rOUH MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE
Sundty, April 30. 19SS
CTUKfiL SINTER OF MU
6ITY lECOMG AMITE
West's Growth Seen
In Gleaming Buildings
By BUI Tore
Mill Tribune Start Writer
The Pacific northwest is expanding faster than any other part
of the nation. That growtn is noi Dasea on ooom economics oui
on the firm foundation of ideal living conditions, cheap hydro
electric power for industry and a wealth of natural resources.
Among the first beneficiaries of the solid, well-sustained
growth of a particular region are the architects. Increased popu
lation and material wealth are immediately reflected in the trans
formation of the physical face of the land, and much of the new,
gleaming modern face of the southern Oregon-northern California
region could well bear the legend, "Designed in Medford."
only two licensee
Institution li located on highway
99 near Talent and will be ready
for occunancy within two or
three days. .Construction on the
Douglas county farm begins to
morrow at Roseburg. Both are
handsome concrete! structures
designed with the pocketbooks
of the taxpayers kept uppermost
in mind. The courts of both
counties have been startled at
the fine buildings Laing has de
signed for them to be built at
extraordinarily small cost. The
Roseburg home will be almost
a carbon copy of the model home
built here but will Be somewnai
larger.
Ketney't Work Seen
No one passes through Med
ford's business district without
seeing examples cf Robert
Keeney's work on every hand
The shopping district here has
been described as one of the
most modern in any .city of
comparable size in Oregon and
much of the credit for that repu
tation should go to the architect
who designed or remodeled the
buildings.
Two of his best known re
modelling Jobs are the Newberry
building at East Sixth street and
South Central avenue and the
Medical Center building Just
across the street. The J. J. New
berry store is already completed
and the Medical Center building.
though still covered with scaf
folding, will soon present the
same sleek modernity as its
neighbor across the street.
Bus travelers arriving in Med
ford are greeted with a beautiful
modern terminal that Kecney
designed two years ago for
Pacific Greyhound lines and it
Is now considered one of the
finest Greyhound terminals in
the state.
Firm Expands
Keeney's firm has expanded,
since he first began practicing
here in 1937, to two branch
offices in addition to his main
office here. He maintains staffs
at Coos Bny and at Crescent
City. An exnmple of the extent
of his work Is shown in a list of
his current projects: he is now
at work on a new courthouse
for Siskiyou county In Cali
fornia; he is constructing schools
in northern California, Myrtle
Point, in the Coos Bay area and
here in the Rogue Valley; he is
building an addition to the Med
ford Ice and Storage company
plant; he Is working on plans
for the St. James Episcopal
church In Coquille, and he is
drawing plans for the remodel
ling of the front of the Elks
temple In Ashland.
There Is a wide rang to
Keeney's work. It runs from
such esthetic projects as the
lounge at the Rogue Valley
country club to designs for in
dustrial structures like the Reter
Fruit cold storage plant and the
Crystal Springs Packing com
pany plant. The clean, simple
gothic lines of the St. Peter's
Lutheran church here are also
Thpr are onlv two
,-.( ir in Architects In Medford
and both of them are hectically
busy. Their drawing boards are
piled high with sketches and
blueprints of projects they may
not get to for months. These two
men Robert Keeney and Wil
liam Laing have made Medford
veritable center of architecture
in this middle coastal region.
Both are men of vision and
imagination who have become
widely known for the functional
and technical excellence of their
work.
Design Landmarks
Actually the two are competi
tors; thev maintain separate
practices. But in a certain sense
they are partners in a profession
intimately touching on the lives
of everyone who lives or does
hiH.ine.ss In this area. The hand
some piles of stone and concrete
they have designed in the past
five or ten years have the mak
ings of enduring landmarks
that will testify to the prosperity
thi. inland valley ana uic
wonderland around It.
to Medford in
1936, William Laing has special
ized in school architecture to the
point where he is thoroughly
expert In that field. The River
side school in Grants Pass is the
product of his drawing boards
and has earneo mm
mendation of national educators
groups. He is now in the midst
of Intensive research In prepara
tion for the construction of
$315,000 school for the Sacred
Heart Catholic parish of Med
ford. He plans an x te n d e d
Inspection tour of church schools
In California before the final
working plana of th building
are drawn.
Ha brings to the Job the skill
and experience that will guaran
tee Medford In general and the
Sacred Heart parish in particular
on of the finest parochial
school buldlngs in the state.
Manr Schools
Lalng-deslgned schools or school
extensions are serving students
In Grants Pass. Gold Beach,
Brookings, Illinois Valley, Rogue
Blver, Griffin Creek, Prospect,
Jacksonville, Shady Cove and
Jerome Prairie.
Laing began his career as an
architectural draftsman in Edin
burgh, Scotland, as a boy. From
there he went to serve appren
ticeships in architectural offices
In Perth, London and Liverpool.
