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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 1959)
L0 Mo h is Shows n n o n DD H s t e 3 '14 MAILTRIBUNt'M,df,,d'r- V'-" 'y , fy'! , ' ' ' , , V, V "''' - i ' '',',' ' ' f ' l i WOWI REAL RAINDEER? J be what Santa is telling this whatever it is, he seems to I Sandy High School I Draws Suspension ; Portland - (WD - The Board of : Control of the Oregon School Activities association Friday placed Sandy High school on probation for the remainder of the school year as result of a fight after a wrestling match. A spokesman for the board said a protest was filed by Jack Hornback, superintend ent at Tillamook High school after a Sandy wrestler alleg edly - struck a Tillamook wrestler. : Student's Hanging germed a Suicide Hillsboro-dTD-Police Satur day termed the hanging of a 17 -year-old Hillsboro High school junior Friday night a suicide. The bodv of Timothv Miller was found hanging by a sash tied to the top rung of a lad- er in the backstage wings of the school auditorium about 8:15 p.m. by janitor Doyle Johnston. FEEL FOR GROVELAND w v V a v E a SP 2-5488 Medford, Oregon o s s Sunday, Dec 13, 1959 That may not undivided attention. The man behind the youngster, but beard says he meets-thousands of children have the boy's each year during his Santa activities. MEDFORD'S NORTH POLE cial St. Nick, finds time between his job as a truck driver and his activities as. Santa Claus to read a story to his two children, Bill, 5, and Suzy, 7 3435 Forest ave. Mortuary (Opm Soon) Columbarium Ground Interment Mausoleum j. (Garden Crypts) Crematory FREE TO CALL INFORMATION LEW MILES Co-Owners JOE HOSICK SR 2-2344 Funeral Director Something New vor Ybur Convenience Is a ma 3 SISKIYOU FUNERAL SERVICE All within Siskiyou Memorial Park Ours Is 'the Only Cemetery Completely Enclosed, and the .Gates Are Closed Each Night. 605 Highland Drive . . . Siskiyou - Ray Huson, the city's unoffi months. The Husons live at cam SERVICE jpj?jgj?.e.ejiiLejL' Memorial Park Activities Began At Family Event Seven Years Ago By BOB WALTERS Mail Tribune Siaff Writer To thousands of youngsters in the Medford area, that bearded, heavy-set gentleman in the red and white suit is none other than old St. Nick himself. But to his friends, he's just Ray Huson, a good-natured truck driver who likes kids. Ray has played Santa at the Big Y super market for the past five years and this year donned his costume for the opening of the Christmas sea son in Medford as well as for a group of Cub Scouts at Washington school. Few people realize, how ever, that he's also the "right jolly old elf" who calls on children in about 50 Medford homes each year. Began Seven Yean Ago Ray's Santa activities be gan about seven years ago, he said, when he borrowed a cos-1 tume from a neighbor and im personated Mr. Claus at a Huson family gathering.- The following year, he bought his own suit and visited the homes of a few friends. "The idea," Ray punned, "just snowballed." He's been the city's unofficial St. Nick ever since. Ray begins taking reserva tions for house calls about Nov. 1 each year and, by the time his list is complete, he's usually scheduled' to call on youngsters in about 25 homes Christmas eve and 25 more on Christmas morning. "I arrange my schedule just like my truck route," he said, "and let the parents know what time I expect to be at their homes. I can usually come within 15 minutes of the right time." Arrange With Parents Ray makes arrangements with the parents to pick up gifts, usually hidden on the porch or' in the family car, before making his entrance. "Then I just bang on the door a few times and barge right in," he said. He stays only about five minutes in each home so", that the . chil dren are still as excited when he leaves as when he ar rived. . '. ' This system, Ray said, has always worked fine except the time .two years ago when he went to the wrong house. Two little girls were waiting for him in the house he was suDDOsed to visit - but their home was in a new develop ment where all the houses seemed to look alike. Goes Right In "I looked through the win dow of one house," he said, "and saw two little girls of about the right age. I couldn't find any presents bidden out side but I figured their folKs had just forgotten so I went right on in." The girls began screaming with joy and jumping up and down when they saw him, Kay said, but the parents were "flabbergasted." They were standing in the . background, whispering to each other and obviously trying to figure out what was going on. I knew I d made a mis take," he said, "so I, told the girls that if they'd hurry off to bed, I'd be back later with presents. They were gone like two shots out of a gun!" "The parents," he laughed, were still standing there looking at each other when I left." Necessary