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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 1959)
14 MAIL TRIBUNE, Medfor', Oresen, Unity, January II, 139 Organization First Opened in Bedford On Riverside Ave. By R. L. JONES Secretary of The YMCA The Medford YMCA was opened in 1944 in what is now the Federal building on North Riverside ave. During the war years, this had been used as the USO headquarters. The YMCA used the Masonic hall and space over the old Acme Hardware store on Sixth st. before moving to the present building, built in 1948-49 to provide an activity center for youth and adults. The history of the Y movement here is the expressions of vital personalities of businessmen, laborers, and parents who all had a hand in the development of its services. . Names appearing on the articles of incorporation included members of the executive - committee, which included Dr. Bert Elliott, president; Mrs. Richard Payne, vice president; I. E. Schuler, secretary; Charles Newland, treasurer; Archie Pierce, Tony Manno, and Lester Harris. Trustees Named - Trustees, not previously mentioned, included Ralph Cook, who became president in 1945, J. C. .Tucker, Mrs. Carl Brockhaus, The Rev. Harry Hansen, Frank Redden, Clarence Meeker, Sam Colton, Herb Gray, Paul Hanlan, Robert Elder, Mrs. Dolph Phillips, Owen Walker, and The Rev. G. Turney. Ben Schmidt, a YMCA ex ecutive with extensive back ground in youth work in the state of Washington and as general secretary at Ontario, Calif., was employed as gen eral secretary of the Medford YMCA in 1944. Under his leadership, the programs for youth flourished and plans were undertaken for a building campaign. A. C. Pierce was first chair man of the building and per sonnel committee. Herb Grey was chairman of public rela tions. The response of the com munity was most generous in many areas, resistive in oth ers. Building a new YMCA . where a program had been In existance so briefly was not an easy task, yet these early pioneers of the Y movement bad real determination. Manufacturing Leader In 1946, B. L. Nutting, a leader in lumber manufactur ing, was president of the YMCA; Ralph Cook, treasur er, and D. Ford McCormick, the building engineer and sup ervisor. E C. Corn, an; or chardist, later to become president of the.Y, worked diligently ts impress people with the need of a YMCA in Medford and the investment they could make in the lives of youth. The ground was broken in 1947. Bessonette and Graff ' Construction . company . pro ceeded with construction. Money for the enterprise did not pour in, but volunteer workers and materials did. Lumber mills did their best with lumber for forms and roofs. Concrete companies helped considerably since the building was largely of poured concrete and steel rods. Union Sets Record The local Carpenters Union set one record when about 50 of them, all volunteers, in stalled 5,720 square feet of hardwood floor in three areas of the building in less than four hours, finishing by lunch time. - The plasterers and painting contractors then added their bit to this volunteer work as did many other individuals. The result was a building valued in 1951 at $206,000 which had cost the communi ty in actual dollars less than $120,000. On May 22, 1949, the build ing was dedicated in a cere mony with the governor pres ent. Carlos Morris was chairman of the first membership en rollment in the new facility. Membership soon went from a few hundred to more than 2,000. Family centered pro grams became the heart of the YMCA. Mrs. Ivan Davies and Jack Crump organized the first programs. Tony Man no was YMCA president. Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Hu ron, as leaders of family night, started a program which grew to more than 300 families for party games and social activi ties including dramatics, races in the gym, and swimming. Swimming Instruction Swimming instruction 'led the list of interests expressed by youth, and in 1951 Donald E. Day of San Antonio, Tex., was employed as physical di rector. Serving in this capaci ty until 1957 with Dr. William Roberts as aquatic chairman, the Medford YMCA swim ming pool in 1955 led YMCA's in the northwest on its instruc tion and advancement, pro gram. Today it is still one of the top three. Soon after 1950, a young adult program group formed for unmarried young people put of school, and 'despite many marriages and trans fers, the group has continued with some brief interruptions to the present group of 35 who meet for social, educational, iff f!, I : DR. BERT ELLIOTT ' First YMCA President and service activities. The early program begin nings at the YMCA were aug mented in the crafts depart ment by Mrs. Roy Bailey teaching textile painting, and the Arthur Breretons' organ izing ceramics, art classes, and several hobby groups which culminated in three Rogue valley hobby shows. Leases Camp Site ; " . . In 1948 the Medford Y procured lease of a large tract at Diamond lake 'for a camp development site. A. C. Pierce, as camping chairman for sev eral years worked with a committee for organizing the camp