MUSIC—
Peter Britt
Festivals
Some Background
Peter Britt is one of southern
Oregon's foremost pioneer gentle
men. He has left a legacy of such
value and lasting importance, few
men or women of his era—or any
other era for that matter—can
match his contributions.
Britt left his native Switzerland
in 1845 at the age of 26 with his
family and a few friends. The
immigrants settled in Highland, Il
linois where Britt continued his
lifelong interest in painting. He
soon began to study a new visual
technique—photography. He
learned the Daguerrean method of
photography which was the most
advanced method at that time.
(Daguerre was a Frenchman who
perfected the photographic pro
cess in 1839.)
In 1852 Britt and some friends
set out for the small town of Port
land, Oregon. When they arrived,
Britt continued south alone with
his share of their belongings: a
yoke of oxen, a mule, a two
wheeled cart, and five dollars. He
arrived in Jacksonville, Oregon on
November 9, 1852.
He took out a Donation Land
Claim just southwest of town,
built a cabin, and spent the hard
winter of 1853 establishing himself
as a portrait painter and photo
grapher. His studio was the first
west of the Rockies. Eventually,
Britt purchased the most modern
photographic equipment
available. He added a skylit studio
to his home, gave up a profitable
freight business, and resumed his
studio work with enthusiasm.
Peter Britt was a man of many
trades, often crossing the fine line
between vocation and avocation.
A lover of plants of all kinds, he is
known as one of the area's first
horticulturists and is given credit
for planting some of the first pear
and apple trees in the Rogue Val
ley, now one of the leading pear
producing areas of the world. He
added a solarium to his home
where he raised rare plants and
the fruit-bearing trees usually as
sociated with more tropical cli
mates. Almost all of his plantings
are gone, but the stonework and
terraced beds remain at the Peter
Britt Gardens in Jacksonville.
Stepahane Grappeli, the most famous jazz fiddler in the world, opens the Peter
Britt Jazz Festival on Wednesday, June 27 in Historic Jacksonville, OR. Also
featured during the 4-day event are Barney McClure and Bud Shank (also
Weds.), the Preservation Hall Jazz Band (Thurs.), Paul Winter and the Sun
Singer Trio and pianist Richard Beirach (Fri.), and Gene Mayl's Dixieland
Rhythm Kings and the Fabulous Sateens (Sat.).
On one of his trips to Cali
fornia, Britt obtained some cut
tings of grape from various mis
sion vineyards. Eventually his
own vineyard spanned fifteen
acres and produced 540 gallons of
wine per acre per year. Britt
manufactured claret, muscatel
and zinfandel wines from Cali
fornian and European vines. The
wines were sold under the Valley
View label.
When Britt was in his early for
ties, he received a letter from a
childhood sweetheart who was re
cently widowed. He invited her in
1861 to Jacksonville and soon
after she arrived with her small
son, they were married. They had
3 children, one who died in infan
cy. His wife died in 1871 and he
raised the three children himself.
The stepson died in 1896. Peter
retired in 1900 and died in 1906.
The two other children never mar
ried and were active in Jackson
ville's social and political scene.
They lived in the Britt home and
looked after the elaborate gardens
until they died in the 1950‘s. The
old county courthouse houses the
Jacksonville Museum. There are
over 1800 photographs taken by
Britt as well as items from the Britt
estate displayed to recreate the old
Britt home.
The gardens are now home to
the Peter Britt Music Festival and
the outdoor pavillion stands
where the old barn once stood.
Each summer, thousands of peo
ple spread their blankets on the
hillside which overlooks the
quaint town of Jacksonville to en
joy outstanding performances all
summer long.
The Jazz Festival runs June
27-30; the Bluegrass and Country
Music Festival is July 19-21; the
Classical Festival is August 2-19;
and a new Dance Festival has been
added this year. It will run Aug.
22-25. Call 1-779-0847 for ticket
and more information.
77E PEOPLE Qp.