Expenses Ray doesn't charge for the house calls but is paid for his Santa duties at the Big Y: Most of the money, however, seems to be poured into the necessary expenses of being a self-sufficient St. Nick. This includes a cleaning bill which annually runs to about $30. He owns two red velvet suits, one. trimmed with real fur and the other with white satin, and wears a pair of German boots which h e thought were "ideal" when he spotted them in a local mil itary surplus store. But the big, wide belt and the shiny buckle were the hardest arti cles.to find. - ' "I looked arid looked for a belt buckle - Portland, San Francisco and Medford," he said, "and finally got one from a coat belonging to one of my wife's friends." Source of Belt . Ray, who stands about 5-7 and weighs 230 pounds, told a bit sheepishly of where he got the belt. "Everybody's razzing me," he said, "because I had it made at a tent and awning company." Ray's beard, made of yak hair in Germany cost $50-and he claim it's never been pulled, classic Santa-kiddy stories to the contrary. He's avoided this, he said, by holding a child's hands while he or she is sitting on his lap. "This works two ways," he explained. "They love to have you hold their hands and yet they're not tearing you to pieces." Dealing With Children Ray talks to "thousands of children before the year's over" and he's developed something of a system in dealing with them. "That ho-ho-ho stuff just doesn't go," he said. "It scares them every time. You have to be real confidential with them and let them whisper in your ear. You're not talking to any body else but them-and they love it." The youngsters who visit him very seldom cry, he said, "and when they do it's usu ally the parents' fault be cause they push them up there before they're ready." Ray claims that he almost never runs into a genuine brat-or at least they're angels by the time they're face-to-face with Santa.. Standing in Line "When they're standing in line," he said, "you can see them simmering down as they get closer. They're up there for just one thing and that's to tell Santa what they want." Kay recalled one youngster ne encountered a year ago who was an example of this type. "He was a litle monster," Ray said. "I could see, him coming - pinching, pulling and shoving - but he calmed down when he got to me, "I asked him if he'd been a good boy and he said, 'Oh, yes, sir, and I said 'Oh, no you haven't' and really lit into him. When he left, he kept saying, Til be good, I'll be good . Non-Believeri Ray naturally meets quite a few non-believers, but he's learned how to handle them, too. . . ' ' "It's a lot easier to keep them on your side," he ex plained. "If you wink and let them think ' they're in on a secret, they go right along with you." Most popular gifts with the boys this year, he-said, seem to be the toy sawed-off shot guns modeled after the one used in a current television series. Dolls still top the list for girls. "I never definitely promise them what they ask for," he said. "I just tell them to be good and that maybe we can find something nice for them." Promises Something Last year, however, he broke this rule and promised something to a little boy-after he got some coaching from the lad's father. "This boy wanted a real horse," Ray said, "and I didn't know what to say. Then I saw his dad-a cowboy if I ever saw one-standing be hind him and nodding his head 'yes.' So I promised him his horse." Ray and his wife Bettie, both natives of Medford, live at 3435 Forest ave. and have two children, Bill, 5, and Suzy, aged 7 months. Young Bill, according to Ray, is the only youngster ', whom he thinks ' may have recognized him in his cos tume. Christmas Opening . "I think he spotted me at the Christmas opening two weeks ago." he said, "but he won't admit it. He just men tioned to ' his mother how much dad's mouth looked like Santa's." Just before leaving, Ray called home to tell his wife he would be there soon. Bill answered the phone, v Ray talked to his son for a while, hung up and laughed. "He wants me to take him to Grants Pass," he chuckled, "to see Santa Claus." N. Y. ENGINEER DIES Red, Bank, N.J. - (UPD - Vin cent P. O'Mahoney, a former construction engineer on ma jor Newi York building proj ects, died in a hospital here Thursday. He was 77. TODAY Audrey Sims Demonstrates Christmas Decorations ... for the Home, Party, School, Church, etc. , " KBES-TV Following Pro Football Approximately 4:15 SIMS Cycle and HOBBY SHOP 'JOLLY OLD ELF' Medford's his long white mustache before encountering a long line of youngsters at a local super market. The beard, which Ray claims has never been pulled, was made of yak-hair in Germany and cost $50. No Deceit Intended In Filing Plans for Mo r t u a ry No deceit was intended bv the operator's of Siskiyou Me- mornal