Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (June 21, 1959)
MAIL TRIBUNE, MdW,Or." nlpes Hopes for saving the his toric Britt property in Jack sonville from oblivion have taken a turn for the brighter. The newly-formed Jackson county parks and recreation commission appears interest ed in its acquisition as a county park area. The county court has re ceived no formal recommen dation from the commission Ht fr. But last week's land-(fftfft-P offer from Southern CCftgon college, which owns (t property at present, is be (tapji studied. r. Elmo Stevenson, SOC (ftfsident, told the commis (spn last Wednesday the col (ltf would trade the Britt 3iuse and gardens for 5 or 10 (Darfe near the Howard Prai t reservoir. (Iand Use Exchange He has since explained the swap would not be an out right switch of ownership but rather a long-term "land use" exchange. This proposal provides a new wrinkle for those who have followed the Britt prop erty's wavering fortunes and wondered at its fate. Last month, Dr. Stevenson had stated the college was consid ering putting it up once more for bids. Should the county decide to acquire the property, eith er by land-swap or by actual purchase through public bid ding, the Siskiyou Pioneer Sites foundation could breathe easier. Met with Frustration The foundation has met with frustration so far in its efforts to raise private funds for purchasing the property from SOC to restore it as a historical monument. f SOC came by the property as residuary legatee to the es tate of Miss Mollie Britt, daughter of Peter Britt, pio- SAYS: " 'COMFORT' ; -ilif--i ; MS 1 with the NEW CHICO PORTABLE Filtered AIR COOLER Now you CAN do something about hot weather! With a flick of the switch you can bring torrents of water-cooled, dust, smog and pollen-free air right through your open window a fresh roomful every two minutes. You'll-like everything about these new Chicos . . , attractive modem design . . . complete portability (all lightweight, rustproof, leakproof aluminum) . . . double cooling-ventilating action . . . quiet year-after-year dependability. You'll like the price, too. $3488 i No installation . . . Just plug it in "tf Down 00. Per 23 N. Fir 35 0 Sunday, June 2T, 1939 IFir SdVDimg BRITT HOME - The fire April 29, 1957, that gutted part of the house built by Peter Britt, pioneer photographer, nearly 100 year ago has made the property more than neer photographer. Miss Britt died Oct. 14, 1954, in the house her father had started building in 1860. Under her will, the house with its rare sky-lighted stu dio and the interesting gar dens were offered first to the Southern Oregon Historical society on condition they be maintained as a museum and memorial to her father. The society, noting that the will would provide a $25,000 maintenance fund only if It were. matched dollar for dol- Month CYCLE fir HOBBY SHOP SP 2-2477 lar, passed up the responsi bility. " The city of Jacksonville re portedly declined it" as well. Pass to. SOC And so, while the histori cal society has since salvaged Britt's photographic equip ment and "hundreds of pic tures, as well as furniture and other antiques, the house and grounds themselves passed to SOC. The college for a short time retained a gardener to keep the grounds in shape. But his salary, reportedly $350 or $400 a month, was considered too great an expense. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Jones were then employed as care takers. Jones, in return for housing for his family under the Britt roof was simply in Dr. Stevenson's words "to keep it (the property) from going to rack and ruin." . Twice SOC tried to dispose of it through calls for public bidding. On both occasions, it is understood, no acceptable offer was received. Structure Damaged V Then, on'Aprli 29, 1957, a flue fire fanned by high winds gutted the studio and other second floor rooms. Flames, smoke and water damage together destroyed an estimated 50 per cent of the structure. Scorched, roofless and thus a prey to wind and rain as well, the Britt house after the fire was more than ever a white elephant" for the college- The sites foundation, led by Mrs. Dwight Houghton of Medford and other members, has maintained a watchdog interest in the property's fate. Hoping at first to re store the house itself, some members more recently ad mitted with