Meg Hibbert
Contributing writer
The future of the oldest house in Salem is more secure now after Salem City Council agreed to transfer Preston Place to a 501 c 3 non-profit status.
The action came at Monday night’s City Council meeting. Preston Place is the two-story brick home on West Main Street across from Walmart that dates back to 1821.
It was given to the Salem Historical Society by the family of the late Dr. Esther Brown, the first female physician in Salem. For several years the house was the home of the White Oak Tea Tavern until it succumbed during the COVID pandemic.
Until last year the house was the location of GLOW Healing Arts holistic wellness center.
Council’s Feb. 23 action paves the way for Preston Place to be transferred to the newly created Preston Place Preservation Foundation Inc. Officers are President David Robbins, Vice President Dr. Whitney Leeson, Secretary Stella Reinhard and Treasurer Susan Garrison. Brown’s granddaughter, Victoria Brown, is a board member.
She and other members of the Brown family were at the Council meeting.
“It’s great to see that it is going to be preserved,” said Brown after the meeting.
Council unanimously approved a resolution to convey Preston Place to the new 501 c 3 foundation, and to authorize $275,000 for the Salem Historical Society to use for roof repairs and heating ventilation / air conditioning needs at the Salem Museum.
Twenty citizens interested in historic preservation were at the Council meeting to show their support.
At a January 2025 work session, members of the Salem Historical Society’s Board offered Preston Place to the city.
In other matters, Council:
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Approved on second reading rezoning for McDonald’s restaurant at the corner of East Main Street and Electric Road. A representative of the restaurant’s owners told Council at the Feb. 9 meeting that next year the restaurant will be razed and replaced with a more current type of building;
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Approved sale to Habitat for Humanity of 1.34 acres of city-owned property and old house at 216 Chapman St., for a future Habitat home;
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Approved condemnation and easement across properties for repair and replacement of sewer lines.
At the beginning of the meeting, Mayor Renee Turk welcomed and congratulated four new Salem Police Officers who are in field training.
All five Councilmembers were present. The meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m.