park when they filed plans with the city building aepartment for a mortuary. inis was the expressed opinion of the city planning commission Thursday night, when it recommended a con ditional variance for the Sis kiyou Memorial Park associa tion to operate a mortuary. A question of possible in tent to -deceive grew out of a discussion last month when it was shown that the city build ing department was consider ing plans for the building which did not clearly desig nate it as a mortuary. - The city building depart ment said at the time of ap proval they thought the build ing was going to be a chapel, not a mortuary. Clears Issue Manville M. Heisel, attor ney for Siskiyou Memorial park and its operators, clear ed . the issue when he dis covered two sets of mortuary plans, one more detailed than the other. He said the city building department had mis takenly reviewed the less de tailed plans. . James Richardson, 401 South Groveland ave., and Fred Conrad, 2101 Siskiyou Gifts Collected for Mental Patients The Mental Health associa tion of Oregon is again col lecting Christmas gifts for the 6,000 mentally ill patients in Oregon's two state hospitals, Mrs. Henry Padgham, coordi nator of the project in Jack son county, has announced. Main collection depot for. this area is the Jackson coun ty welfare office and Pad gham Glass -and Millwork company. Additional information con cerning types of gifts may be obtained from Mrs. Padgham at SPring. 2-4248. . Boy Scouts Troop 16 Members of Boy Scout Troop 16 met with Scoutmas ter Dan Kadi Wednesday in the Pythian building. They were visited by the Washington school Webeloes, Cub Scout Pack 6, who were accompanied by their assistant denmaster, R. D. Price. The Knights of Pythias lodge, sponsors of Troop 18, are now in the process of or ganizing an Explorer Post 16 for youth of ninth grade and over. Those eligible are invit ed to attend an organizational meeting Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Pythian building. They are encouraged to bring fathers to the meeting. St. Nick, Ray Huson, twirls P I a n n e rs blvd., spoke in opposition to various aspects of the mor tuary. Conrad disagreed with the views of two realtors, who spoke for the mortuary, that there would be no deprecia tion in property values, but said he would go along with the mortuary if he had some assurance that a policy out lined by Heisel in regard to the use of the new entrance on Groveland ave. would be carried out. No Objection Richardson, too, expressed no objection to the mortuary as such,' but was wary of the traffic problems that might result. He wanted all en trances to the park to connect with existing arterials. ' . - Several other residents, in cluding Councilman James Dunlevy, protested the traffic potential of the new entrance. Dunlevy, who said he was a member of the council ap proving the original cemetery variance in 1947, said he was surprised at the course of events taken by the cemetery since then. In recommending the con-' ditional variance, the com mission recognizea that a denial of the variance would amount to practical confisca tion of the mortuary as it could be used for no other purpose. Other Action In other action at Thurs day's meeting, the commission rejected a request for a change of zone from residential to limited commercial for ap proximately 46 acres of land on both sides of Table Rock rd. from Loder ave. to De Barr ave. The commission felt this area should be retained as a residential area, and the size of the requested zone change would create an undesirable commercial strip on Table Rock rd. They also noted that three previous requests for similar changes in this area had been denied. The commission also re jected a request for a change in zone from single and two family dwellings to commer cial in the Laurelhurst addi tion. This change would have permitted a home nursery in this area. However, the com mission felt this kind of zon ing would be objectionable spot-zoning. In rejecting another request for a change of zone, from residential to light industrial at the intersection of Merri man rd. and Midway rd., the commission was of the opinion that by granting this to a pro posed trailer park, it would be opening the area up to more objectionable uses in the future. It was also voted to con tinue hearings on a change of zone in the Highcroft addition arid a change of zone to per mit a veterinary hospital on Barnett rd. Bidding Strong on Green Timber; No Bids on Salvage Bidding was strong for reg ular green sales but poor for small salvage sales at an oral auction timber sale held by the Medford district of the bu reau of land, management Thursday. The sale consisted of four green sales and three salvage sales "that were sold and three salvage sales for which no bids were received. The seven tracts that were