Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 1961)
12 A. SUNDAY, JANUARY 8.' 19S1 MEDFOHD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD. ORE. o Ash I amid: A City Cofatfideinit off Its Future Jiwt''' M: t lp i rail ffiJ W- I'R' Iff t: MARK ANTONY HOTEL The Lithia hotel changed hands In March, 1960. It was purchased by Jack Pumphrey and William Sutton and renamed The Mark Antony. It has been remodeled along English Tudor architectural lines, in keeping with the Shakespearean festival. A restaurant, coffee shop and cocktail lounge have been added, and all rooms refurbished. (Whitland Locke Photo) Consistant Growth Influenced by Four Dominant Factors By JOHN STAFFORD ' Mail Tribune Staff Writer Ashland Ashland is a town concerned about its future and is determined to do something about it. Its 9,119 resi dents are fortunate in having city officials and private citi zens with an' eye to the future. The city has shown a consistent growth in the last 30 years. In 1930 the population stood at 4,444. By 1950 it had jumped to 7,739 and the J.HHU census listed Such growth creates problems. City facilities become in adequate, schools are overcrowded and expansion often i: unorderly. This is not the case with Ashland. During the last five years, city facilities have been expanded, new schools have appeared and an orderly expansion plan is being de vised. The growth has been met so well that the city faces the future confidently. Ashland is influenced to a great extent by four factors The lumber industry is important 12 months out of each year. Its payrolls total more than $1.5 million each year payed to employees living in Ashland. Figuring all expendi tures and dollar turn-over. It is estimated that the lumber generates some $32 million in purchasing power in the com munity each year, according to the Ashland Chamber' of Commerce. Benefits derived from the famous Shakespearean festival each year are great. Although any figure for financial benefit the festival brings to the city Is unavailable, it can be said that Shakespeare played before 42,976 people In 1960 Its The festival is growing, attendance has more than dou bled since 1056. In that year 18,476 saw performances From a 31-day season in 1956 the festival has grown to point where a record 42-day performance will be given in 1961. s The 25-year-old festival is an example of the spirit of the city. Its growth has in creased consistently since its outdoor performance begin ning in 1935. That year at tendance was 500. By 1940 it had jumped to 1,800, and 1950 saw a rise to 8,850. The 1960 total of 42,976 is a credit to the community interest and festival leadership. SHAKESPEAREAN STAGE The Shake speare festival was faced with a crisis in 1058 when the old theatre stage and stor age building was condemned by the slate fire marshal. Theatre officials and local cit izens got busy and by July 25. 1959, this new building had been constructed. It has a large performance area and gives plenty of room for storage of equipment. However, the growth was not accomplished without some difficulty. In 1958 the festival faced a crisis. The main performance stage was condemned by the state fire marshal. A new stage was needed, and cost was estimat ed at $275,0000. A fund drive was started, needed money raised and the carpenters were adding finishing touches when the first 1959 performance got under way July 25. The agriculture industry also influences the economy of the city. Most farmers live outside the town so definite figures are not available as to its direct effect on the economy. One thing is for certain. Figures show that about 30 per cent of the beef cattle raised m Jackson coun ty are in the Ashland area. The other important com munity asset is Southern Ore gon college. Since 1950 the college has grown from 969 students to present enrollment of 1,142. The 1960 fall term enrollment was 1,379. College officials Indicate the growth potential is great. "We are a college to serve southern Oregon, and as a slate school our enrollment isn't limited,'! Don Lewis, bus iness manager, says. Expansion in facilities is al ready under way. Cascade Hall, a new girls' dormitory, was completed in 1960. It has space for 125 students. Long range plans call for ad ditions to the dormitory to form what will be known as Cascade Complex. Formula tion of the complex is pro gressing at a one building at a time rate. Set for Construction In 1961 a $290,000 co-educational dormitory is scheduled for construction, housing 72 more students when complet ed. Lewis says that if and when the whole complex is completed it will have dormi tory space for 600 students. In addition a new $100,000 student infirmary is scheduled for construction in the near future. Other improvements In facilities in the near future will total an additional $25, 000. "We figure that by 1970 we will need dormitory space for 1.200 students." Lewis says. Currently the college has space for 450 dorm stu dents. "To adequately meet 1970 dormitory needs we will have to spend about $3,20Q, 000," Lewis said. $2 Million Per Year Lewis said the business of fice handles funds totaling about $2 million a year, much of which is spent in the imme diate area. Actual payrolls run close to $750,000, lie ... ...... ...... ... . , ........ -- v. - t ... & , - gJ M .:; jw ... jfe ' I a lib" 9 I J . , , .Ji.a. 5,.54 y ' . !!! ';4ut' 'i: li&v&fl F FFfWrWi rfcv p-.v tAt a I ft- WAvkw i Ji , if - .: "fi'' - K- u Ntf22?" ' -t1 i f" ' Si, ' " ' ' f,Jr f ' H ' r hit . . ' CO I-'!