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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (July 17, 1955)
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Wheeler, shown above, have lived in a mobile home for about five years. They came here from Indiana. He is employed by Trowbridge and Flynn Electric company and is an avid huntsman. He owns about 50 guns and is pictured with a few of his collection. They prefer Oregon because of the opportunities for fishing and hunting. Mr. Wheeler is a member of several gun and rifle clubs." 1 1 Vi, I "U A I t UB Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Darling are in the real estate business and have lived here for, ebout 15 years. Only recently did they purchase their mobile home. Their children, are grown and married and both Mr. and Mrs. Darling are associated, in the business which is close by the court. So they find, their new home a convenient and comfortable way of living. " ' ' ' );'pTr - ;Yv-iOvi?r " M. L. Spiker, 70, a former Nebraskan who sold farm machinery in Portland for 33 years, is retired. His wife died in 1951. Hit mobile home takes him near to his favorite fishing haunts, and when he visits his sons at Medford and Klamath Falls, and daughters at Redding and Dunsmuir, Calif., he is no trouble to the in-laws. Mr. Spiker also likes hunting, trap shooting and baseball. By FRANCES BULKIN About four million Americans live in mobile homes. Of that . number, about 1,390 families are, in Jackson county. These statistics were furnished the Mail Tribune last week as today's pictures were being taken at the Valley Center Trailer court, 3410 North Pacific highway. Though the pictures were taken at one location, they are . representative of all who choose this mode of living. Except for their chosen type of residence (which they dislike to have called "trailer houses") these people are typical Americans,' belong to Parent-Teacher associations, chambers of commerce. Medford Tribune MEDFORD, OREGON, SUNDAY, JULY 17, 1955 MaMHe Mawmnes service clubs, churches, take active interests in other cvic affairs, and their children attend local schools. Most of them .have lived . for some time in the same court. Few consider themselves as transients.' Most enjoy the out of doors the friendliness of their neighbors, and the economy of home maintenance. Full sized ranges and refrigerators, air cooling systems, oil heat, and quantities of closet and storage space are only a few of the conveniences they enjoy. An unexpected visit last week did not throw these housewives into a dither of picking up or making excuses for their housekeeping.. Everything was spotless. (Brainerd photos) 0Hpr Ifjlfllllt For the 6se of all, a utility room is provided by the ' Moores. Shown in front of this building are Mr. Mitchell and Mrs. Moore as she goes to distribute the tenants' mail in the various pigeon holes provided for each family. In this building too are laundry room, showers, toilet facilities and other conveniences, though each mobile home is equipped with most of the utilites as well as bath tubs. . Mr. and Mrs. Moore moved to Oregon to hunt and fish and lived in a large home on Rogue river north of Gold Hill. They became lonely, wanted to be with and serve others, so they purchased the court. r . , I " About 20 children live at this court and they have ample space to play. For their entertainment is a play yard where a number of them are pictured above. . They also have a tether ball and a basketbajl court. All of those of grade school age attend Howard school and are close enough to walk. One junior high student, David Brown, also lives there. Most of those who have children have two bedrooms. Others use Davenos for extra sleeping space. All have lawns, most have, fences, patios and flowers and take special pride in making their yards attractive. Trees are spaced about the property to provide shade. 1 'i Ifm Am xMmm z ffl - M? ill Z' Shown in the patio in front of the W. R. Mitchell home is a group of court residents preparing a steak barbecue. Mr. Mitchell,' president of the Jackson County Mobile Home Owners association, is shown left and continuing are Tom Moore (seated), court owner, Mrs. Mitchell, Mrs. Paul Grimes, Mrs. Moore (seated), and Miss Evelyn Moore. Micky," the Moore's dog,, shows approval. Mr. Moore is a retired civil service employee. The Grimes sold their acreage home 15 months 090 He -works for Medford Concrete and Construction opany. Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Fellows and their three-year-old,, daughter Susie, have lived twice at the same court. He is f a timber feller and their mobile home makes it possible r for them to go where he is working. She is shown above . as she prepared to do the family washing. Several in the court mentioned the convenience of taking their homes i where the husband works. It makes for better horn life and keeps down living 1 V The Hagotd McGrath family has lived at the same court for two years. Shown above is Mrs. McGrath as she washes dishes in their dining section. Seated are their sons, Harold Jr., 10, and Dennis, 7, both Howard school students and members of Scout groups. Mr. McGrath is a logger and as an avocation he drives "hot rods' He race his car, A-37, here, in Roseburg and at Yreka. When mobile home need to do k unplug the 4ee owners decide to go on a trip ell they tridty, turn off the weft and laova, .
