PAGE 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!