Salem at one time had the second largest streetcar system in Oregon, second only to Portland. In the early 1900's a young lady who had moved to Salem from back east wrote home on how progressive Salem was. In the letter she told her parents that one could board a streetcar to the Cemetery (now Pioneer Cemetery), the Asylum (Now the Oregon State Hospital) and the State Prison. Although all that was true, I'm note sure that gave here folks back home any comfort.
Salem did have streetcar line that ran south to Salem Heights to what is known now as the Triangle between Liberty Road and Commercial Street. To Yew Park with is out 12th Street SE. To The State Prison along State Street, the the Asylum out Asylum Ave, now known as Center Street, to Garden Road via Summer Street (Garden Road is now known as Market Street), and two line went to the State Fairgrounds, one via today's 17th Street, and one along appropriately named Fairgrounds Road.
To add to the streetcar, there was an electric Interurban line called the Oregon Electric that ran down High Street in downtown Salem. It first linked Salem to Portland, and later to Eugene.
To learn more about the streetcars in Salem, there is wayfinder sign in downtown Salem at the first waypoint of this cache. Your task is to answer questions based on this sign, do a little math and get the final coordinates. The final is only a few blocks from the sign. The final will take you very close to what eventually replaced the streetcar, the bus. Salem still has a bus Salem, called Cherriots. Although the bus system today is much larger then the former streetcar system, the streetcars ran 7 days a week. Cherriots, as least for now, only runs 5 days a week.
You need to solve the final which is N44 56.ABC W123 02.DEF Here are the questions.
A) What year did Salem start horse-drawn trolley service: A= _ _ _ _ - 1885
B) What year did Salem Streetcar service end and switched to buses: B= _ _ _ _ - 1925
C) What year did the Salem Light Power & Traction Company sold out to the Portland, Eugene and Eastern Railway? C = _ _ _ _ - 1906
D) Circa _ _ _ _ was when the photo was taken of a Salem Streetcar met a Oregon Electric Train at State and High Streets. D = _ _ _ _ - 1912
E) Circa _ _ _ _ there is a photo of 3 Streetcars rundown State Street. E= _ _ _ _ - 1908
F) What year was the Salem Train Station established. F = _ _ _ _ - 1867
Good Luck!!
PS, I wish the streetcars were still here!