reluctance that this would be : impractical. Their sights were lowered to a plan for acquiring and maintaining just the gardens, with the house, or at least its damaged partis, to be razed or restored as a shell only. Money Stumbling Block Money, however, has been the - stumbling block. The foundation offered last year to lease the property at $1 a year for 99 years and to set about its rehabilitation. But the state board of higher edu cation, to which SOC must refer for final authority, turned this down. Dr. Stevenson last month announced the college was planning to place the Britt property once more on the selling bloc. He then report erly agreed to a postpone ment until a "propitious" time. Don Lewis, SOC business manager, said the state board had asked that bids be called only if the college received written expressions of inter- est in bidding. None had been received. The appointment of nine members for the county parks and recreation commis sion May 21 spurred the coun ty into the picture. Talk of Buying There was some talk that the foundation might raise the estimated $2,000 neces sary, buy the property and then turn It over to the coun ty for maintenance. But in view of the difficulty in get ting donations, an outright purchase by the county from budgeted funds is considered more plausible. Should the .county decide to make the purchase, it would, according to Lewis, have to take its chances in submitting a sealed bid. "We'd have to follow the let Entt ever a "white elephant" for its present own er, Southern Oregon college. Britt's former studio on the left now has two skylights, one of glass and the other .of charred wood. ter of the law," Lewis said, meaning the property would go to the highest bidder re gardless of who it might be or for what purpose the prop erty might be wanted. The commission included the Britt property in a tour of potential park sites June 10. Dr. Frank Haines, presi dent of the foundation, com mented last Thursday that ac quisition by the county would be "the best possible develop ment." Dr. Haines said that at this time the foundation had shifted its money-raising efforts to another Jackson ville project . more .suitable for restoration. Gleam of Hope If the county should decide against acquiring the Britt property, Dr. Haines said, the foundation would certainly discuss the matter further. But for the time being at least the county's interest provides the only real gleam of hope, for the property's future. The maintenance of the house and gardens mean while has been a subject of discussion as well. "We have been instructed by, the state board's-, office to spend no money on the place," Lewis reported Fri day: V The $25,000 in , matching funds for maintenance, in Miss Britt's proposed legacy to the historical society has all been spent on SOC's Britt Student Center, according to Lewis and Dr. Stevenson. SOC after all, Lewis said, is "in the education business" not the business' of historical restoration. No Purpose Seen As for replacing the fire charred roof of the house for protection against the ele ments, Lewis commented, FREE P0NTIAC Drawing Tuesday Night at 8:30 p.m. Drive in for FREE Pontiae Tickets STRAW mmLss LARGE 16" X mSiSte BEACH jpfeY ;,HA1S'WP BALLS J With Purchase 89c ijjtf Purchase BEACH TOWELS $2.98. ei Oft Valu. V II With a Gas Purchase Finest Gas At a Savings 4-H Club News Ruch Woolies The Ruch Woolies held their sixth meeting at the home of Lynda Bettencourt, June 13. Richard Bottger gave a re port on the different kinds of sheep. We decided that we would have a swimming party June 23 at Twin Plunges. We will leave at 11 and return at 6 p.m. Billy Deter came to visit. Mrs. Bettencourt served re freshments. Lelah Mae Deter, Reporter. The Griffin Creek Dairy club met June 11 at the home of Marthanne Goodwin on Marshall ave. The meeting was called to order by President Steve Clark. The minutes were read by our secretary, Bonnie Brantley. In order of busi ness, Judy Nelson gave a demonstration on showman ship.; The meeting adjourned and refreshments were served. The next meeting will be held at the home of Russell Fields on Jacksonville high way, July 9 at 7:30 pan.. Marthanne Goodwin, Reporter. "there sems to be no purpose in putting one on." He added that there did not appear to be much to protect. Besides, he