Image provided by: Josephine Community Library Foundation; Grants Pass, OR
About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Or.) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 1937)
Illinois Valley News, Thursday, Septem Ix?r 2, 1937 T I was formerly called Kerbyville, of Eight Dollar Mountain. He was was laid off in the year 1855 and sheriff of Josephine county. GREETINGS TO THE The writer knew Dave Kendal, was named after an old man named Kerby, a well known who kept a saloon in Kerby at MINERS’ JUBILEE pioneer. Kerbyville was the coun that time, and also John Bolt, the ty seat of Josephine county from pioneer merchant. Sam Sawyer, 1857 until 1886. The county seat who had a store at thetime in i was then moved to Grants Pass. Kerby, Bill Linn who ran the ' : See Us First Kerbyville was the chief center Union hotel in 1869 and Charles of Josephine county for two or Hughes, who was county clerk We carry the most complete line of Sunplies in three years in the beginning and during that period and held that Southern Oregon was frequented by thousands of i office during seven successive One of the very splendid ideas By Wm. Mackey : : miners and prospectors who flock terms were also his acquaintan which is being discussed and which : Gold was first discovered in RAILS - MINE UARS - STEEL - POWDER ed there from California and else ces. The writer was intimately finds its suggestion quite natural year Josephine county in the where, and thousands of dollars acquainted with Jack Hender ly in the Miners' Jubilee is a Min 1851 at the mouth of Josephine FUSE - CAPS poured into the cofftrs of Kerby shot, the old California miner and ers' Memorial Home. The idea : creek, close to where that stream from the surrounding country. Mexican war veteran, and his back of the suggestion is very empties into the Illinois river, S wife, who was known as Aunt similar to the old miners’ home in foot of Eight Dollar near the Fast Going Places Jenny. They lived on a ranch by Sitka, Alaska. mountain, which stands on the Where Most People Trade Such a home if built should be the side of the stage road on the In Kirby there were hotels and north side of the river west of placed on the site of the discovery first high flat one half mile stores, dance halls and saloons the stage road and rears heav- i south of Kerby in 1869. He often of Gold at Waldo. Indeed the enward like a gigantic pyramid and fast going places in the mid saw said Hendershot, who resid proposed State Park which will dle 50's. But the nearby mining built by nature that overlooks the ed at Kerby in the above mention include sufficient acreage to cov camps of Josephine and Canyon ! beautiful little valley extending ed year,and whose brother, Jim er the old site even to the ledges creeks, although yielding good south. Through this valley runs where the Chinese miners had Windows - Doors - Roofing Paner I the Illinois river and in it is sit returns, were not as extensive and Hendershot, was sheriff in Jose phine county in the year 1859.— their cabins, would be an ideal lasting of those of Waldo and Alt- uated the town of Kerby, three Cement - Plaster Grants Pass Courier, Golden An setting for such a home. miles distant from the above nam house. Kerby was, after a short The old miners in the Memor time, overshadowed and outdone niversary edition. ed mountain. Everything in the ial home would naturally become o- by the flourishing mining camps Eight Dollar mountain is some- the caretakers of the Waldo Min BUILDING LINE , what of a striking landmark. of Althouse and Sailor Diggings. The Perennial Prospector's Dream ers Historical Museum and form However, Kerby continued to be When viewed from the south from Our Prices Will Please You the guides for the crowds of vis Kerby or other points on the j a place of considerable import I’m going to take a trip and see itors who would come to view the ance for many years on account, The told things of which I ’ m West “F” Street Phone 47 stage road it seems like a great' the Museum and remain to study of the circuit court which was When my prospectin ’ days are perpendicular high wall standing the many articles of historic value over out in a bold red outline against | held there twice each year. The noted criminal lawyer, And this iron seam turns to gold which would be assembled. Their the sky. stories of the other days would James D. Fay had a law office in Mountain Named I'm going to wear a high silk hat be of compelling interest to the LOOK OUT FOR Kerbyville and pleaded his first The mountain is said to have* And step right out with the tourists from everywhere and the received its name from the fact case in that town, as did Dick brave and bold heroism and courage of the min that a man wore out a pair of Williams, who was, in the 80’s a When my prospectin' days are ing men who did so much to de aw partner of Governor Thayer new “eight dollar” hoots walking over velop the nation would foster over it in one day. Josephine in Portland. THE SE('ONI) HANI) STORE GAZOOKE And this iron seam tutus to gold similar traits of character in the The late B F. Mulkey, who was creek, andalso Josephine county children and youth who would ■o were named in honor of a girl, the prosecuting attorney and law Some day I’ll pan the final pan find here a needed patriotic em partner of Judge Caples in Port With riches rare and untold