MEDFOHD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, ORE
ogle Point: A Bright' Future Anticipate-
SUNDAY. MARCH 19, 19S1
4
li
UHt
7W
BBil mm
IS
M
81 S3
AGRICULTURE BUILDING- Eagle Point
High school has been expanding facilities
at a rapid rate in recent years. When Camp
While came into being, many new families
settled in Eagle Point. The schools were
f IHigaf lai 0Lifl BilUS 1
. . , .
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-The
Elementary school has been expanded five
times since 1048. Superintendent Glenn
Hale says there is a current need for class
rooms for about 30 students in upper grades
of the school. Part of the present school is
f - v v
1' Kw5 r-1 ' -i-r mi...."....,,,.,.,., 'Z',, , '," '-jliX '." '' 1 ll
- 7;7 . . LI ,,.4t--..'i
CITY HALL-A 10 to 20 fool addilion was
added to (he Eagle Point city hull in lUttO.
In addition to the city recorder's office, the
COMMUNITY BUILDING-Typical of the community spir-
It In Eagle Point is the Scoui-Comnuinuy ouilding Hearing
completion. Volunteers started constructing the building
for the community's youth in 1DG0. All money has been
til.
FLOUR MILL A land innrk In
Flour Mill which has been grinding lour since 1R72. John
Daley and E. Emory started
, mi ii " , TWMi mh,.,..,
v$ 1 . ; km
1S3
3 bus
153 m
V j5t
faced with a space problem. School Super
intendent Glenn Hale says facilities have
been expanded to meet the pressure. A 1055
addition was the vocational agriculture
building, pictured above.
Eagle Point pictured above
district is unusual in that its 1,225 average
daily attendance Is larger than the 730
population of the city. Hale explains this
by pointing to the 11 consolidations the dis
trict has had since the early forties.
ci'- hall houses the branch library. Three
jan cells are also included in the structure.
r 4 j, v
Katie Poiiu is nip Puimau
the mill, The mill has two
1 'S
A ,. -I
. The Eagle Point school
natcd or raised by community projects. Practically cvorv
organization In me city has had a part in developing the
building, It, should be completed by late spring or early
do-summer.
."J Ivr-i' V). if
' B mi
ouhr stoncs Willi
capncily of
Mayor Kd
PtlllllMIl nnrrato
hu'falher and brother,
Outside Interests
May Have Bearing
On Development
By JOHN STAFFORD
Mail Tribune Staff Writer
and .
DOTTIE HARBISON
Mail Tribune Correspondent
Eagle Point-Big things are
brewing in Eagle Point! And
there might not be much the
city can do about them. Out
side interests could have a de
termining voice in the city's
future.
To continue growing, Eagle
Point finds itself in need of
more water. And to grow in
the right direction, a decision
to be made by the Medford
Corporation could be impor
tant.
City officials are nervously
optimistic about Eagle Point's
future. Mayor Ed Putman says
"we've got a bright future
ahead of us." However, Put
man indicates he expects the
city to grow along residential
lines, instead of industrial.
Discourage Development
He claims if Mcdco decides
to convert its present 2,712
foot railroad right-of-way on
the northwest side of town
into a logging road, it could
discourage residential devel
opment. Putman says the road
could create a safety hazard
and stir up a lot of dust in the
summ?r months.
Larry Davis, city planning
commission, is more blunt.
The long range outlook is
that if Mcdco put in a logging
road it would lower the city's
attraction as a residential
area, Davis says.
More than 50 property own
ers from Butte palls to Med-
f o r d formed the Jackson
County Home Owners Protec
tive association at a meeting
in Eagle Point Feb. 15. Mrs.
Burton C. Jensen, of the Nick
Young rd., Eagle Point, was
elected chairman.
Plan To Present Letter
The group is planning to
present a letter to the Medco
officials protesting the logging
road proposal. An active asso
ciation membership drive is
under way.
