Fairview Training Center, Salem, Oregon - September 2014

Fairview Training Center in Salem, Oregon, was established in 1908 to train and care for the "feeble minded". At one time, the 670-acre campus comprised nearly 70 buildings in addition to the 10 primary "cottages" which housed the residents. The facility was closed in 2000 and sold to a private developer, who plans a 225-lot housing development on the site. Many buildings have already been lost or demolished, and demolition permits have been approved for several of the remaining cottages.
Shot in 4K with Panasonic GH4 and Vario 7-14mm, September 2014. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Filmed for the Oregon Historical Society by James Norman.

[@laurapollreisz491]

I worked on several cottages for years, including Chamberlain and many others on a relief basis, there were more then 10 cottages, worked there over 6 yrs. Enjoyed your video, nice to see some of the buildings names posted and and actual truth instead of people's guesstimates of things.

[@abralusk4331]

My sister lived here from the mid 60's until sometime in 80's when she was moved to a Lutheran home in Cornelius Oregon. Later years to group homes in Hillsboro area. After a home visit while at Fairview, she never wanted to go back. She lived in Kay Cottage her last years of being at Fairview.

[@jnorman34]

Thanks for your comment, Abra.

[@PhilVerryChannel]

So glad you captured these buildings before they were torn down and destroyed. I wanted to know what all of this looked like and now I do. It would have been a very beautiful place in it's hey day.

[@miguel134579]

There still up I went to visit it 3 years ago and sometimes I walk past it I have pictures of ghost and videos

[@tjp2109]

Some of the architecture is stunning, especially LeBreton.

[@GilaMonster971]

Sad to see those historic buildings rotting and destroyed. I worked there from ‘87-‘98.

[@jessaldrich9921]

So you participated in some of the unspeakable horrors that occurred in this facility… Interesting!

[@GilaMonster971]

@@jessaldrich9921 I worked in the tracheostomy/ventilator dependent ward as a nurse. I also took care of the health of 5 other cottages.
But please go on.....

[@murkinstock]

The boiler chimney is actually a crematory chimney. In the hill underneath it, you can see a hole that was boarded up. I may or not have seen inside the hole, and saw some ashes. Awesome video! It's sad that several of the buildings in this video are now gone.
I love driving by and seeing LeBreton, I hope they keep it.
My mom used to work in Kay cottage, she has some interesting and funny stories.

[@rmcthrills3253]

Did your mom know Dr. callicrate? He was my grandfather

[@murkinstock]

@@rmcthrills3253 hello, just happened to come back from renewed interest of this place. It's basically all history now.
I asked my mother and she did not know any doctors. She worked there from about 1987 to 1990.

[@GilaMonster971]

@@rmcthrills3253 I didn’t know Dr. Callicrate but I knew his son and his wife. They both worked at Fairview. Dr. Callicrate lived in a house on the grounds of Fairview.

[@smithys_exploration]

​@@murkinstock yep I've went to explore it the past few months, all that's left is a little bit of rubble, the laundry building and some tunnels

[@mirandamirae]

Thanks for posting this! How did you gain access to the facility?

[@jnorman34]

I was shooting some documentary footage for the Oregon Historical Society

[@mirandamirae]

@@jnorman34 Good job! Who did you have to contact to gain access?

[@jnorman34]

At the time I did the work, the contractors were on site making plans for the demolishing of several of the buildings, and I just walked onto the site and told the construction manager what I was doing for OHS and they let me go where I wanted, though I was not allowed inside any buildings. I was allowed to go into the tunnels, but was not allowed to video there - I don’t know why.

[@mirandamirae]

@@jnorman34 is the entire site demolished?

[@chriskellum1605]

My sister Kathleen Kellum lived there till here death.

[@jnorman34]

I drove by there last week, and the entire place is now gone. There are a hundred new little houses everywhere.

[@JennJennWP1]

Ok State of Oregon, why is this not being used to develop programs for the homeless? Seriously?!?!

[@jnorman34]

I believe the property is now owned by a private developer.

[@GilaMonster971]

It was suppose to be used for that. The land was originally donated to Oregon to build Fairview. But after it was shut down the state sold it (which they were not suppose to) to housing developers.

[@chriskellum1605]

State felt it was too expensive to update everything to code & ran it into the ground literally as they closed it down due to unsafe conditions with codes & upkeep.