Virginia Josephine Rollins, who phasis for their develop.ng lives. He’ll I m * with us wearing was the first white woman born land 50 years ago, said that Mul Then my prospectin’ days '11 be It would be most appropriate over in Josephine county, in the year key ran a pack train in and out of RED WHISKERS, or SOMETHIN if this Miners’ Memorial Home Kerby in his younger days, earn- When this iron seam turns t< 1851. could be a replica of the George ing money to pay his way while gold. The townsite of Kerby which I E. Briggs home—the home which going to school. --------------- o--------------- I was known in the early history Knew Pioneers KNOWS HIS KNOCKS I as Fort Briggs as it was builded ( AVE JUNCTION I to serve the purpose of a fort. It The writer, when a small boy, BEAUTY SALON is very fortunate that this first went to school in Kerby in the home fortress on Sucker Creek Girls get your permanents year 1869 and knew many of the SHOOTING AT YOU OUR BEST WISHES before school starts was destroyed by fire some thirty old pioneers who were living $3.50 Permanent for years ago. However there may there at the time. Tom Regan, for your MINERS’ JUBILEE $2.50 be people yet living who could de the teacher, had mined on Alt- “Oil Blend Solution” scribe it sufficiently for a dis house in early days. He was from DO IT NOW! cerning architect to reproduce it. South Carolina, a 1 rebel at heart, FOR SPORT GOODS Open evenings by appointment There is a farmer in the Valley and sympathized strongly with Grants Pass, Oregon FLO LEEDY whose father took refuge in it the south. Tom 1 Regan had BEAUTICIAN once for an entire month. He TELESCOPIC SIGHTS PROPERLY FITTED southern temper and when may be able to recall his father’s teaching school often carried description of it well enough for n big bowie knife. __ ( the main plans of the house to be In this year, 1869, William “Has that policeman any social rebuilded. Chapman, an early miner on Alt- standing’” There doubtless are many peo house creek, lived in Kerby and “Don't know, but he's a clubman. ple who remember having seen herded 3000 sheep in the vicinity I'm sure,” the hom,e which served as a fort. IN BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF It would be splendid in them should they write their remem brances or their impressions and send them to the “Illinois Valley 5 AFTER YOUR BIG I: News.” Such matters of real historic interest should be given JUBILEE CELEBRATION WE EXTEND DVR HEARTIEST also to the Historian of the i: Daughters of the Illinois Valley Oregon Pioneers for the Miners’ = Memorial Home is being consid I ered as their second project. FOR MINING SUPPLIES i : : The Miners' Memorial Home Gold Found First in 1851 In Oregon ROGUE RIVER HARDWARE CO. 0' I I I i I I I I 1. □ VALLEY LUMBER CO Luke McGluke RINGUETTE’S GRANTS PASS Congratulations AND BEST WISHES FOR THE SUCCESSFUL PRESENTATION First Annual Illinois Valley MINERS' JUBILEE CAVE CITY, OREGON September 4th, 5th, 6th Grants Pass appreciates the effort* of the citizens of the rich Illinois Valley in developing and adver tising the many resources of their wonderful district We congratulate you on the fine work you have done, and assure you of our hearty cooperation in all work for the development of the Illinois Valley and Jose phine County. ♦ ♦ GRANTS PASS Chamber of Commerce GRANTS PASS, OREGON I MINERS... COOL OFF at COOLEYS MODERN FOUNTAIN and SERVICE Î I i : ! : o THEN AND NOW The Man with the Inquiring Mind asking questions in the homes of the descendants of the Grants Pass, Oregon pioneers has heard ever so many wonderful and ever so many □ thrilling stories of the other days +11 —days when a thousand men at one time were panning gold along OVER THIRTY YEARS AGO the banks of Althouse Creek— days when the discoveries of great nuggets set fevers running in men’s blood—days of incredible hardships—days of death dealing MADE WEDDING RINGS OUT OF attacks from Indians jealous of their possessions. GOLD FROM “THEM THAR HILLS” What strange stories a listening 1 and inquiring man may hear! Still in the Jewelry Business Stories of great privations: of schools forty miles away; the best holding for only three months in the year; hunger and cold and 6th and “H” Street Grants Pass, Ore. lonelinesses; relatives six months away— Home of Oregonite Jewelry & Bulova Watches stories which But amid the , might make the inquiring listener tenderly become sympathetic •¡-inni... . out came expressions which led a....................................................................... -.........................................................................«—o to amazing wonder. And here are [ some of them: “We had better times then than I now.’’ “We had more clean fun then than now.’’ And Buy Your Outfit "We had finer athletics then than now." From the Finest Stock of “The people were far more Men’s Wear in Josephine County neighborly then than now.” "We had more preaching then than now.” “We went to church oftener then than now." “The people were far more neighborly then than now." Men’s Clothing, Furnishings and Shoes “The people spent more time visiting then than now.” Grants Pass, Oregon "The people were kinder then than now.” IHHIHKHIMHUHIIlliilHHMIllltHHHHiHUHIHHMHiHIHIiHHHHIHHilUIUHlIHiUllltHHWiHtHilHIIHH« | j Cooley's Thrift Store BARNES the Jeweler ♦ ♦ Prepare Now ... for WINTER COMFORT! Jim's Toggery
