Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, August 31, 1932, Image 2

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Medford mail tribune., August 31, 1932, Page 2, Image 2

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Newspaper Page TextPAGE TWO MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1932. Court House an Outgrowth of Small Fire in Pioneer Structure K REQUIRED REMOVAL PLANS Lack of Fireproof DeposI tory for Records Leads to Agitation for New Court house Two Votes Taken Th storing of vsluabl and pio neer rsoords In the woodshed of the county oourt home at Jacksonville vat on of Me first seeds from which the magnificent and stately S206.OOO new courthouse, to be formally dedi cated tomorrow, grew. One evening In the fall of the year, shortly after the war, a county Jail trusty went to the woodshed for a load of wood and became careless with a cigarette. There wu an Incipient blaze which Sheriff Charles Terrlll kicked out while yelling fire. Before this Paul Janney of the Jack son County Abstract company, In prowling around to keep the titles straight, was frequent forced to go to the woodshed to get abstracts and was Impressed with the Inconven ience and loss If anything should happen to destroy the shed. He spoke to Qeo. A. Gardner, then county Judge, and County Commissioner Vic tor Bursell about It and they agreed that It was "poor business," but the county was cramped for space and the woodshed was the only place. In fact, Vie county was so oramped for space that It was necessary to pur chase a concrete building across the street from the courthouse to house the county assessor and his volumi nous records. Bafe Bousing Urged The Hall Tribune, editorially and In la news columns, urged that the county records be housed some place besides the woodshed, as a matter of good business and protection of valu able data. Commissioner Victor Bursell and th lata County Judge Oardner fa vored a betterment. The attorneys of the city and county also favored a change, and one day Attorney Por ter J. Neff suggested to Commissioner Bursell that he might be aMe to build a structure at Sixth and Orape street in this olty suitable for court house use, If the county would sign a lease. By this time clvlo organisations of Medford took up the oudgela for a bigger and better courthouse, and In lsaa the first step was taken In the calling and holding of an election for removal of the county seat to Medford, The measure was defeated, largely through the efforts of Col. H. H. Sargent, noted writer on mili tary affairs and retired army officer, and I wis Virion, a Jacksonville merr chant and native son. Following the election, th county court ordered construction of a vsult and Judge's chambers on the rear of the courthouse, and the county rec ords were brought under lock, key and cover. Election Finally Carries The seeds sown In th preliminary move still lingered in the minds pf th county court and te matter was discussed pro and con the length and breadth of the county for three years before the Issue came to a head again, In a courthouse removal election held In 1030. This time th measure car ried, through a united front presented by Ashland and Medford and some of th country districts. Because of sentimental reasons, many of the older resident opposed the removal to this city. In 1097 Jackson county received Its first O.-O, tax refund check of more than 11,000,00. Some favored that this money be used for the psylng of road bonds, some for delinquent taxes, some for Irrigation districts, and ether purposes, but the county court, led by Commissioner Bursell, ruled that the money be distributed among th various county funds, with S380.000 set aside for a new courthouse end a tlO.OOO emergency fund for the same purpose. The city of Medford agreed to furnish a site and quarters for the county offices pending the construction of th new courthouse. . . Attempts to THvert Fund After the 1390.000 courthouse fund had been established and the country wa "getting back to normalcy, sev eral proposition were advanced to divert the fund to other purposes, and when agitation was launched to this end the county court hsd Rep resentative John H. Carktna of this county Introduce a bill In th legis lature prohibiting th us of th fund ssv for construction of a new court house. Before this th stat supreme court declared the election and pre liminaries thereto constitutional and In accordance with Oregon law. In- July, 10S7, th county offices moved to temporary quarters In the Medford armory while toe city of Medford wsa erecting a temporary courthouse and city hall at North Central avenue and Fifth street. The city hall was completed and Decem ber 1. 