Classification: Historic Contributing (Listed as a Local Landmark)
Historic Name: United States National Bank of Salem/Pioneer Trust Bank
Current Name: Pioneer Bank and Trust
Year of Construction: 1909; c.1960s ground floor; addition, west side, c.1990s
Legal Description: T7S/R3W/Sec 22, Salem Add. blk 48, from Lot L4, Tax lot 3800

Owner(s): Pioneer Trust Company
P.O. Box 2305
Salem, OR 97308

Description: This is a five-story Commercial style building situated on the northwest corner of Commercial and State streets. It is a reinforced concrete building with a white pressed brick front, surfaced in black granite at the street level, with a storefront entrance at the north end of the building. There are no awnings or canopies on the building. It has a projecting cornice with large medallion blocks and carved brackets as well as a torus molding belt course between the fourth and fifth floors. All ornamental work is cast stone. The windows have been replaced with aluminum, but the fenestration pattern remains on the second through fifth floors, and consisting of single flat arched openings and stone sills. The west and south side windows have segmental arched openings and double hung windows, some of wood, most with aluminum sash.

Ground floor alterations are not uncommon for commercial structures. The scale and massing of this building provides the majority of its historic features so that the first floor changes do not significantly diminish its contribution to the character of the district.

A very small one-story brick addition was recently (c.1990s) constructed on the west rear wall of the bank building and faces State Street. It does not significantly impact the integrity of the building and it continues to contribute to the historic qualities of the downtown.

History and Significance: United States National Bank of Salem constructed the building. That bank was later sold to the U.S. National Bank of Portland. In 1940 the U.S. National Bank of Portland acquired a large portion of the Ladd and Bush Bank. Ladd and Bush Trust Company survived that acquisition as an independent entity and moved into the subject building and changed its name to the Pioneer Trust Company.

Building occupants included Carson & Carson (lawyers); John H. Allan and Wallace P. Rhoten (both lawyers); William Tringle, the Salem city attorney in 1932; Roy C. Houck (a road contractor) in 1938; Dr. Garnjobst; and Senator Charles McNary in 1942.

This is the first steel and concrete fire-resistant building in Salem and included all the latest banking conveniences, including safety deposit boxes. There were counters of Italian marble, mahogany and grill work throughout. The building included large offices, meeting rooms, and "rest" rooms complete with all accessories. "In constructing this splendid building the stockholders of the United States National Bank have given expression of their confidence in the solidity of Salem and their faith in the unparalleled resources and bright future of the Willamette valley and have demonstrated the fact that their funds thus invested will give larger returns than can be had in outside markets." (January 1, 1910, Oregon Statesman)