- ''VV.... , JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL School progress in Ashland is highlighted by construction of this new junior high school. Construction and land costs of the school totaled $l'4 mil- NEW HOSPITAL Construction is progressing on Ash land's new 34-bed hospital located on Maple si. As the picture shows, the foundation has been put in. The com- t plclion dale has been set at sometime in November. Aj land citizens approved the project In 1(160. Ground breaK Ing ceremonies were held in October, 1960. o MAIN STREET Shawn above is a view of Ashland's Main st. south from the city plaza. The Ashland hotel, left, Is scheduled to be torn down this year. The First National Bank of Oregon purchased the hotel recently and said. All of which highlights the importance of the college to Ashland. Facts and figures on t h e city's own development of fa cilities are important. Recent progress includes a Highway 99 couplet put through the town in 1957-58. The project was financed jointly by the city and slate. Highways were widened all the way through the town and a now street was made around the business area. Mercury vapor street lamps were installed along the new couplet and main business sec tion from the junction of Highways 66 and 99 north to the cily limits. A total of 259 vapor lights were installed at a cost to the city of $23,310. Expanding Rapidly A new 14-inch water main was installed from the Crow son hill reservoir to the Bell- view area in 1957-58. The Bcllvicw area has been ex panding rapidly. In addition 1 2 1 2 miles of paving, 26 miles of curbing and guttering and five miles of slorm sewers have been in stalled, according to City Su perintendent Elmer Biegel - Citizens voted tor a new city sewage disposal plant costing $385,000 in 1959 Work on the new plant is progressing. It is located near Oak st. at the city limits. Construction ot a new hos pital was approved in 1960 Cost of the modern 34-bed unit is $575,000, according to Biegel. The foundation and exca vated area walls have been completed so far. The new structure is located on Maple st. Education Stressed Education was also stressed in recent years. A new $l'4 million junior high school was finished in 1960. The modern structure Is an educational showplace for all of southern Oregon. In 1060 financial totals of jniilding permits Issued with in the city were St. 533. 158. Among the 149 permits issued. 49 went for new residences, 49 for residential remodeling, 34 garages, 14 new commer cial buildings, nine commer cial remodelings, one new hospital and seven miscella neous projects. Currently the assessed val ualion of properly in the city is $7,818,213. The chamber of commerce estimates retail sales in 1960 totaled about $15 million. The public education sys tem has been growing also in the last few years. A two room addition was added to the Lincoln Elementary school 1955-56, seven room addition and teachers' faculty room at Walker Elementary school in 1957-58 and six classroom and cafeteria addition to Bellview school In 1958-59, Administration Building An administration educa tion system building was con structed in 1937-58. These are in addition to the new junior high school. School enrollment stands . 2.5.10. Since 1055 enrollment the '', e.it 135 .r, announced plans to construct a on the site. The hotel has been new Ashland branch First National bank a city landmark for more than 70 years. lion. Ihe structure was completed in 1960 and was official ly dedicated in the fall. It is one o the most modern school buildings in Oregon. ments inside the city are highlighted by a vigorous re modeling program at the Mark Antony hotel. Jack Pumphrey and William Sut ton purchased the hotel in March, 1960. It yas known at the Lithia hotel at the time of purchase. They renamed it the Mark Antony and have designed it along the English Tudor style of architecture, to coincide with the Shakespearean festi val. A restaurant, coffee shop and cocktail lounge have been added, in addition to refur bishing of all rooms. In December the First Na tional Bank of Oregon pur chased the Ashland hotel and announced plans to tear down the old hotel, and construct! a new Ashland branch of the First National on the site, j Thus a historic landmark has been doomed to give way to j a new landmark. J Certain factors outside lhe; city also could have an in-' fluence in ils future. The Ash land Economic Development 1 commission has been working with private investors in plan- ning a proposed ski develop ment on Mt. Ashland. If the I $165,000 proposed ski resort! becomes a reality, it quite def initely will have an effect on ! Ashland mid the entire Rogue valley. ' Biegel outlined immediate j future city plans as building; a water main on the west side or town. Also a new sewage line and new pumping line will be constructed from thei Bellview area to the present sewage disposal plant. I Street Lighting Systesi j Plans also call for continti-l alion of the mercury vapor street lighting system to the southern city limits, from the intersection of Highways 99 and 66. What problams are facing Ashland? Biegel ,'vs annexation is somowlt of problem. In come on the north and east, Biegel .says. This will mean extension of sewer and water lines, he points out. Raising money to finance all desired projects is another problem, according to Biegel. State law restricts increases of the city budget. It can increase only 6 per cent over the previous year's budget, without going to the voters for approval. "This means we can only raise our budget about $4,000 a year," Biegel said. "We also have to increase the number of city firemen we have," he said. He pointed out that Ashland's fire staff is below the national average for a city- of its size. Nine men are on the staff as com pared to 13 in other compara ble cities. Growth problems are pres ently occupying the attention of the Ashland Economic De velopment commission. The commission recognizes that unorganized city expansion can be disaslrous. To meet this situation the commission is working with Marvin Gioege, a professional city planner. Gioege is de veloping a five-phase plane for orderly development o( the city. His plan includes land use study, economic fac tors in the community, zoning ordinances and determination of which way the city should expand. His recommendations will be considered by city of ficials at tlie conclusion ot the sludy late this year. L Mortuary or Cemetery We invite you to compare our service and our prices the most reasonable in Southern Oregon. REVERENT, DIGNIFIED, SINCERE Joe Hoslck Funeral Director SISKIYOU INVESTIGATE and SAVE with 1 - -- .? v ; .. f ..-.'.o v ... ...,.) f .....( CEMETilT MAUIOkJUftf One Call t a. w- MiW Cat.r aak have intgi cent eai Private i mmmmmt all birS totef) 'SBgtxiflflB Jti fTMffciJI --run ' . mrSM o o 0 O