into desireable location with accomodations for 100 campers each week during the summer. ' The late D. " Ford McCor mick worked most closely with. Archie ' Pierce . in plan ning for and procuring ma terials which have been used in the camp development. The campground last summer served YMCA youth . from Klamath Falls, Ashland and KoseDurg, as wen as luecuora Girls camping and family camping will be an additional growth. Herb Partridge, youth work director of the. YMCA staff in Medford, is the resi dent camp director. Development of Programs The addition of a youth director to the Medford YMCA in 1957 has made possible the development of club programs: YMCA Indian Guides, a program for fathers and sons; high school youth clubs; counseling service; and extending the youth council social program. The present Y physical di rector, Bruce Burns, has many volunteers who assist in the physical department. Wilson Gilinsky is coach of the swim ming team, Mrs. Roy Wilkes teaches women's gym and swimming 'classes, Charles Cox teaches weight lifting, and other volunteers assist on committees. v It is notable that 28 teams in basketball, volleyball, and softball were organized through, the YMCA Church Athletic league last year, all coached and managed, by vol unteer efforts. August (Dutch) Farfan is the Y volunteer leader who has the most outstanding rec ord in persons taught to swim. For the past eight years, he has taught a total of 65 differ ent swimming classes, with 1,750' individuals attending, and well over 1,000 of these individuals learned to swim." ' The member of the YMCA staff who has served the mem bers longest is George May field, the building mainten ance man employed in 1948. Much of the improvement work to make the building functional was done by May field. He makes and designs benches, furniture and game equipment which he hopes will outlast the thousands of KW?'&'3 liSi,M i . ... - ' .. . - fit! i i "t'M'iMm .ihm-V'i' - . . .immm&mfix CORNERSTONE SET - Ground was broken is being laid. The first YMCA opened in in 1947 for the present Medford YMCA Medford in 1944, and has shown an in building, which was constructed with most- crease in use since that time. ly volunteer labor. Above, YOUTH ACTIVITIES - Dancing is one of the more popular " activities sponsored by the Medford YMCA for young people. The youth council, under adult guidance, plans Adults, Youths Participate in The Young Men's Christian association's program in Med ford includes varied activities in which adults and youths partiipate. Primarily con cerned with youth, the organ ization here provides a "fam ily night" for the entire fam ily. Among the more significant programs for youth are the youth council program, the camping program, and swim ming. Activities in the gym nasium and young adult gath erings are scheduled through out the week. One of the most significant programs of the Medford YMCA is the youth council. Now in its fifth year, the youth council is dedicated to providing teen age youth with social activities on a regular basis with a high ethical code of conduct. 30 Dances Held Last year more than 30 dances were held in the YMCA for junior and senior high school students. At least children who use them in pro grams. Two Major Tasks The present YMCA board of directors, with Carl Brophy as president, is engaged in two major tasks. One is im proving a facility which has never been quite completed, and one is expanding program services thoroughly enough to meet the needs of a rapid ly growing population. The first will require spe cial contributions or legacies apart from funds for operat ing- expenses. The second, that of upgrading " and extending program services, will be ac complished largely through volunteer interest and effort Volunteer committee work ers, club' leaders, instructors, office help, craft teachers, chaperones, and councelors are all needed to help extend the work of the YMCA. The present' YMCA treasur er, S. V. (Duke) McQueen, has served for six years. Funds to operate the YMCA are derived from two sources. One, membership dues, fees, and projects which account for about 60 per cent of the total operation including camping. Secondly contribu tions through the United Med ford Crusade, which have been totaling about 40 per cent of the total operation. ' 'tf- ' til the cornerstone at Local YMCA six adults .are present and as sist in the planning of the dances. -. ". : i ' The youth council pro gram includes activities in the swimming pool, gymnasium, hay rides, barbecues and oth er social events.. - Supervision of the program is under, the direction of an adult youth concil committee. Chairman of the committee is Chris Htton. The adult com mittee sets policy, considers improvements and directs ac tivities of the program. The dance plans originate with a student chairman and an adult advisor. A committee of adults is chosen as chape rones for the dance and com mittees of: youngsters are chosen for such things as pro motion", programs, admissions, clean up and decorations. Camping Program . x Also significant in the as