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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1959)
10 MAIL TRIBUNE, Medford, Oregon, Sunday, February 1, 19S9 A -4 rr McCALLISTER SPRING - The concrete en- north fork of Little Butte creek, gained casement around McCallister soda spring popularity before the turn of the century was constructed in 1900, according to in- because of the supposed medicinal proper formation printed on the top edge, but who ties of the water, which bubbles ice cold out built it remains a mystery. The letters US of the rocks near the creek's edge. The are legible, but the rest of the lettering is opening is about 16 inches square, difficult to read. The spring, located on the CAMP TABLE - Campers at McCallister tered throughout the area can be seen. The soda springs will, for the first time, have trees had to be removed because of a use of improved facilities at the site since heavy infestation of Douglas fir mistletoe, the forest service made it into a first The forest service will plant 500 black class camp ground recently. In the back- locust trees at the camp ground to provide ground in the picture above, a stump of shade and privacy, one of the giant fir trees that were scat- 1 iV NORTH FORK - Harold (Red) Thomas, district ranger of Ashland district, forest service ,is shown above surveying the scenic beauty along the north fork of Little Butte creek in the vicinity of McCallister soda spring. The stream is the outlet from Fish lake and runs constantly year-around. Slash Ft 2 -tJ tl iy J" ' r- NEW TYPE The rest room above, recently erected at Mc Callister soda springs camp site is the new type being put into use by the Forest Service. The pre-fabricated building features a concrete slab ( floor and other sanitary features. Trees will be planted throughout the camp area that will, in a few years, provide shade and privacy. BOAT CAPSIZES Otahu. Japan-(TPD-A 29-ton Japanese fishing boat cap sized in stormy seas near Ja pan's northern tip yesterday, ) -obably killing all of its 10 crewmen. A fishing boat that a.tempted a rescue ran a around. Its 15 crew-mem bers were picked up by a j Xaval patrol boat. j AT S ' ,tv .,"ikJA,r .-iritis F Fk -ft (k ills 'tC 'f mt! & "4s and objectionable debris was cleaned up along the banks of the stream near the spring, but enough was left to prevent erosion, according to Thomas. McCallister soda springs was a favorite camp spot in the early days. HARRY COLLIER San Francisco- (LTD -Harry Collier, retired president and chairman cf the board of Standard Oil Company of California, died Friday night after a brief illness. He was 83. Collier was t also prom inent in state and national activities of the Republican Party. if fSrC I f5 O! r Surplus Material Offered for Sale Bids will be opened by the national park, service Friday, Feb. 13, for surplus material, Thomas Williams, superin tendent of Crater Lake Na tional park, has announced. Included in tfte items are used truck tires, old storage batteries, copper and copper coated wire, wheelbarrows, old telephone receivers, elec trical parts, hand tools, auto motive parts, oil heaters, stoves, beds, tables, chairs and other household and rest room surplus material. The items may be inspected between 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Feb. 5, 10 and 12, in building 25 at the old fairgrounds south of Medford. Polio Victim Trades Brace, for Crutches Garner, Iowa -HPD- Richard Edwards, 29, a "polio victim who still wears a leg brace, set out yesterday on a 20 mile hike to raise money for the March of Dimes. Two miles outside of town, Edwards was hit by a car. His leg was broken and he will have to do his walking on crutches for the next six weeks. Traffic mishaps kill about 7,500 pedestrians annually. . Favorite Spot of Campers Again BecomingPopular by BOB VROMAN Mail Tribun Staff Writer In the "old days" in Jack son county, before the auto mobile came into use, many families went on camping trips for recreation, just as they do today. Then, however, it involved a good deal of preparation and the trip would cover a period from several days to a week or two. After driv ing a team and wagon over rough dusty roads for an en tire day to reach one's des tination, it was foolish to turn around and come home again right away. One of the favorite spots for the old-fashioned camp outs was McCallister soda springs on the north fork of Little Butte creek, a peace ful site on the fringe of the Cascade wilcerness, where giant firs towered overhead and the north fork, abound ing in trout, tumbled down through the cool canyon. Added Attraction An added attraction was the soda springs itself, which bubbled forth a steady supply of ice-cold mineral water, naturally carbonated by min erals deep in the earth, is fizzy, like soda pop, and has a pleasant taste. In the early days it was believed to have medicinal properties. One of the favorate ways to drink the water was with a squeeze of lemon juice, which made it fizz even more and added to its tang. The spring got its name from the fact that Simon Mc Callister, a pioneer settler, es tablished a homstead in the area in the 1860's. His grand son, John R. McCallister, still makes his home in the vicin ity. - In 1900 a federal agency (what it was called cannot be determined) encased the spring with concrete - side walls so that the water would be clean and easy to dip out. Widely Used From the turn of the cen tury on into the '20's the spring was widely used as groups in old-style cars made rutty road to escape the sum mer heat and partake of the