahel sold 10 acres to Willamette University for McCullough Stadium. However, the city managed to scrape the money together to buy the remaining 33 acres for Bush’s Pasture Park.

The Historic Bush Mansion Museum has been financially supported by several organizations that have created one of the finest preserved historic sites that I have ever seen. It definitely was not left to the mercy or good will of city politicians, who through the years sometimes lose interest in maintaining/improving acquired city property due to budget woes or other priorities. The Art Association of Salem formed soon after the sale, bought all the original contents of the Bush Mansion, in 1948, when Asahel III moved back into it, and needed room for his own stuff from his house, “that was acquired.”

When Asahel III died in 1953, The Art Association of Salem moved everything that came from the first floor back inside the mansion. The second floor rooms were used for their Art Galleries, and business offices.

Because the mansion was in such good shape, tours and art exhibits were started almost right away, in 1953, and became moneymakers from people eager to see the Historic Bush Mansion Museum and Art Galleries.

Salem landscape architects Elizabeth Lord & Edith Schryver of the Lord and Schryver Conservancy oversaw the historically appropriate plantings of the many flower gardens and huge rose garden as well.

After a fire in the Barn around the mid-sixties, The Art Association of Salem remodeled it to accommodate art programs for the community, for their business offices and for areas to display its art galleries. The Bush Mansion’s second floor was once again filled with hand-crafted furniture from the original Bush Family.

In 1979, the Friends of Bush Gardens, became the Bush Conservatory Gardeners, who keep all the gardens looking great, as well as take care of the 1882 Greenhouse Conservatory that they had also restored.

All of these achievements must make the Bush Family beam with delight.

HISTORY OF MANIFESTATIONS

Because of circumstances in this life, people sometimes have to give up something dear to them prematurely. When they pass, they sometimes make up for lost time by sharing that something or item with its current owners.

Liberty Hall, KY (Mrs. Varick traveled by stagecoach to come to Liberty Hall to help her niece, who had a child die. Unfortunately, she died a few days after arriving. Her spirit has been determined to be helpful to the living, as she had wanted to be for her niece).

Mark Twain House Museum, CT (After living for awhile in the home of their dreams, they had to leave it, not only because of financial issues, but because their daughters Suzy had died there, making it too sad to stay. After the house was restored, their spirits moved back inside once again).

Clay/Frick House, PA (After having to leave while alive, a spirit or two have moved back, keeping an eye on the living).

Historic Bush House Museum, OR (Bush’s youngest daughter, Eugenia, was taken away from her beloved family and home because of her mental illness, that made her a danger to herself and others. She spent 34 years of her life in a private institution, receiving treatment. Despite the generous care she received there, it still wasn’t like living with her loved ones at home).

Spirits can choose whatever age they want to be seen as by the living. They sometimes pick the image of how they appeared during the happiest time in their life.

Hotel Bethlehem, PA (May Yohe was the granddaughter of Caleb Yohe. She grew up in her father’s hotel, happily singing to guests. Her life as an adult was unhappy. As a spirit, she appears as a little girl in the place that she was truly happy).

Robert E. Lee Mansion, VA (There is a mischievous little boy who some feel could be Robert Lee, coming back as a child).

Hartford Twain House, CT (The three daughters, two of whom died in their young adult years, all appear as young girls who are seen playing together).

Historic Bush House Museum, OR (As a child, Eugenia had many happy years living with her family as a mentally well person. Perhaps she has chosen to be seen as a young girl).

When deceased loved ones choose to stay in the family home, sometimes their deceased family members also choose to stay or visit to look after them.

Stranahan House, FL (The Lady of the house shows loving care to both the living and the spirits of her family still residing).

Whaley House, CA (Tragedies that afflicted the Whaley family in life have caused them to stay together the afterlife).

LeDuc Mansion, MN (The family was really close in life and loved their home. They had many fond memories of living and growing in this special place in their lives).

