SALEM
February 23, 1929: "Salem is to get a $200,000 airplane beacon of 800,000 candlepower, according to announcement made here Friday by officials of the Richfield corporation, the beacon will be stationed two miles north of Salem. Actual work on the beacon probably will get under way within the next few weeks, it was said." (The Oregon Statesman)
March 2, 1929: "Sale of a two and one half acre tract of land between Waldo and Ohmart streets on South Commercial street to the Highway Communities Co. of Los Angeles was made Friday afternoon by Mrs. V. W. Ohmart, owner of the property. The consideration, which was cash, was said to be $7500.
Plans made public by M. L. Gordon, representing the Los Angeles firm, call for the erection on the property of a 125-foot tower for the Richfield Oil interests with an 800,000 candle beacon light on top of the structure." (The Oregon Statesman)
April 28, 1929: "Within 90 days a Richfield beacon light and service station is to be under construction on South Commercial street according to advance announcement made by the Richfield company which several months ago acquired a suitable site locally for its Salem station." (The Oregon Statesman)
June 23, 1929: "Airway-highway beacon towers being erected by the Richfield Oil company in Oregon, Washington and California are nearing completion and several of the Oregon towers are ready for tourist inspection. Towers at Crown Point, Salem, Roseburg, Grants Pass and Siskiyou Summit are among the Oregon towers already up and equipped with neon tubing." (The Sunday Oregonian)
October 1, 1929: Certification of private lights: "Salem, Oreg.---The Richfield Oil Co. of California is operating a 24-inch beacon, 8,000,000 candlepower, six revolutions per minute, elevation of main beam above horizon 1 degree, located 2 1/2 miles south of the Salem post office on the Pacific Highway, latitude 44 degree 54' 00", longitude 123 degree 03' 00"; altitude 350 feet. This beacon is mounted on top of a 125-foot tower; red neon signs 115 feet long with the word "Richfield" are on two sides of the tower, the third side having initials "SA" in 15-foot letters. A 24-inch directional projector, 8,000,000 candlepower, elevation of beam above horizon 1 degree, points to the Salem Airport, 4 miles north, which is to be lighted for night flying." (Air Commerce Bulletin, Vol. 1, No. 7)
November 28, 1929: "The beacon lights atop the Richfield tower on South Commercial street were turned on last night for the first time. One of the lights throws a revolving beam, visible for 100 miles. The other is stationary and directed toward the airport. A 1000=watt incandescent globe is used, two globes to each lamp. The reflector is 28 inches wide, of plate glass and the beam is sharply focused.
The Richfield electrical crew completed the installation Wednesday." (The Oregon Statesman)
January 1, 1930: "Virginia Ahalt, stenographer and office assistant, said: 'I think the airport is the best thing that happened to Salem in 1929; and along with it came the big Richfield beacon or sign south of town which means that the city is definitely established on the air map." (The Oregon Statesman)
September 30, 1931: "Removal six weeks ago of a nut from one of the three foundation bolts of the 135-foot airplane beacon just south of the city limits resulted early yesterday morning in the giant tower's crashing to the pavement and completely severing 55 telephone wires. A light breeze was blowing.
Although telephone repair men worked late last night on the lines, the local cable, serving some 45 county telephones, had not been repaired. Duplex emergency wires were laid along the ground for the long distance lines to southern Oregon and California points and the service was restored within an hour and a half after the crash. Telephone officials could not state last night just when the local service would be resumed.
Traffic on the Pacific highway south was tied up for more than two hours.
Officers late yesterday had questioned Raymond Elliott, 16, who admitted that he and Carl Waddle, 15, had removed the nut from the anchor bolt almost six weeks ago on the way home from attending a band concert. The nut was found in Elliott's possession. While the officers were inclined to blame the workmen who left the nut loose, they said they would turn the boys over to juvenile authorities.
The tower is the property of the Richfield Oil company." (The Oregon Statesman)