sold contain a total volume of 13,194,000 board feet and sold for a total of $507,594.90. The three no-bid sales repre sent a volume of 414,000 board feet. ' In Jackson county, Moun tain Fir Lumber company of Murphy and Lithia Lumber company of Ashland were the Council on Aging Sets Meeting at Center Thursday The Rogue Valley Council on Aging will meet at 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, in the Sen ior Activity Center, 601 East Jackson st. Frank Glonning, chairman, said plans for the annual council meeting will be dis cussed and reports on the Southern Oregon regional conference on aging will be given. Mrs. Fred Rankin, a mem ber of the state council, will report on two meetings she attended in Portland recently, and Dr. Frank Roberts and Mrs. Rita Holmes of the rec reation committee will report on plans for organizing Fifty Plus clubs and the activity center. Mrs. Mary Frederick, president . of the Medford Fifty Plus club will report on plans for the new year. Center Program The. activity, center program has been changed, center rep resentatives said. The rug making class will not meet until after Christmas when- it will start meeting on Monday mornings between 10 a.m. and noon. On Dec. 14, the arm chair travel group will meet at 1 p.m. It also will meet Dec. 21 and Dec. 28. The drama and woodcarv- ing classes which ' usually meet at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Wednesdays will not meet un til Dec. 30. The Spanish and orchestra classes will . meet each Thursday as scheduled. The orchestra has been prac ticing for .two performances this week - one Wednesday at the . Christmas party of the Medford and . Camp White Fifty Plus clubs, and the other party Friday, Dec. 18, for the Chin Up club in the Girls Community club. The painting class each Tuesday afternoon still is in need of a volunteer in structor. Anyone interested may contact Mrs. Nettie Wil liams or Mrs. Elsa Walker. NOW! Enter V ttJkx rihiii-iiKii CHAMBER OF Christmas CONTEST! Use This Blank OFFICIAL ENTRY BLANK The Christmas Lighting Contest Residential Contestant I would like to make this Medford's Brightest Christmas. Please enter me in this year's Christmas Lighting Contest. I understand the winner be entered in General Elec tric'! Nation-wide Christmas Lighting Contest. NAME ADDRESS . CHECK ONE HOME MAIL TODAY TO: Medford Jaycees (Spontorinfl Organization) P. O. Box 251, Medford Courtesy of Medford Mail Tribune high bidders for tracts con taining 3,617,000 board feet and 2,101,000 board feet re spectively. The tract purchased by Mountain Fir Lumber com pany is located at the head of Ninemile creek in southwest Jackson county, while the Lithia Lumber company tract on Hutton creek is just north of the Oregon-California line. The high bid made in the first sale included an offer of $40.10 per thousand board feet for Douglas fir and a total offer of $143,360.80. Prices on the second sale included an of fer of $30 per thousand for the Douglas fir, $45.25 for the Ponderosa pine and a total bid of $76,867.75. Three operators participated in each sale. . Josephine Tracts , The three tracts sold in Josephine county were pur chased by Cabax Mills, Inc., of Grnts Pass, Mountain Fir Lumber company and Harry Steward of Wolf Creek. The tract Cabax Mills, Inc., pur chased contains 3,493,000 board feet located on Yeager creek near Oregon Caves. It brought a bid of $46.10 for Douglas fir which was the highest offer for any species in all the tracts sold. The to tal price for the sale was $155,806.90. They were com peting with four other bid ders for the tract. Mountain Fir Lumber com pany bought 638.000 board feet of timber killed in the Wilderville fire last summer. Their offer included $35.10 for the Douglas fir and a total price of $21,881.80. Harry Steward purchased 82,000 board feet of salvage timber west of the mouth of Grave creek without competi tion for-$2,223.60. The Robert Dollar company and Patterson Lumber com pany, Inc., both of Glendale, purchased tracts in-Douglas county. The three tracts that receiv ed no bids were all located in northwestern Josephine coun ty. They will remain open for receipt of bids for 90 days in accordance with the timber sale regulations. One small salvage tract lo cated in Jackson county that was offered for sale on Ndv. 5 but on which no bids were made, is also still open for bid under these regulations,' ac cording to the district man ager's office. Dormitory Loan Okayed for College Portland (UPD - Sen. Rich ard L. Neuberger was advised Saturday by the Community Facilities administration of ap proval of a $225,000 loan to Lewis and Clark college here to build a dormitory for 90 men students. , ! The college will supply $86,000 of its own funds to ward the cost of the project. the .iiininR COMMERCE Lighting ml , APARTMENT