Historic Bush House Museum, OR (Since it is supposed that Eugenia wanted to stay and live in the beautiful new home like a regular member of her family, it is possible that her sister Sally, her father, and her brother would also stay /visit there to keep her company, and enjoy being with her, as she would be free of her earthly mental sickness.

Historic places that house the personal items of the departed, often have visitors from the spirit world, checking up on their cherished items.

The Clayton House Museum, AR (Apparently, Powell Clayton’s most treasured possessions are on display in a case in the office area which explains why this spirit visits so often).

Custer House, ND (Members of the Custer family and those officers who used to visit Custer’s House have gladly moved right inside, because not only was it rebuilt from scratch using Custer’s own blueprints, but also because of all the family pictures and possessions on display).

Buffalo Bill’s State Park Ranch, NE (The spirit of Buffalo Bill loves to stay here in his old room in this fully restored property, marveling at all his memorabilia and furniture and possessions on display).

Historic Bush House Museum, OR (Many of the Bush Family’s cherished possessions are on display within the Historic Bush House Museum, and perhaps they like to come and visit these items and furniture).

MANIFESTATIONS

The Historical Bush House Museum is an authentic house museum, set up like the Bush family would have liked. Their furniture and possessions are all on display. It looks like they had just gone off for a walk.

PARANORMAL FINDINGS

Not much in the way of either personal experiences or actual hard evidence has been made public.

Past renters have shared their personal experiences of seeing the apparition of a young girl, much to the disapproval and alarm of the people in charge of The Historical Bush Mansion, who have a reasonable explanation, and are armed with the truth about Eugenia, they think.

According to author Rich Newman, who always interviews folks for his books, people have recently reported their experiences with auditory, tactile and visual activity.

If activity increases to the point where The Art Association of Salem can’t explain it away, they will probably have a private investigation held there which I bet won’t be made public, unless investigators don’t find anything. They don’t want to be known as a haunted house, just the Historical Bush House Museum.

STILL HAUNTED?

A Strong Perhaps. There is a strong possibility that the Bush Family likes to visit a lot, along with Eugenia.

Sooner or later the truth will come out.

It is hard to hide the presence of spirits, as they become more comfortable with the people they see everyday. Sometimes a spirit or spirits can be tempted to manipulate objects in this world, and perhaps inadvertently exhibit signs of their presence(s). Their apparitions or shadows are seen doing so, their voices are heard, and they don’t always put items back where the living left them.

The Historical Bush Mansion Museum folks hotly deny it. However, there are still some personal experiences that suggest that not only Eugenia is enjoying the mansion, but her family too!

LOCATION

600 Mission St SE, Salem, OR 97302
Phone:(503) 363-4714 * http://salemart.org
Call 503-363-4714 in advance to schedule group, school or private tours.
Hourly Guided Tours | March 1-December 21: Wednesday-Sunday | 1, 2, 3 & 4 pm

Purchase tickets at the Bush Barn Art Center
$6- Adults; $5-Seniors (62+); $4-Students (16+); $3-Youth (6–15)
SAA members and children 5 and under FREE

The Historic Bush House Museum can be found two blocks south of the intersection of Mission St. SE, and High St. SE. It is on a knoll shaded with trees, still on its original 100 acre farmland, now called 100-acre Bush’s Pasture Park.

SOURCES INCLUDE

• Hauntings of Western Oregon, by Kent Goodman, Schiffer Publications, 2009
• The Ghost Hunter’s Field Guide, By Rich Newman, pg. 278, Llewell Productions, 2011.
• http://bushhousemuseum.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html
• http://salemart.org
• https://plus.google.com/105327580073504365006/about?gl=us&hl=en * http://www.oregonlink.com/bush_house/
• http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/entry/view/asahel_bush_house/

Our Haunted Paranormal Stories are Written by Julie Carr

Our Photos are copyrighted by Tom Carr

Visit the memorable… Milwaukee Haunted Hotel

Your Paranormal Road Trip

VIDEOS TO VISIT …

The Bush House Museum

C-SPAN Cities Tour – Salem: Asahel Bush and the Bush House