12 A.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 8.' 19S1
MEDFOHD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD. ORE.
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Ash I amid: A City Cofatfideinit off Its Future
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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
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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
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