A major honor accorded to Nora Anderson during her lifetime
was the dedication of the first bench in Bush Pasture. On that spot she
remembered her favorite patch of wild strawberries. The tribute was more than
deserved: she had helped found the organization that sponsored the dedication,
the Salem Garden Club. She was also an
organizer of the Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs and their first
president.
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| The Anderson home on Court Street |
The beautiful garden at the Anderson home on Court Street was the
scene of many garden club activities. Upstairs in her home, Mrs. Anderson performed another community service: during the Depression she rented rooms to
single
Nora Anderson's deepest
concern was with the welfare of children and their development. If a family needed clothing she would ask
for the money; the forerunner of the Salem Assistance League. The Andersons had
no children of their own, but took three Hispanic children into their home where
they lived until graduating from high school. Her interest in school children
extended to their musical education: she solicited funds for the instruments
for children who played in the Junior Symphony, never hesitating to ask anyone. She believed
the rich should give to the poor: even today, prominent businessmen recall she was quite insistent, "Almost impossible to resist!" one remembered.
Before
World War I, she was involved with the Women's Club and their effort to found
the Salem Public Library. A bequest from her to that institution was
appropriately used for the Nora Anderson Auditorium, now two meeting rooms.
She also
worked to develop facilities at the Salem General Hospital. Her bequests have benefited the Women's
Medical Surgery Department at the General unit there and the Outside-In Clinic
run by the First Unitarian Church of Portland. She was also instrumental in
reviving the local Unitarian Church after World War II.
Perhaps her
most dramatic experience was with the Salem Art Center
Association when its headquarters Pringle Park was flooded out in 1942 and she
was there to rescue its possessions.
Then, in 1947, she revived that organization as the Salem Art Association
and began to raise funds to buy the original furnishings for the Bush House.
It is an
interesting footnote that Nora was born an Anderson and so did not have to
change her name when she married William Everett Anderson, the owner of a local
sporting goods store. Mr. Anderson was of a more easy-going disposition than
his wife and probably was a good balance to her commanding personality. After
his death, Mrs. Anderson was unable to manage the Court Street house and its
responsibilities. She moved to a local
nursing home where she lived for a number of years. Harvey Fox, the succeeding owner of the
Anderson business, became her guardian. He recalls the years when he would take
her out for drives through the city which she did so much to improve and preserve.
Nora
Anderson died in 1969 at the age of 89. Her humanitarian efforts for the
citizens and institutions of our city continue to honor her life and name.
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