sociation's activities is its camping program. Medford YMCA has grown rapidly during the last 10 years. The camp site at Dia mond lake was first devel oped in 1948. A lodge and three camp sections serve more than 300 boys and girls each summer. Boating and ca noeing are most popular with the youngsters at camp, as well as the mountain climbing trips up Mt. Bailey- and Mt. Thielsen. ' " Operated by the YMCA of Medford, Diamond Lake camp also accomodates groups from Klamath Falls, Ashland, and Roseburg. This summer the site at Diamond lake will also be used by the Campfire Girls. At Diamond lake, boys and girls 8 to 16 may participate in hiking, swimming, boating, archery, riflery, crafts, nature lore, overnight camping and campfires. Day Camping Day Camping is anqther phase of the YMCA camping program. Each summer boys leave daily for the camp site on the Applegate river. An overnight campout is -held each week. The day camp pro gram is designed for boys 6, 7 and 8. YMCA camping centers around trained leadership. An intensive program of training is developed each summer to assure" each camper of the best possible treatment. A trained cook and- nurse care for the needs of the campers. A- dances in the social hall on a regular basis. An average of 200 young people attend the dances, YMCA officials said. Each section of four, tent groups is under a unit direc tor and each tent has a trained tent counselor. A qualified water safety in structor is in charge of aquat ic activities and an experi enced camp, director is at camp all summer. Provide Education Several organizations strive to provide education in water safety for the people- of this country. Outstanding in this work are the Young Men's Christian association, the Red Cross and the Boy Scouts. lne YMCA program pio neered in swimming ' instruc tion, which is designed to meet the needs of individuals, who progress at their own rate of development. Beginning phases of the program are divided into two sections: tadpoles and floun ders. Tadpoles learn to enjoy the water as their primary ob jective. Then they receive in struction on kicking and arm stroke. When the individual can perform these skills with some ease he then becomes a flounder, who learn to breath and support themselves in deep water. When the indi vidual can swim one length of the pool in good style he becomes a swimmer or min now. The average person takes from 8 to 10 lessons to learn to swim. More Advanced Skills Minnows learn more ad vanced skills, such as tread ing water, surface dives, and plunges from the diving board. When he has passed 10 such tests he becomes a fish. Fish or middle intermediates learn to swim underwater, side stroke, frog kick and dis tance swimming. When these tests are passed he becomes a flying fish and engages in more difficult skills. Highest in the YMCA swim ming skills is the shark. A shark is considered an excel lent swimmer and is ready to engage in the life saving pro gram. The local YMCA operates its pool year around and of fers classes for all skill levels. MINERS KILLED Metz, - France - fDPD - An abandoned mine gallery near this north French city caved in Friday night with a crash resembling a minor earth quake, killing five miners and injuring 12. Association Is Layman's Group Formed in 1844 . The Young Men's Christian association is . essentially - a layman's movement. The YMCA membership through out the world numbers 4,242, 819, and employ 5,704 pro fessional secretaries. . The YMCA was founded as a laymans' organization . in 1844. At that time a commit tee, led-by a dry goods clerk, George Williams, conceived the idea of an organization for Christian fellowship, and the YMCA was founded. The history of the Medford YMCA points out again that the, basis on which the as sociation is organized and op erated is the work of lay men. i More than 15 years ago, the area office of the YMCA received a request from a group of Medford citizens ask ing ' for professional help in determining the needs and plans for a youth organiza tion in Medford. At that time the YMCA came to Medford to offer their assistance in providing the kind of facility needed by the -community. ML CARL BROPHY President Today Three Tracts of Timber Sold Here The Medford district of the bureau of land management sold three tracts containing an estimated 10,884,000 board feet of timber at an oral auc tion sale Jan. 15, for a total of $523,140.75. mere was strong compe tition for two of the three tracts, Ross Youngblood, dis trict manager, said. Three other tracts which had been advertised were withdrawn from the sale because of un certainty of the access to them. Bate Lumber company of Merlin purchased the largest sale with a bid of $39.75 per thousands board feet for the Douglas-fir, the major species. That tract, containing 9,424, 000 board feet, located nn Grave creek along the east boundary of Josephine coun ty, brought a total . bid of $370,965.15. Caveman Lumber company of Grants Pass' bid $50,615.