Dozens of volunteers and archeologists are working for a second summer to uncover the remains of the lost, three-story Indian Manual Labor Training School in Salem.
History of the Site
The school opened in 1842 where Willamette University’s campus stands today. Methodist missionaries used the building and surrounding fields to teach Indigenous children English, Christianity, and forced them to work.
Since last year, the crew has found thousands of artifacts, unburied old walking paths, and discovered the cobblestone foundation of a blacksmithing workshop where Indigenous boys worked.
Anyone can view the excavation site in-person at Willamette University on Saturday, June 20, during an open house event from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The dig site is at the heart of the campus east of Smullin Hall, 900 State St.
Original reporting: Salem Reporter — read the source article.