invigorating" soda water. Although not as popular as Dead Indian soda springs on the south fork of Little Butte creek, McCallister springs, in spite of being more difficult to get to, draws its share of visitors. Outside of the concrete en casement on the spring, few improvements had ever been made at the site except those made by campers themselves. The spring is within the Na tional Forest boundry but be cause of lack pf funds the area was never developed in to a first class camping area by the forest service. Clear Right of Way In 1929 and '30, the forest service, with the help of the state highway department, cleared a 30-foot right of way from McCallister to the Fish lake summer homes junction, which was the beginning of a through route over the Cas cades. Improvement of the road from Lake Creek to McCallis ter was started just before World War II with the idea of making it into a secondary highway over the Cascades, but construction was stopped by the war.- The Steve Wilson logging firm, in 1954, was the next to have a hand in road build ing and improvement in the area. In order to make an all-winter haul, Wilson built a good road fram McCallis ter to the top of the moun tain and made major improve ments in the road below the springs. In the last year or so, pres sures to complete the route as a secondary highway were begun again, resulting in its approval. Construction on the new highway is scheduled to begin this spring. Ideal Spot When looking over the Mc Callister site, Harold Thomas, Ashland district forest rang er, USFS, decided that the spring area would be an ideal spot for an improved camp ground, and after submitting plans and getting approval for its development, work was begun. up until the last year or so lack of funds would have made such a project impos sible, but under the new pro gram "Operation Outdoors." the forest service has three times as much money avail able for campground mainte nance and construction. Even with the new allot ment of funds, however, the money doesn't go far enough to do all that jhould be done, according to Thomas, and the individual districts are con stantly scraping tht bottom PARKING AREA - Parking improvements made by the forest service at the McCallister soda springs site recently, in making it into a first class camp ground. Red cinders will be placed on the parking area as well as on walks in the camp ground to eliminate mud and dust. The project was designed and supervised SPRING ENCLOSURE - McCallister soda springs site, which for years has been uncared for, was recently made into a first class camp area by the forest service and the spring itself was enclosed with a fence PREFAB STOVE - The most practical type of outdoor fire place is the style above that affords direct heat cooking, according to USFS District Ranger Harold Thomas. This one was installed at the McAllister camp site in January of this year. Construction of the camp grounds improvements at McCallister was made possible by additional funds made available to the Forest through "Operation Outdoors," a program approved last year by congress. of the barrel to keep their camping areas properly main tained. The McCallister project necessarily had to be done with a limited outlay of funds and much thought went into planning in order to cut costs. Fir Trees Removed Huge firs that stood here and there in the camp area "were noted to be infested with fir mistletoe and had to be removed for safety's sake. Parking had to be provided for, rest room facilities had to be built and fencing had to be put up to keep out cat tle. Tb.e spring itself needed a fence and a stairway had to be built to make it acces sible. Camp stoves and tables also had to be added. This was all accomplished last month by a crew of Ash land district forest service employees, and after 500 black locust trees are planted and cinders placed on the walks and parking area, the camp ground will be com- plete . . . at least for the time being: McCallister soda springs, after almost passing out of existence, may once again be come a well-known spot, and while travelers "w e t their whistle" with the zesty spring water they may recall how the early day families found pleasure in camping in the primitive woodland spot. WRITER SHOOTS WIFE Long Beach, Calif.- (LTD -Myster writer Robert H. Kel ston, 43, solved a shooting Friday at his own home. Kel ston told police he fired at what he thought was a bur glar. It turned out to be his wife. Glenrose, 39. who had awakened him 'to tell him she ! hear noises. Her wounds were j termed "not critical." n i r- '-' " - - " tmn' , - .v w x facilities for cars is one of the DIRECTOR - Chester C. Squire, former principal of the Briscoe Elementary school, Ashland is serving as director of the audio-visual aids center at Southern Or egon college during the ab sence of Laurence E. Butler, I who is doing advanced degree work this year at the State College of Washingtori. After receiving his bachelor o f science degree at SOC in 1942, Squire spent four years in the Army Air Corps. He obtained his master of educa tion degree from the Colo rado State college of educa tion in 1949. He is a member of the Ashland Elks and Lions clubs, and Theta Delta Phi, national education society. He and his wife, Viola, re side at 1167 Tolman rd., Ash land. Cities and non-farm lands of the U. S.. with two per cent of the total area- 'ield about 88 per cent of all the taxes collected in a year. t& "raff" - by Bob Asher, district assistant ranger of the Ashland forest service district, which (Red) Thomes. Construction was carried out by