Sneak Preview

We have wangled the loan of some lovely quilts from a private collection for this year's exhibit, Vintage Quilts: A Garden of Applique. The quilts date to the 19th century, and they are beautiful. The one pictured above, in Mr. Bush's Bedroom, was made circa 1876 to commemorate the nation's centennial. It is even more amazing in person.

Vintage Quilts: A Garden of Applique opens Tuesday, August 24 and continues through Sunday, October 31.

Something Special

The Museum has woken up from our long winter's nap and is open for tours again, complete with a new exhibit of vintage accessories and embellishments from our collection. The photo above shows a selection of our beaded purses, on display for the first time in at least five years. The exhibit also features embroidered silk shawls, elaborate collars, delicate gloves, and fancy hats. The items will be on display at the Museum through Mother's Day, May 9.

Happy Birthday, Asahel Bush!

Today is the 185th anniversary of the birth of Asahel Bush II, builder of the home that became the Bush House Museum. There are several ways to join in the celebration this year!

Mr. Bush's Birthday Party and Open House
Sunday June 7, 1:00 - 4:00 pm
The Museum will be open this Sunday in honor of Mr. Bush's Birthday, with cake, balloons, and self-guided tours.

Bush Entries in the Oregon Encyclopedia
The Oregon Encyclopedia is an online resource where you can learn about the history and culture of Oregon. The Encyclopedia features articles on Asahel Bush II and on the Bush House Museum. Read these entries to learn more about Mr. Bush and the house he built for his family.

Coming Up: Oregon Historical Quarterly
The Summer 2009 issue of the Oregon Historical Quarterly includes an article about Asahel Bush II and his role in territorial politics as Oregon became a state. The article was written by Barbara Mahoney, who made use of the Museum's archives in her research. The Summer issue will be sent to Oregon Historical Society members this month, or you can purchase a copy from OHS when it becomes available.

Your Photo Here!
The Bush House Museum and Bush's Pasture Park have been beloved resources for generations of Salem residents. If you have a photograph of yourself or a family member taken in the Park or around the Museum, we invite you to submit it to our upcoming exhibit. Photos will be on display in the Museum through August 9; please visit our website or call us at (503) 363-4714 for more information.

My Darling Sugar Lump

"Sure as the vine grows 'round the stump,
You are my darling sugar lump."

"When you get married,
And your wife is cross,
Come to my house and eat applesauce."

"Remember me you must, you must,
As long as your teeth can chew a crust."

These charming rhymes come to us courtesy of a number of vintage autograph albums that are on display at the Museum through the end of the year.

Autograph albums came to the United States with German immigrants during the 19th century, and were popular especially among young women from the 1870s through the 1910s. The oldest album in our exhibit dates to 1849. It belonged to Eugenia Zieber, who later married Asahel Bush II. She was a student at a boarding school in Pennsylvania before coming to Oregon with her family in 1851. The people who signed her album copied elegant poetry in their finest handwriting; some of the entries are written in German.

Entries in later autograph albums were shorter but still sentimental, or just silly.

"I wish you health,
I wish you wealth,
I wish you golden shore.
I wish you heaven after Death,
What can I wish you more?"

"When you see a rabbit run up a tree,
Pull his tail and think of me."

Chickens!

In the spring of 1912, A.N. Bush and his wife, Lulu, spent several nights at the Bush House, the home of his father and his sister, Sally. While sleeping in the guest bedroom, A.N. and Mrs. Bush were disturbed by a brood of nine chickens who had wandered away from the barnyard and were roosting near the house. A.N. complained, "One rooster crowed all night. He would keep it going three or four times a minute till he got us awake, then would stop. No sooner had we got to sleep again that he would start up." All of this nocturnal noise was particularly annoying because, according to A.N., the home was located in the countryside and was supposed to be peaceful!

We're in the city now, and things are especially busy this weekend as the Salem Art Fair and Festival takes place in Bush's Pasture Park. Tours are half price during the Art Fair (July 18-20), so it's a great time to see our current exhibit, which features historic photographs and stories about the animals who inhabited the lives of the Bush family. We'll also be demonstrating how to make lavender wands, and we'll be selling wands to benefit our Restoration Fund. Hope to see you here!