said, the college had hoped the sites foundation might ac quire the place and put on a new roof itself. Fred Jones and his wife have continued as caretakers since the fire, living in the rear of the house. "We don't expect them to do much, frankly," Lewis said. Jones, a cabinet-maker, has remodeled his family's quarters in the house, made a front gate, effected some utilities improvements and constructed a stone terrace in the rear, among other things. The Joneses have con verted a vacant lot across the street to a vegetable gar den. Jones maintains a consid erable quantity and variety of woodworking tools and materials about the premises, and does a certain amount of work for customers or friends in the valley. He has express ed an. interest, incidentally, in acquiring the Britt prop erty himself if he could raise the money. Occasional Purchases With respect to equipment for maintaining the gardens surrounding the house, Lewis said, "We buy them some stuff occasionally." He men tioned a hose and sprinkler. "He hasn't asked for much and we haven't given him much," Dr. Stevenson said of Jones. "He can requisition it and we'd give it to hm." Per haps, he admitted, the college could have gone further. 1 Dr. Haines described Jones' gardening as "erratic," and commented: "He hasn't killed anything." Lewis said he thought the gardens were "in pretty good shape this spring." 'l ean see no one having any criticism on the care of the grounds," he added. Some shrubbery appears to have suffered from over pruning. The difveway is in poor repair. Generally, how ever, while the gardens are hardly "neat as a pin" they do reflect definite efforts. w REGAL GOLD HILL Church To Be By MRS. CLYDE KELL Gold Hill Officials of the Gold Hill Community Metho dist church at the corner of Fourth st. and Fourth ave., have announced that the church will be painted in July. Ladders, spray guns and brushes will be needed and persons who wish to volun teer the use of these items or their services in scraping and preparing the surface, and the actual painting project, may contact Ferd Jones, chairman of the board of the church. Mrs. Sam Jones played a selection on her accordion for the music portion of the Sun day school hour June 14, at the Gold Hill Community Methodist church. E. R. Griggs furnished a vocal number accomplished by his electric guitar. During the worship serv ice on that date, Mrs. Jones accompanied the congrega tion with her accordion in the adsence of the church organ ist, Mrs. John Bruce. A pi ana solo was played by Miss Marie Jones as a special se lection. Miss Rose Drake, who is serving in the medical corps of the Woman's Air Force at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, has been promoted from third class to second class. Miss Drake is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Everett Drake, Lazy Acres motel, north of Gold Hill- She graduated from Crater Lake school with the class of 1957. Mr. and Mrs. Volney Bald win of Spokane, Wash., were guests, June 11 at the home of his aunt, Mrs. Minnie By erly, Sixth ave. Mr. and Mrs; Harry Newn ham, Gold Hill, and Mr. and Mrs. Veltie Biles left for Orange, Calif., Saturday, June 13. The Newnhams will he housesuests at the home of his sister, Mrs. Alice Mor ris, while there, ana visit other relatives in that area. The Biles will go on to San Diago, Cahf., where they will visit their son, Jim Biles, who is in the Navy. The Governor brothers will start construction of the new home of Mr. and Mrs. Stan ley Newnham, sometime this week. Mrs. Newnham said The new residence will be lo cated at the corner of Second st. and Fourth ave. in Gold Hill. Miss Terry Turner and her brothers, Mike, Bobby and Randy Turner left June 10 for Torrence, Calif., where they will be guests several weeks at the home of their father, George Turner. MAY TAKE CRUISE Paris-(DPD -Newly married French actress Brigitte Bar- dot may spend part of her honeymoon cruising the Med iterranean on a yacht, in formed sources said yester day. The "Sex Kitten," who married actor Jacques Char- rier, went into seclusion with her 'groom in her Paris apart ment after the wedding Thursday, but there were re ports the newlyweds planned to leave soon for a cruise on producer Raoul Levy's yacht. Scotsman Outing Set 14.95 Value CQC ONLY With 50 SS Stamps 1006 So. Riverside