forest service employees Virgil Wilson, Jack James and Bill Stewart, Ashland. to keep out cattle. Also constructed was a stairway leading down the steep bank of the creek to the spring. The spring is located amongst the rocks . in the fore ground above. Dr. Taylor Named To History Board Ashland-Dr. Arthur S. Tay lor, chairman of the social science division at Southern Oregon college, has accepted a membership on the board of sponsors of the California History Foundation. He was chosen because of his long time interest in western his tory and because of his re search and writings in regard to it. Established to promote and sponsor activities of an his torical nature, the organiza tion has promoted pioneer li braries, historical societies, western tours, and many courses in California and western history for a number of years.. Notification of the honor came from Robert E. Burns, president, College of the Pa cific. Formal acceptance of the membership will be made by Dr. Taylor at the spring meeting of the organization in Stockton, Calif. OSCAR SPORTS LETTER Hollywood- (UPD -Oscar Le vant is by his own admission not much of an athlete but he won a. letter for his jacket. "I did receive a letter," he told his TV audience. "It was for my strait jacket and it was j a 'P' for psychotic." Your Questions In slikiiiicc Learn, first ha fid, here at Conger. Morris, about the many advantages which "pre-rieed arrangements" of. fer. Consult with us at any time about insurance, trusts or ivill programs. nhnut insurance, trusts or trill VSw 1111 j IN I programs. j ill j! FUNFRAI II I uMCi'ZJsioim wHciMs. . WEST MA,N AT SIXTH "Your TV Weatherman" I fc5jLj I IP . I ASHLAND MORTUARY --Mgm Pi Ml KBES-TV Monday Thru Friday I JV( . , 7WXsl Nil I 6 00 I 4th '"6 C Streert Alnland 1 nli ll1fkMffii f Member National Selected Morticians by Invitation . ttlaKilfcljSijl is headed by District Ranger Information Booth Planned at Phoenix Phoenix-A "welcome" and information booth will be con structed at the south edge of Phoenix as part of the Oregon Centennial - observance, the Phoenix Centennial committee decided last week. 1 John Caulkins was named chairman of the committee in charge of the booth, with Jack Peebler, Alee Lester, Allen Harris, Olen Poe and Leonard Halfhill serving on the group. The committee also receiv ed the cooperation of Phoenix merchants to supply window space for early Oregon pio neer displays. .Plans were made to observe the Centen nial birthday this month, but exhibits will remain in win dows throughout June, July and August for the tourist trade. Mrs. Bert Stancliffe, chair man of the Phoenix Centen nial committee, appointed an other committee to plan de tails for "welcome" signs at the north and south edges of the city. Committee members are Charles Hockersmith, chairman; Allen Harris and Ed Brown. Events Planned - Among events planned this month are the Centennial pro gram of the Phoenix Parent Teacher association meeting Feb. 5, a meeting of the Phoe nix Grange Feb. 10 to honor early pioneers of this area, and a dinner and dance spon sored by the Phoenix Thurs day club Feb. 26. Phoenix High school is plan ning to publish a Centennial edition of the school's news paper this month. Two mem bers of the journalism class attended the committee meet ing last week. They are Dana Halaas and Lola Good. Attending last week's meet CASH DAVIS PHARMACY THE tonmrQ STORE 135 West Main, corner Grape Ph. SP 2-2230 GREETING CARDS FOR ALL OCCASIONS PRESCRIPTION SERVICE C S&H GREEN STAMPS Ex-Local Resident Completes Program Portland - Mrs. Viola Rus sell Harrison, formerly of Medford, recently completed her student teaching program at Lincoln High school where she assisted in the English de partment. - She was one of 18 student teachers placed by the public school education department of Lewis and Clark college this fall in schools of the Portland area. Student teaching - for one semester is required to receive a teaching certificate in Ore gon. Under the guidance of - a supervising teacher, Mrs. Har rison had the experience of one half day every day in the classroom. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Russell, 204 North Ivy st. Of all the accidental deaths in the U. S., about 70 per cent occur during the victim's non working hours. ing were Kay Caulkins and Nannette Wrede, Phoenix Thursday club; Elva Claflin, Neighbors of Woodcraft; Leon ard Halfhill, Lions club; Mona Ferns, Presbyterian church; Boyd Oldham, Baptist church; Violet Graha, Phoenix Exten- sion unit; Vincent Claflin, Phoenix firemen; Peggy Glas cock, firemen's auxiliary; Al len Harris, 4-H clubs; Ethel Hockersmith, Garden club; Mr. and Mrs. Olen Poe, Phoe nix Grange; Lester Igo, Cub Scouts; Kathryn Stancliffe, elementary school; and Faye Carver, Marian Towne, Alice Lester and Mayor Arthur MacKintosh. Organizations which did not receive display assign ments may contact Mrs. Stan cliffe at KEystone 5-1458. Plans for all displays should be completed Feb. 14, she said. Glafman Reported Violent in Prison i San Quentin, Calif. -TO-Harvey Glatman, 30, con demned sex-slayer of three models, became violent in his death row cell at San Quentin prison Friday night, smash ing a stool and some radio equipment. Associate Warden W. D. Achuff said the Los Angeles killer was removed to an iso lation cell. He said he did not know what caused Glatman's outburst. Glatman, who confessed to strangling three young wom en and leaving their bodies in the desert, has been in death row since Dec. 18. His case is on automatic appeal before the California Su preme Court. . of Need V
