The Salem Historical Commission is pleased with the more than 75 who took time out on Saturday to visit the William Jennings Bryan Birthplace Home and Museum on South Broadway.
Historical Commission Vice-Chair Luke Purcell says they are grateful especially to those in Salem who had never been in the home before. He notes the home
needs lots of work, but a $20,000 investment by the Salem Tourism Commission into the home is a good first start.
Mark Decker, playing the role of William Jennings Bryan, discusses Bryan’s career with Salem City Councilman Royce Bringwald during Saturday’s open house. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
“We are very grateful to Tourism for that grant. It’s going to go a long way to help preserve this building and keep it going. To keep it a part of our community because it’s really property of the community. The people of Salem, this is their building. We are the caretakers and we were glad Tourism was able to do that for us.”
Purcell says the grant will be used for exterior painting and a little structural work. He says down the road the 170 year old home will need lots and lots of other large and small repairs if the building is to be preserved for future generations.
Salem Historian Frank Brinkerhoff standing by some of the photos and displays in the Bryan Birthplace Museum. Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Among those on hand to greet visitors was William Jennings Bryan, portrayed by Mark Decker. He talked about Bryan’s life and the Bryan Birthplace home.
“This house was built by my father in 1852. I was born in 1860 in this house on this date. It was a similar day in March back 162 years ago. I lived here until I was six and then we moved north of town where there is a Bryan Lane. That home at the end of the lane burned, the bricks at the original home was used to lay the drive for the horse and buggy to come on so that’s still there.”
Bryan was home schooled through the age of ten, before attending Salem Schools.
Some members of the Rusty Strings Dulcimer band were on hand to play for the open house. They are (left to right) Richard McCullum, Lynn Larimer, and Alan Meers.
Bryan is best known for his three unsuccessful runs for President as well as his role in the Scopes Money Trial over if evolution could be taught in public schools. Bryan also served as Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson, but resigned over his objection to the US joining World War I.