During his years of training, he
studied nights at the Northamp
ton Polytechnic Institute. H e
' later crossed the Atlantic and
took up residence in Canada but
he still reveals his Scotch origins
with a soft highland brogue. He
first became a registered archi
tect In Alberta In 1011. coming
to Ashland in 1930 and to
Medford six years later.
County Homes Important
He feels that the most import
ant Jobs he has done are the two
homes for the aged and indigent
designed for Jackson and Doug
las counties. The Jackson county
fr ft tifflTEST VALUE
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LAING-DESIGNED FARM HOME This is the imposing tile and glass main entrance to the
new Jackson county farm home that was built at a cost of about $150,000. including equipment. Ar
chitect William Laing designed the building with economy plus maximum efficiency in mind. It has
already been taken as a model for another farm home at Roseburg. It will be ppened within a few
clays under the supervision of Mrs. Susie Maust.
New Law Expands Gl
Home Loan Benefits
World War II veterans will
find home loan benefits enhanc
ed by provisions of the housing
act of 1950, just signed by the
president, veterans administra
tion spokesmen said last week in
outlining changes in the G.I.
home loan program.
Brannock said regulations and
procedures to put the new pro
visions into effect are now being
drafted by the VA and will be
issued as soon as possible. He
asked lenders and veterans to
keep inquiries to a minimum.
Principal changes are:
Changes Listed
1. The amount of the VA's
guaranty on eligible veterans
home loan is increased to 60 per
cent of the loan up to a mnxt
mum of $7,500 Previously, the
guarantee was 50 per cent up to
S4,uuu. under the new law, the
60 percent ration will npply on
mortgages up to $12,500, with
the guarantee remaining at
$7,500 for loans over $12,500.
Despite the Increased guar
anty, the VA gratuity payment
for credit on the veteran s loan
will remain at 4 per cent of the
first $4,000 of guarantee used,
and may not exceed $160.
2. Unremarried widows of vet
erans who died in service or
from service-connected causes
after discharge, are eligible for
loan benefits to which their hus
bands would have been entitled.
3. Combination FHA-GI loans
to veterans will be eliminated
after a date to be announced by
Carl R. Gray Jr., administrator
of veterans affairs.
4. The maximum period of
time over which home loans may
be made repayable is extended
from 25 years to 30 years, to pro
vide lower monthly payments.
Direct Loans
5. Effective 90 days hence, VA
authorized to make direct gov
ernment loans at 4 per cent in
terest to eligible veterans in cer
tain areas where 4 per cent home
f.ancing is not available from
other sources. No direct loan
mav exceed $10,000.
6. Homes on which construc
tion is to becin subsi'uuent to 0
days from the effective date of
the law will not be eligible for
sale to veterans with the aid of
G.I. loans unless the property
meets certain minimum con
struction requirement as pre
scribed by VA.
7. VA is authorized, in cer
tain circumstances, to restore
the loan guaranty rights of vet
erans who used their entitle-
the work of Robert Keeney.
He has been a Medford resi
dent since 1932 and has always
practiced his profession from a
Medford office. He took his
architecture degree from the
University of Oregon. Fred
Johnson is associated with
Keenev here.
GENUINE
YOUNGSTOWN KITCHEN
ImaoinicI A nationally famnui, jpmiln
Youngitown Kilrhen t thti low price!
It'i your chfttira to rpttr your old
faihionpft kitchen with modern, work
saving kitchen htr at price that may
not be equalled ajr&in in years. Mad by
tht world'i larjrrtt makera of steal kilck
ens. An anequalled value t
ONLY
m7oftnajcfinrAmJ llMITED TIMI 0NlY
t Meuias
NO DOWN PAYMENT UP TO 3 YEARS TO PAY
Smith-Dynge Lumber Co.
Eighth and Fir, Medford Phona 2-7166
ment to purchase property which
later is taken through condem
nation, or is destroyed by fire or
other natural hazard.
To Limit Fees
8. VA is authorized and direct
ed to issue regulations limiting
the fees and other charges
which may be made- against
builder and veterans in connec
tion with the construction and
sale of homes financed through
GI loans.
9. The Federal Mortgage as
sociation is given $250,000,000
in additional authority for the
purchase of G. I. and FHA loans
made by private lending agen
cies. This must be used for cur
rent purchases only, and is not
subject to earmarking in the
form of commitments for future
purchases.
10. Provisions are Included to
make GI loans for farm dwell
ings easier to obtain, and farm
loans are granted equality with
other home loans with respect to
eligibility for purchase by Fanny
May.
HALF CHOW NO LIKE
Bristol. Va U.R Half Chow,
a dog, had his day in court here
but he didn't like it. Half Chow
was exhibit A in a case charging
John Carter, 33, with dog steal
ing. Exhibit A jumped out a
window and Judge Robert Da
vis dismissed the case.
News of 4-H
O CLUBS
DESIGN BY KEENEY The J. J. Newberry company building, at the corner of South Cen
tral avenue ana East Sixtn sireet, is an excellent example of the simple, sleek and functional design
that is the hallmark of Architect Robert Keeney's work. Several of Medford's most modern and at
tractive public and business buildings have been designed by Keeney, who now maintains two branch
offices to handle the wide demand for his services.
