Room Amenities

June Drake - History

If you have ever viewed a photograph of historic Silverton, it was most likely taken by Silverton's foremost commercial photographer, June D. Drake. But Drake was more than an eminent photographer; he was a historian, a chronicler of the life and times of a community, a strong advocate for the preservation of nature, and a collector of mementos from all over the world.

June D. Drake was born in 1880 in Marquam, Oregon where his pioneer parents had settled in 1852. The family moved to Silverton 1889, into a new home at 401 South Water Street. In 1904, June married Elizabeth Schoenfield of Salem and they settled into a home he had built at 409 South Water Street, next to his parents. This home was the first new home constructed in Silverton to be plumbed and wired with electricity. (Incidentally, both homes still stand today.) The couple had two children, Charles and Ardith. Drake was active in the community, serving as Secretary of the Silverton Chamber of Commerce and on the city council.