Until 1949, West Salem was an independent city, in Polk County on the west side of the Willamette River. The former West Salem City Hall building is a Public Works Administration project, completed in 1936 at a cost of $30,00. This two-story Art Deco style brick building was designed by architect Lyle P. Bartholemew and served as City Hall for the City of West Salem from 1936 to 1949. It is one of only two Art Deco style buildings in West Salem. This building's location on Edgewater Street was in the heart of West Salem's business district.
The first pioneers settled what would later be West Salem in 1849. By 1855, the town was officially surveyed and established as "Eola," which thrived until a flood destroyed most of the town's buildings in 1890. The town was rebuilt and a West Salem city charter approved in 1913. That same year, the first railroad bridge connected West Salem to Salem.
After being plagued by problems with water, sewer and fire protection, West Salem merged with Salem in 1949. The building remained city property until 1987, serving as a public meeting hall, housing auxiliary city offices, and as a public library. Chemeketa Community College operated on the 2nd floor in 1966. The building was vacated by the City of Salem in 1987 and added to the National Register in 1990.
Today the building houses the Head Start Program and private offices.
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