Buried Treasures

Photographer Kevin Eckerman goes subterranean with his camera and brings back to the surface some of Roseburg’s hidden history.

Story and photos by Kevin Eckerman

I am stuck in the ‘80s. From my Vans to my Van Halen T-shirt to my habit of still skateboarding pools, I am stuck in the ‘80s. 

With the return of long boards, LPs, Vans and more, the decade that I love still has a heartbeat. I’d like to think that I, along with other back harkers, have helped keep the ’80s on life support while waiting, hopefully if not realistically, for the decade’s return. 

While I wait, I have embarked on a mission to take others back with me to the ’80s – this time the 1880s. Being in the construction industry for one score and eight years now has afforded me the rare opportunity to access the attics, basements and crawl spaces of countless homes and businesses throughout the area. 

It’s amazing what I have found. Hidden gems. Buried treasures. Remnants of history. Through images captured on my trusty Canon T7i, and after hours spent crawling above and below the historic downtown Roseburg district, I hope to breathe some life back into the 1880s and early 1900s in our community.

To see more photos by Kevin Eckerman, visit https://www.eckerosaphotography.com

741 SE Jackson, 1905 Roseburg Elks Lodge.

The Antlers Theater (later named The Indian Theater) was one of two original Elks buildings. It is said that the basement passageway between two buildings (now closed off) was used to access the theater from the main lodge, which explains the old movie poster remnant on the wall. In 1969 the theater was destroyed by fire.

603 SE Jackson, 1958.

Then: Umpqua Savings and Loan. Now: AHM Brands, UV Magazine, Big Wrench Media.
Ornate, turn-of-the-century mechanical covers on the back of a vault door.

663 SE Jackson, 1909.

Masonic Grand Lodge.

823 SE Lane, 1909.

First Presbyterian Church. View from inside of the north tower.

741 SE Jackson.

Steel fire doors photographed from inside the basement furnace room of the Elk’s Lodge.

603 SE Jackson.

Ledger prepared by David Bushey, a farmer who was elected to the House of Representatives in 1872 and nominated in 1873 by President Ulysses S. Grant to be Collector of Customs in the Southern District of Oregon.

603 SE Jackson.

Vault dial found in the basement of the former Umpqua Savings and Loan.

526 SE Jackson.

Then: Wilder & Agee Clothing Store. Now: Brown’s Shoe Fit.

An old shoe that survived a crawl space fire.

549 SE Jackson.

Then and Now: Roseburg Book and Stationery. Writing fluid in upper level storage room.