Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR 97523, January 29, 2003
Oregon unemployment figures
for 2002 down from last year
The town of Kerby has a long and energetic history. It began
in 1855, when James Kerby settled on a Donation Land Claim.
Together with Dr. D.S. Holton, for whom Holton Creek is
named, Kerby founded the town, and Dr. Holton’s house became
the first building in town.
The Josephine County seat was in Kerby from 1857 until
1886, when it was relocated to Grants Pass. Old photographs of
Downtown Kerby show two prominent, two-story buildings on
the main street, which are still there today. Both were built to
house fraternal organizations or lodges in the upper story, and
businesses could be found on the ground floors.
The Odd Fellows Lodge constructed its building in 1876, and
today that same building is occupied by Kauffman Wood Prod-
ucts showroom, and It’s A Burl uses the top story.
The second building, directly north of the first, was built to
house the Masonic Lodge. This building was constructed in 1907
and today is occupied by Jerry Work and his furniture shop, the
Dovetail Joint.
The Masonic Lodge in Illinois Valley was first organized in
1857 as Western Star Lodge #18. They met in Dr. Holton’s barn
until 1864 and them moved into a building which since burned
down. This was located where the Stoney Front Tavern is today.
Another Masonic Lodge was organized in 1859 at the old
mining town of Browntown, located behind Holland Store, and
was named Belt Lodge #26. In 1864 the two lodges combined
into one, using the name Belt and number 18. By the way, the
number is the sequential order in which the lodges are chartered
by the Grand Lodge of Oregon.
There are at present approximately 138 Masonic lodges in
Oregon, but the last one chartered had the number 226 because of
combinations which have occurred throughout the state.
Belt Lodge #18 moved into its third location in 1907, which
is the second building still standing in Kerby. Members (Belt
Lodge #18) remained there until 1974 when they moved to the
present RCC Belt Bldg., the former Kerby School. This building
is also occupied by Rogue Community College, where many col-
lege classes are held, as well as other community functions.
Present Masonic leaders cannot explain for sure why the
name of Belt was used for the lodge. Old records, which would
have given an accurate explanation, were burned in the early fire.
However, a little search has turned up a probable explanation.
Census records from 1850 and ’60 do not show a person named
Belt living in Josephine County, but records of Oregon Trail
wagon trains show a Belt family arriving in Oregon in 1850.
The father was a physician named Alfred M. Belt. His wife
was named Nancy, and they had six children when they arrived.
The Belts established their home and medical practice in Salem,
where they remained for 25 years.
Belt taught medical classes at Willamette University Medical
School and served as surgeon-general during some of the Indian
wars of Oregon.
During 1856-’57 he served as the Grand Master of the Grand
Masonic Lodge of Oregon. This was just prior to the organization
of the Belt Lodge in Browntown.
In a discussion with the Grand Historian of the Grand Lodge,
he said there was no positive proof, but in all probability, Belt
Lodge was named for Belt. He was born July 23, 1804 in Ken-
tucky and died Aug. 1881 and is buried in Independence, Oregon,
between Monmouth and Salem.
He was a great asset to the Masons, the Willamette Valley
and the state of Oregon. The Masons and the Belt Building have
been a major asset to Illinois Valley.
Anderson takes
oath of office
State Rep. Gordon Ander-
son (R-Grants Pass) was
sworn in on Monday, Jan. 13
as state representative from
House District 3, serving Jose-
phine County.
In addition, Anderson has
been assigned to two key leg-
islative committees by House
Speaker Karen Minnis (R-
Wood Village) for the 2003
Legislature. Anderson will
serve on the House Judiciary
Committee as vice chairman,
and on the Human Services
Committee.
“It is an honor to be ap-
pointed as vice chairman of
the House Judiciary Commit-
tee,” said Anderson. “Both of
the committees I’ve been as-
signed to will allow me to
play a key role in the legisla-
ture and to address the needs
of the Rogue and Illinois val-
leys, and all the people of
Oregon,” said Anderson.
Address: House District 3,
900 Court St. N.E., State
Capitol H-490, Salem, OR
97301.Phone (503) 986-1403;
or
e-mail
him
at
rep.gordonanderson@state.or.
us.
Oregon’s seasonally ad-
justed unemployment rate
inched down from 7.1 percent
in November to 7.0 percent in
December. Since May, Ore-
gon’s rate has been just below
seven percent.
In December, Oregon’s
unemployment rate was below
last year’s figure. Oregon’s
unemployment rate had risen
to 7.8 percent by December
2001. Last month, 121,642
Oregonians were unemployed,
a drop of 12,691 unemployed
persons from December 2001.
Services employment rose
by 200 jobs in December.
Construction employment
dropped by only 1600 jobs in
December– a time of year
when a loss of 3,100 jobs
would have been normal.
Throughout 2002, construc-
tion employment was approxi-
mately 8,000 to 10,000 below
levels seen during 1997
through 2000.
Government employment,
at 275,100 jobs in December,
was down 3,200 jobs from the
prior month and up 700 jobs
from its figure last year. Most
of these gains in the past 12
months came in federal gov-
ernment. Meanwhile, local
government is down 1,700
jobs during that time.
Manufacturing employ-
ment also cut back jobs in De-
cember.
With the December retail
employment numbers now
available, it’s clear that retail
holiday hiring was subdued in
general merchandise stores,
apparel stores, furniture stores
and misc. retail.
The hiring of temporary
workers was well below com-
parable figures for the prior
four years when anywhere
between 13,500 and 15,600
additional workers were hired
during the final three months
of those years.
Meidinger Concrete Construction
Serving the Valley since 1974
Licensed - Bonded - Insured
Specializing in all types of Concrete and Masonry
New - Foundations - Walks - Drives - Patios
Mobile Home Runners and Foundations
Bridges and Abutments - Slabs - Large or Small
Exposed Aggregate - Retaining Walls and Basements
Stamped & Colored Concrete
Phone 592-4485
Mike Meidinger
License #93173
Senior Nutrition Menu
Sponsored by
592-3562
(541) 592-2126, 474-5440
Meals are served in the
CJ County Bldg.
FRIDAY, JAN. 31
Chicken quarter with
supreme sauce, whipped
potatoes with gravy,
broccoli Normandy, potato
wheat bread and
lemon pudding
MONDAY, FEB. 3
Turkey pot pie over biscuit,
green beans, relish slaw and
chocolate chip bar
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 5
Baked ham with pineapple
sauce, candied yams, broc-
coli cuts, multigrain bread
and peanut butter cookie
The world
is advancing.
Advance with it.
- Giuseppi Mazzani -
is open
Saturdays:
9:30 a.m.
to
2:30 p.m.
Hours: Mondays - Saturdays
9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
For more information phone (800) 922-1025
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