- 50 for a tract containing 1, 397,000 board feet located on Wolf Creek in northeastern Josephine county. In this sale the bid for Douglas-fir was $38.25 per thousand board feet. A. CI Smith Logging com pany, of Wolf creek purchas ed 59,000 board feet of sal vage Douglas-fir located on Dads creek in southern' Doug las county west of Glendale for $26.45 per thousand or a total of $1,560.55. There was no competition for this tract. In February, one tract con taining an estimated 1,872,- 000 board feet of timber lo- ted on Trail creek in north ern Jackson county will be offered for sale according to an announcement from the district manager's office the Medford city hall. in New Police Chief Named for Ontario , Ontario - (LTD - Mayor Ver non Reed and the chairman of the police commission Dr. C. R. Van Patten announced ap pointment of Frank L. Wil liams, 35, as new chief of po lice here Friday night Williams is presently chief of police at Parma, Idaho. He will take over his duties as police chief here Feb. 7. Wil liams succeeds Walter Walk er, retired. DIAMOND LAKE CAMP - Boating and lake. Many other activities are included in climbing Mt. Thielsen in the background the camping program, which is operated are among the more popular activities at by the local YMCA for Medford, Klamath the YMCA's summer camp at Diamond Falls, Ashland and Roseburg groups. 5 SWIMMING CLASS - Instructions in swim- the needs of individuals, who progress at ming is a popular program at the Medford their own rate of development. Classes are YMCA. The program is designed to meet conducted regularly by the YMCA. Ellsworth Pjanning Oregon Retirement By A. ROBERT SMITH Mail Tribune Washington Correspondent Washington (Special)-Harris Ellsworth, chairman of the Civil Service Commission and former congressman, is qutr ting his high ranking post in the government March 1 be cause he wants to go back to Oregon and enjoy life in re tirement. "I'm tired of working," said Ellsworth, a veteran of 16 years in federal service. "Why should I go on working when I can retire and my wife and I can do anything we please?" Ellsworth will be 60 in Sep tember. As an ex-congressman with 14 years in the House of Representatives, he will be eligible for. government re tirement benefits. His two years at the civil sevrice com mission won't enhance those benefits. . . Ellsworth, whose home is in Roseburg, also has an in come as part owner of the Roseburg News-Review, the daily newspaper, of Douglas County. The paper had a good year in 1958, said Ellsworth, and he expects it to have many more as the area grows with further industrial de velopment. Before being elected to 1 Within Your Means . You can depend on Lionger- . Morris for full cooperation in helping you make Memorial - vJcjTiX ill..,. arrangements within jour , Conm-zMonis WEST MAIN AT SIXTH ' ' jff 111 ."Your 'TV Weatherman" I f B K : - I ASHLAND MORTUARY Ullll KBES-TV Monday Thru Friday I f. ' ,L- III Member National Selected Morticians by Invitation I O'fcJj I ' Congress in 1942, Ellsworth was editor of the News-Re view. He said he Has no plan or wish to return to active management of the newspaper in any capacity. The editor now is Charles V. Stanton. "I have no plans whatso ever," Ellsworth said, indica' ting he is looking wistfully ahead to a life of leisure. t As for politics, Ellsworth declared: "I've had enough." . Not that' he hasn't enjoyed holding office in Washington, D.C., he said, but he despised the campaigning that was nec essary every two years to get re-elected. Defeated by Porter Ellsworth ran for Congress when Oregon gained its fourth congressional district follow ing the results of the 1940 census. He represented this district the southwestern section of Oregon until his defeat in the 1956 election by the present incumbent, Rep. Charles O. Porter, a Demo crat. Ellsworth said he -has lost all close touch with Republic an politics in Oregon, but he feels confident the GOP will make a comeback in years to come. , Congressman Porter re ceived an unusual offer of j Cofve Publisher ' On Game Commission Olympia, Wash. (DPD Charles T. Graham, Colville publisher, was appointed to a six - year term on the state game commission Friday by Gov. Albert D. Rosellini. Graham, former director, of the state sportsmen's council, replaces Edson Dow, Wenat chee, effective Monday. Dow, whose term expired, did not seek re-appointment. Graham publishes the weekly Statesman-Examiner. . . . . financial support for his next political campaign in the mails the other day.- With a letter were three checks totaling $9,000. The letter writer said she thought 1960 might be a hectic year, so she had rounded up Porter some financial support in ad vance. The checks were signed "Juan Peron," "Fulgencio Batist" and "Raael Leonidas Trujillo." . ...... April Fool's day apparently came early this year. Secretary of Interior Fred Seton is still taking a ribbing because of the extensive cam paigning he did in Alaska in November, only to have the Democrats sweep virtually ever office in the state. According to a leading. Dem ocratic senator from the Northwest, the new slogan of the Republican party is "Get thee behind me Seaton."