1927, the county office moved into it. Th next Important step was th election of a alt which Medford j had agreed to furnish free. A site lection was held and the Washington school chosen by a vot of the people. Severs! site wer advanced. Including th city park, a alt on North Cen tral avenue and on on (forth River-1 side. With th alt question out of the way, th unwinding of th long strands of red tap necessary before construction could start was begun. County Judg Hsrtaell had been call ed by death. Alex Sparrow, of be loved memory, was appointed to th j vacancy. With characteristic seal and I thoroughness, aided by Commission ers' Bursell and Alford, he plunged Into the task of clearing away th preliminaries John Barncburg suc ceeded Oeorge Alforti. to th county coniuUselpocraJilD, , Guard County's Health Kennell Ellis Photo. Left to right: C. I. Prummond, county physlrlsn; Josephine Koppei, secretary! Blanche RuneU. nurse, end Sybil Walker, nurse. Clerk Great Aid In all the vast preliminary work the county court was sided by County Clerk Delilah Stevens Meyer, who pos sessed an Intimate knowledge of all numerous details and was well nigh Invaluable. After selection of a site, architects of the northwest submitted plana ar1 specifications. After weeks of discus sion, the plans of J. O. Link of Bil lings. Mont., wer sccepted. Then came many weeks of conferring with the architect, and finally they were com pleted. On November o, 1931. bids for ths construction of the new courthouse were opened, end the following day, November 10, 1031, the contract waa awarded to th L. H. Hoffman Co. of Portland, Or. They started exca vating early In December and started pouring concrete late In January, the work being held up by bad weather. Many clvlo leaders of the city and valley gave liberally of their time and knowledge to the building of the courthouse. It stands today a beauti ful monument to the spirit of pro gress in Jackson county and a far cry from an incipient blaze caused by a Jailbird's cigarette In the wood shed of the old Jacksonville court house. Anderson Creek ANDERSON CREEK, Aug. 81,-4P) Mr. Thomas sold his home to Mr. Domes, and Mr. Thomas plans to spend the winter in Ashlsnd. Oeo. McAnally was In Medford Fri day. - Mr. and Mrs. D. 0. Hal were In Medford Wednesday. Harold Thomas went to Klamath Falls Monday where he expects to spend a while. Frank Centers spent' Wednesday with his daughter, Mrs. James Mays. Edward Smith, Ruth Mays, Robert Thomas and Lorln Close were In Med ford Saturday evening. Mrs. Oed. McAnally called on Mrs. Jsmes Mays Wednesday sfternoon. Mrs. Jack Holtman and children spent Sunday with Mrs Oeo. Msc Anally. - - --- Edward Smith, Ruth Mays and Rob ert Thomas called on Miss Bon Nell Jones Sunday afternoon. Ralph Green Is hauling wood this week. Mrs. Jsck Holtman and Mrs. Jsmes McDowell wer Medford visitors Wed nesday. I Free Picture of your baby made by Shangle If you purchase a 1 Baby Dress, etc, from Wurts Olfta. Prtsos for th mothers. Traveling Playing Working is, o H p r 11 1 jiiAliili; .iiiii Mi fetKf! si'n m i; v II S. Central E Applications for auto license per mits continue to come to the sher iff's office at th rat of 35 per day, Including a number of autolste who took vows when the governor's mor atoriums ceased, to store their cars until the license rata was lowered. The state polios are engaged In a round-up of foreign license piste owners In th county. Lists of peo ple residing In this county, who hsve applied for and received California and Washington license plates, have been received and are being checked. They will be haled Into court for explanations a fast aa ths fact are assembled. The lloenae evaders are about equal ly divided between city and country, the list shows. I i Brownsboro BROWNSBORO, Aug. 31. (Special) Mr. and Mrs. Strayer and children arrived from Canada recently and are the guests of their friends, Mr. snd Mrs. Clarence Myers They ex pect to remain If a sultsbl location can be found. Mrs. Walter Marshall came down from camp and spent a few days at home last week. H. W. Wright visited tn Medford Sunday. Rev. and Mrs. Stilton of to com munity church In Eagle Point visited Sunday school Sunday Rev. Stilton also preached an Interesting sermon. Mrs. Dsy from near Medford called at the Wright horn Saturday morn ing. Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Hsnsen and eon, Gerald, and Louts Rohrer re turned home Thursday after enjoy ing several days camping near the Mllo Conley ranch. Mrs. Fred Bloomlngcamp and chil dren of Hornbrook. Cel., visited her brothers, Q. A and W. M. Hansen, and her sister, Mis. L. J. Rohrer, last week. Friday they enjoyed a picnic on to creek above Butt Falls. Mr. and Mrs, Nate Thornton had as guests Monday, Mrs, Thornton's fsther and motUer from Washington. Listen In on th Owen-Oregon La bor Association Broadcast over KMED Tuesdays and Thursdays, 0 to 6:30 p. m.; Friday. 13:80 to 13:48. A Knitted Suit Is the Smart Woman's First for Fall. $5.95 $10 95.$ 19.95 Si'arfs and Sweater Blouses that contrast In color and weave. All new styles Ideal Suits for students or teachers. Phone 265 T ROMANTIC RELIC Jacksonville Structure Com pletedi'n 1883 Was Seat of Justice During Stir ring Period in County Protected by aged trees, whlfti have shaded accused snd complainant, law yer and criminals, whose names found Important niches In stories of the early days, as history of southern Ore gon flamed Into being the old coun ty courthouse at Jacksonville stands today, apart from all that haa to do with law and Its Interpretation. Floors which have resounded to the tread of attorneya" feet, to the tap of the nervous murderer's heel, and walls which echoed snd reechoed the words of the marriage service In the days of 1884. are silent, as all eyes turn to the pioneer's successor, which will be dedicated In Medford tomorrow. The once "magnificent" construc tion Is today a. landmark, a relic of an old romantic past. And the hall In which Justice was sought, In elo quent words of the bar, now rings with the songs of Grangers, who have mad of It a peaceful meeting place. Built In 1883. - The Jacksonville courthouse was constructed In 1883, and was dedi cated New Year's eve at a fancy dress ball, which was attended by all the elite and aristocratic In southern Oregon, pioneers recall. Horses with tasseled harness, car riages with fancy fringes, transported the guests to the dedication, and the dance muslo continued through mid night and long Into the morning, ss the splendor and color that was Jacksonville's In the 1880's held sway. Cost Near $35,000. L. 8. P. March waa contractor on the construction, which cost between 32.000 and (37,000 (at that time considered a gigantic sum). H. K. Hanna, father of Herbert Hanna t this city, was th first circuit Judge to occupy th new bench. Thos. B. Kent wss district attorney, when county officials entered the new building. Henry Kllppei was county clerk, Wm. Bybee, father of Frank Bybee. was sheriff, and Sllaa I. Day, county Judge, ommlssloners were A. Alford and W. S. Cook. The building continued as the seat of county government until 1937, when by a vote of the people Med ford, more centrally located, became OLD COUR CONGRATULATIONS TO JACKSON BUY NOW While Prices Are So Low! Quantity Buying Enables Us To Offer Amazing Bargains For Thrifty Shoppers WHY PAY MORE WHEN YOU CAN BUY Coal and Wood Combination With Duplex Grate Wood Burning Circulating Heater Priced at Only. . . . Wood Burning Circu lating Heater With Duplex Grate. . . FELT BASE Floor Covering A Engineer and Assistants Kennell Ellis Photo. Lett to right: Paul B. Running, county engineer; El da Ghelardl, ste nographer; Byron Seaman, transltman, and Roland Smith, transltman. the county seat of Jackson county. Official were, then moved Into temporary head quarters In the Med ford city ha)l on North Central, which waa to bouse them until adequate funds wars available for construction of the new building, which waa not to be delayed more than five yean. The election agreement has been fulfilled and tomorrow the new building will be vlalted by thousands from all sections of the state, who will view and admire Its limestone and marble trimmings, welcoming the new era, in Jackson county history. $250 NOTE TO COACH A demurrer to the legal action taken by Ed Schwabscker of San Francisco, against Charles J. Erb, for mer University of Oregon football star and coach at the University of Idaho, for the collection of 8250, al legedly due on a promissory note. Erb was awarded a 87500 verdict against the Consolidated Truck com pany last year, as the result of an accident on the