The Grange
West Side
The West Side 4-H Garden and
Flower club held two meetings
during April, both in the school.
A plant exchange will be held at
the first May meeting, with each
member to bring a plant to
trade for another. Refreshments
were served at the first meet
ing by Mrs. Metternich. the as
sistant leader, and by the lead
er, Mrs Maybelle Rains and
Mrs. Metternich, at the latter
meeting.
Cily's 1949 Report
Proving Popular
The city of Medford has re
ceived five requests for copies of
its 1949 annual report and the
report has been the subject of
brief articles in American City
and Western City magazines,
according to City Superintendent
Vernon Thorpe.
He said the requests, along
with routine sending of copies
to other agencies, had depleted
the city's supply of extra copies.
Asking for the report were
Summit county, Ohio; Spring
field, Mass.; Royal Oak, Mich.;
Princeton university and Griffin,
Ga.
Phoenix Grange
Phoenix Grange met April 25
with Master Dee Hendrickson
presiding. Visitors were R. R.
Lytle, county commissioner from
Bellview Grange alio Mrs. n.a
Goehing from Griffin Creek
Grange. Mrs. Goehing invited
Phoenix Grangers to visit Grif
fin Creek Grange and announc
ed their dance May 6 at Griffin
Creek Grange hall.
Mr. and Mrs. A. fti. flioner
were voted to be members by
demit from Joseohine county.
; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Ward are visit
ing their home orange aner
spending the winter in the
southern states.
Nyla Kuesl was in cnarge oi
display table and told about her
collection of Japanese articles
sent to her as gifts to every mem
ber in the family.
Edith Poe, Olin , Poe and
Charles Hockersmith were es
corted to master's station and
each received a pen and pencil
set.
H.E.C. Chairman Elsie Lewis
reported on Farm Journal sales
and announced David Chase, the
Crosley dealer of Phoenix,
would install free in ine Lrranse
a new Crosley electric range if
the members could sell ten elec
trical appliances by September
30. A motion was passed to try
for this offer.
During lectures program mem
bers told fishing stories. Mr.
Lyi?e spoke on taxes and wel
fare conditions. Brother and sis
ter Ward told briefly of their
travels. Lecturer presenter sing
ers Nvla Kuesl, Addie Simmonds
and Louise Norton. Pianist was
Mrs. Schmelzer.
Next regular Grange meeting
will be Mav 9. Serving commit
tee will be Mr. and Mrs. Cliff
Maust. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Ward
and Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Lattie.
Refreshment chairman for the
evening was Mrs. George Drake.
Grange will meet on standard
time. 8 p.m.
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to build and you CAN around $6,000 and save rent payments
we have home plant to fit your needi, Low FHA termi enable you
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REAR VIEW This is a view from the rear of the new Jack
son county farm home near Talent. Shown is the rear or kitchen
wing of the 52-bed facility that will be ready to accommodate the
county's old people within a few days.
..J
Eagle Point School
Sets Spring Concert
Eagle Point, Apr. 2!) The an
nual spring music concert of
Eagle Point high school will be
held at 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 5,
at the school gymnasium.
Directors Steve Whipple said
the concert will have a general
spring theme with varied selec
tions. The program will include
band and chorus numbers and
vocal and instrumental trios and
solns.
There will be no charge for
admission and the public is in
vited. Whipple pointed out that
tlie event will give residents of
the community 'n opportunity
Six Children Killed
As Train Hits Jaxicab
Campus, 111., Apr. 20 (U.R)
Six grade school children and a
taxicab dri-ver were killed when
a speeding Wabash railroad train
crashed into their school taxi at
70 miles an hour as they rode
home from school.
The taxi served as an impro
vised school bus for rural chil
dren at the Campus grammar
school. The dead represented
almost one-fourth of the total
enrollment at the tiny, two-room
school.
to see the progress made by mu
sic students during the past
school year.
High above Seattle, this striking room by famous decorator
Deering Davis glows with glamorous color right from the
floor where you see Gulistan Renaissance in fashionable
Feminist Green.
Famous decorator Svend Bocsen gave this exciting Colorado
Springs room a flavor that is definitely western spiced it with
Gulistan Renaissance in colorful Parakeet Green.
PRESENTING OUR PORTFOLIO
OF REGIONAL ROOMS
BY FAMOUS DECORATORS
FEATURING
GULISTAN
RENAISSANCE
From east of the Hudson to wtst of the
Rockies, you'll see the smartest homes
carpeted with Gulistan Renaissance.
Why? Because smart homemakers
everywhere know they can't go wrong
with the favorite carpet of famous
decorators ... and that's
Gulistan Renaissance!
For that room of yiur, see our
Gulistan Renaissance carpel today I
BARNARD'S
FLOOR COVERING SPECIALISTS
317 E. Main Phone 2-5487
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