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Thursday/21
AJ’s BBQ- Seth McCloud—piano—11:45-1:30:
Roh Roberts—piano—6:30-8:30
El Sombrero—A La Carte Duo—jazz, 6-8:30
Harry’s on the Canal—Richard Levin. balloon
artist, illusionist—6-8
Hilton Piano Bar-Joe Borland-5-8 pm
Jo Federigo's— Bill Rhoades & Blues Deluxe
Oregon Electric Station (Jazz Depot)-Le Jazz
Hot—9-1 am
Quigley's—Steve Candee—vocal and guitar
8-1
Sweetwaters Lounge (Valley River Inn)—Dave
Howard Plus—9-2 am
Trawler-Bill Rhoades & Blues Deluxe
Wayward Inn—Original artists playing country,
country rock—9-2—no cover
Zoo Zoo's—Women's night features women mu
sicians—6-9
Friday/22
AJ’s BBQ—Seth McCloud—piano—11:45-1:30;
Rob Roberts- piano-6:30-till
Edison's Bar (The Factory)—Nu Shooz—rock
& roll, $3-9:30-2 am
Jo Federigo's—John Workman Trio
Oregon Electric Station (Jazz Depot)—Caracas—
9-1 am
Quigley’s—Steve Candee—vocal and guitar—
8-1
Sweetwaters Lounge (Valley River Inn)—Dave
Howard Plus—9-2 am
Taylor’s—The Milkmen—$2—9:30
Trawler—Bill Rhoades & Blues Deluxe
Treehouse Restaurant Lounge—Barbara Mon
teith plays piano—8:30-11:30
Union Oyster Bar—The Valley Boys-rock & roll
for listening and dancing—8:30-12:30; from
6:30-8:30. Richard Levin, balloon artist, il
lusionist
Wayward Inn—Original artists playing country,
country rock, 9-2 am—no cover
WOW Hall—Mary McCaslin and Jim Ringer
country, folk—$5 advance, $6 day of show—
8:30—all ages welcome-W/C accessible
Zoo Zoo's—Peter Thomas—classical guitar—6-9
Saturday/23
AJ’s BBO—Rob Roberts—piano—6:30 till
Edison's Bar (The Factory)—Nu Shooz—rock
and roll—$3—9:30-2 am
Fall Creek Bakery- Violetta & Alan Tarpinian—
classical duets—12-2 pm
Jo Federigo’s—John Workman Trio
Oregon Electric Station (Jazz Depot)—Caracas—
9 am-1 am
Quigley's—Steve Candee—vocal and guitar—
8-1
Sweetwaters Lounge (Valley River Inn)—Dave
Howard Plus—9-2 am
Trawler—Bill Rhoades & Blues Deluxe
Treehouse Restaurant Lounge—Barbara Mon
teith plays piano—8:30-11:30
Union Oyster Bar—The Valley Boys—rock & roll
for listening and dancing—8:30-12:30; from
6:30-8:30. Richard Levin, balloon artist, il
lusionist
WOW Hall—Big Sue. Uncle T & Johnny play
fiddle, acoustic guitar, and bassfiddle—$3—
9:30—all ages welcome—W/C accessible
Wayward Inn—Original artists playing country,
country rock—9-2 am—no cover
Zoo Zoo's—Sharon & friend—10 am-1 pm:
Mouse—6-9
Sunday/24
Jo Federigo’s— Barbara Monteith Trio—jam
session
O’Callahan’s— Comedy Night—Mike "Boats "
Johnson. Colin Campbell—$3—8:30
Union Oyster Bar—Richard Levin, balloon ar
tist. illusionist—6:30-8:30
Zoo Zoo's—Michael, Percy & Dave—10 am-1
pm; Liv & Ian, flute & guitar—6-9
Monday/25
AJ’s BBO—Seth McCloud—piano—11:45-1:30:
Rob Roberts—piano—6:30-8:30
El Sombrero—Peter Thomas—classical guitar,
6-9
Hilton Piano Bar—Joe Borland—5-8
Jo Federigo’s—Barbara Monteith Trio—jam
session
Sweetwaters Lounge (Valley River Inn)—Dave
Howard Plus—9-2 am
Taylor’s—Blues Jam—Hot local musicians—no
cover
Zoo Zoo's—Michael D—6-9
Tuosday/26
AJ’s BBO—Seth McCloud—piano—11:45-1:30:
Rob Roberts—piano—6:30-8:30
El Sombrero—Peter Thomas—classical guitar,
6-8
Hilton Piano Bar—Joe Borland—piano music
5-8
Jo Federigo’s—Joey & The Allnighters
Sweetwaters Lounge (Valley River Inn)-Dave
Howard Plus—9-2 am
WodnBSday/27
AJ’s BBO—Seth McCloud—piano—11:45-1:30:
Rob Roberts—piano—6:30-8:30
Casa Don Carlos—Juan Merida—Latin Guitar—
6-8
Hilton Plano Bar—Joe Borland-5-8
Jo Federigo’s—Joey & The Allnighters
Oregon Electric Station-Mike Heffley Trio
9-1 am
Zoo Zoo's—Leota Ray—6-9
Thursday/28
AJ’s BBO—Seth McCloud—piano—11:45-1:30:
Rob Roberts—piano—6:30-8:30
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Big Sue & Uncle Tom • June 30
Rich Levin Fri., Sat. & Sun. nights
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