Paclflo highway, near Grants Pass. The demurrer avers that the Schwabscker action was not taken within the time limitations. MRS. BEACH'S MOTHER PASSES IN NEBRASKA Mrs. R. G. Beach received word the first of the week of the death of her mother. Mrs. W. W. Cross of Lincoln. Neb. Mrs. Cross died Suuday follow ing a month's Illness. She Is remembered In Medford oy many friends, having visited here often, during former years. August special. Three loads 18-ln. slabs for 88.78 Med. Fuel Co. Tel. 631 r . . . Circulating Heaters At Such Low Prices? $3950 $3950 $4SOO 32 Square Yard Plenty of attractive pat terns to choose from at this amazingly low price Be sure to see our stock before you buy floor coverings. IT A large crowd attended the meeting of the Roxy Ann Orange Friday night and It was decided at the session, to change the meeting night from the second and fourth Friday, to the first and third. In order to enable all mem bers to attend. Following the business session, a supper of Ice cream and cake was served. The next meeting will oe held Friday, September 2. and all Grangers are cordially Invited to be present. Mutual Mill & Seed East 6th St., Medford COUNTY PEOPLE Semi Enamel ed range. Our regular price $47. 16-inch oven $39.95 PLAN IS AT STAR APPLEGATE APPLBOATB. Aug. 80-(Bpl.) For est service Is erecting new buildings, Installing new machinery and putting on eleven fire guards at the Star ranger station. At present the men are living In tents while building a, mess kitchen and a two-story bunk house. Robert Cass of Eagle Point Is employed as cook, who hammers on a tin pan every morning for the breakfast call. Plana are to destroy the old barn and build a new standard barn on the hillside pattern. A 8000-gallon spruce water tank has been Installed with a new pump and pipe line from the spring. The tank Is placed high on the bill above the buildings. A truck la In use also. A storage room where the fire truck will be kept Is to be built where the barn now stands after the ground has been cleaned and graveled. A 460-gallon gas tank and pump for filling the fire truck will be put up soon. If there Is money enough appropriated a machine shop will be built where repair work will be done on the machinery used In the fire work. F. E. Williams. Jr.. of Port land visited the Star ranger station last spring and picked the site for Plant Fall NOW . . . ; a garden full of vegetables this winter will help keep the oldlwolf from the door. ' I Plant now. We can supply you with a variety of vegetables to be planted for winter use. ON THEIR NEW September Range Bargains Prices Reduced on Toledo Ranges Extra Quality Ranges Weigh 300 lbs. Each TOLEDO Semi - Enamel ed rcnge. Onr regular price $50. 18-inch oven $43.00 full Enameled range. Our reg ular price $57. 16-inch oven $53 WHY PAY MORE? Look at Our Regular Prices! Beds - Springs - Mattresses Steel bed with 2-inch posts, 40-lb. cotton felted ' mattress and single coiled springs. Our regu lar price ,, , .,.. Steel bed with 2-inch posts, 40-lb. cotton felted mattress and double coiled springs. Our regu lar price ...... CHOICE OF IVORY OR BROWN BEDS! Your Credit Is Good Here the new buildings and the equip CIRCUIT COURT SESSJONFRIDAY A session of the circuit court. Judge Norton presiding, will be held Friday, when a number of routine and equity matters will be considered. Due to th confusion caused by moving to th new courthouse, the court this week hss been writing decisions and opinions In a number of case before him. Circuit Judge Norton will hold session of court irHOrants Pass, th week starting September 12, a petit Jury being drawn yesterday. .The fol lowing Monday the petit Jury will be called for thla county. Several civil suits are pending. No new petit Jury will be drawn. No session of th present grand Jury, of which Joslah Hlbbard of Butt Falls Is foreman la anticipated. A new grsnd Jury will be drawn for th October term of court, which starts the third Monday In October. A new petit Jury will be drawn at the same time. When needing duplicating salts books, flat-packs or fan-fold cash register forms, ledger sheets for bookkeeping machine or any other kind of printing, don't order from out-or-town firms and pay more. Phone 73 and one of our representatives will call. Gardens Co., Inc. Phone 269 COURTHOUSE SUPREME Full Enameled range. Onr reg ular price $60. 18-ineh oven $56 $ 1 8-90 $ 1 9-9 CLOSING OUT Stock of Vases and Noveltyware i PRICE AND LESS!