also Jackson st Central Painted Arriving Thursday, June 11, from Spokane, Wash., for a four-day visit at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Ross and , children, Glenda and Dickie, were his cousin, Mrs. Louise Williams, her daugh ter, Miss Connie Williams, Mrs. Bud Williams Jr., and infant daughter, Jackie, and a family friend, Miss Marilyn Smith. Coming here Friday, June 12, from San Francisco, where he is on duty with the U.S. Navy, was Bud Williams Jr. He visited at the Ross home until Monday, with his wife, and little girl, who had come from Spokane with his mother, Mrs. -Louise Wil liams Sr. Mrs. Fred Butler and daughter, Miss Joycelyn But ler, of New York city were guests at the home of Mrs. Butler's niece and family, Mr. and Mrs. Lester Parker, and daughter, Lindo, on Lamp man road from Wednesday, June 10, until Monday, June 16. . Mrs. Parker had not seen her aunt for 30 years. The Parkers took their guests to several of southern Oregon's scenic spots including Crater lake, Diamond lake, and the Oregon caves, as well as the Jacksonville museum. . Glenda Doss was honored at a party on her eighth birth day, June 12, given by her mother, Mrs. Darrell Ross at the Ross home on Highway 99 north. Guests included two sets of twin sisters, , Cheresse and Clerisse Offutt of Central Point and Janice and John Czmowski of Gold Hill. Oth er guests were Patty and Larry Washburn, Kenneth Maerz, Bobby and Patty Boye,' Donald Arnold, Bar bara Jean Morris, Betty Bird song, Trudy Brown, Billy Smith, Teresa Brown, Jimmie Martin, Mrs. Louise Williams, Mrs. Bud Williams and in fant daughter, Jackie, Miss Connie Williams and Miss Marilyn Smith, all of Spo kane, Wash. ' Assisting Mrs. Ross with the party was Mrs. Jack Arnold, Mrs. Vernon Czmow ski, and Mrs. Jack Cline, all of Gold Hill. . Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Ross and children, Glenda and Dickie, took their house guest from Spokane, Mrs. Louise Williams, Mrs. Bui Williams Jr., and daughter, Jackie, Miss Marilyn Smith and Miss Connie Williams, to the coast Monday, June 15, (oun UDay Today's the day we try to show Dad how much we appre ciate all the things he does for us all year round. Today Dad is King . . . and he deserves every one of those "Happy Father's Day" wishes. Dad works hard for the. family . . . to be sure they'll always be safe and secure . . . andhavt all the things they really want. That's why so many dad' provide for the family future with a JACKSON COUNTY FEDERAL SAVINGS ACCOUNT. Dad knows the family savings earn more at Jackson County Federal . . . tndl fie knows the Jackson County Federal savings account if safe. Your family will like saving at Jackson County Federal, too! it DOES make a difference WHERE you Save! Oacfam SAVINGS 126 East Main where they visited the trees of mystery and scenic spots at Crescent and Brookings. Mrs. Roy Eskew and daughter, Donna, attended graduation exercises at Ore gon State college on Monday, June 8. Among the gradu ates was the -Eskew's son, Jerry Eskew. He was a stu dent of engineering in the field of production technol ogy. Mr; and Mrs. Douglas Ness and son, Buddy, who have been residing in Klamath Falls while he attended OTI, have moved to Medford where he is employed at Rob erts Motor Co. He is a grad uate of OTI. Mrs. Ness is the The 17th KMED Mrs. Barbara Miller, 704 S. Newtown, receives 1.3 check from Ray Johnson, KMED General Manager. Hjf$ Miller correctly identified the KMED Mystery Memory You, too, can WIN $10000 CASH On KMED's Better Music" Mystery Tune CONTEST i. . Sponsored by the 3 BIG Y MARKETS 100 SILVER DOLLAR STAMP0 With Each Phone Call! Tune KMED for Details NBC CfflEP "0 "Medford's Memory Musie Station" it LOAN ASSOC . Sine KSQ ATION former Beth Eskey, daugh ter of the Roy Eskews. Miss Donna Eskew, a stu dent in education at Southern Oregon college in Ashland has completed her junior year. She will reside in Gold Hill during the summer months with her parents while she has employment in Medford. Mr. and Mrs. Roy Eskew, Donna, and Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Ness and son, Bud dy, have returned to their homes after attending the Rose Parade on Saturday, June 13, in Portland and the wedding of their son, Jerry. Eskew, which took place on Sunday in Portland. Winner . . 5. 1) i Medford el o