Both the Eagle Point coun
cil and planning commission
have gone on record as oppos
ing the road. At its March 7
meeting, the council directed
Greg Horneckcr, city attor
ney, to meet with the commis
sion to consider possibilities
of developing an interim zone
which would keep Mcdco
40 lianvU of n.mr a ri:,v
tlm ,HI ...1,1. it.- 'r
r
mat ., ' -S U p
mm & i . :w S3
Ilia j i
It
EAGLE POINT The city of Eagle Point is located along the
Butte creek about 10 miles north of Medford. Just east of the
inent rocky cliff, surmounted by pine trees. In pioneer days
from putting in the road.
Prospects for such an ordi
nance don't look too brighl
On March 11, Chief Deputy
District Attorney Thomas
Owens indicated the creation
of an ordinance would not af
fect the proposed road.
In presenting his opinion to
the county court. Owens said,
"If the volume of timber
hauled does not change there
would be no change in use.
Neither the natural growth of
business existing at the time
of enactment of the zoning
ordinance nor adoption of a
more modern instrumentality
(use of trucks) makes a change
the use of the property.
Use of trucks does not consti
tute a change in use."
The water problem is per
haps more pressing. The city
has had an agreement with
the Medford Water commis
sion since lUJb. it nas Been
renewed every 10 years. The
water supply is adequate now.
However, with dcvelopmenl
of residential subdivisions and
a population increase the pres
sure is going to be on.
For about 1VS years the
Medford commission has been
enforcing a policy of not fur
nishing water for new areas
taken into cities getting Med
ford water. This would affect
new areas which might be an.
nexed into Eagle Point.
Prospects Aren't Good
The city has requested wa
ter for an additional 40 acres.
Prospects aren't good (he re
quest will be granted, in lieu
of the Medford commission's
recent policy.
All of this sounds like
Eagle Point's future isn't
brighl. This is not the case.
As in other small cities, com
munity spirit is strong. Obsta
cles have been overcome in
the past, and they will be con
quered in the future.
Community progress has
been made. In the last four
years, 14 blocks of city
streets have been black
topped. About a mile of water
main has been installed In the
last three years An addition
was put on lo the city hall re
cently. And the city debt has
been reduced to a small fig
ure. Assessed Valuation
Assessed valuation of prop
erty is $;171.228. The popula
tion has grown lo 732. The
1!)50 figure was 6!)0.
The school system has
grown at a phenomenal rate.
In 1044-45 average daily at
tendance of the elementary
and high schools was 285.4.
By 1950-51 this had increased
to 562.1. The 1059-60 figure
was 1,255. Obviously this
growth has created problems,
it has been brought about by
bringing n outside schools
into the district.
The Eagle Point elementary
and high schools have been
expanding facilities regularly
for many years. Four addi
tions have been made at the
grade .school since 1950. The
high school has been expand
ed throe times in the same
period.
Glenn Hale, district super
inh'udoul, says the elemen
tary school will need space
fur an additional 300 students
in the near future. "High
school space looks like It will
be inadequate In the near fu
ture." Hale says.
The valuation of the dis
trict has undergone a rapid in
crease. It stood at $309,708 in
1041. In 1956 it was $4,658,035
and by 1960 It had climbed to
$8,667,630.
As in many small cities,
clubs and organizations are re
sponsible for much of the hus
tle and bustle of the commu
nity. Sponsor Activities
The elementary PTA and
high school PTSA sponsor
many activities for the wel
fare of the community's young
people.
The 160-mcinber Grange Is
. 4 .fulfil nrimm jEf 1 M
, t , f 4-r'W.
presently working on an area
wide project. The Grange has
distributed 25,000 small trees
in southern Oregon.
Othe Grange activities in
clude sponsoring music les
sons for young people: helping
to re-establish Camp White as
a medical center; sponsoring
a July 4th barbecue dinner;
actively participating in the
Rogue Basin water develop
ment; sponsoring a 4-H schol
arship to summer school, and
allowing 4-H clubs to use the
Grang'e building free of
charge.
Jaycee Projects
The 25-member Jaycee club
was started about four years
ago. Included among their
projects is the new Scout
Community building, now
more than half completed.
They also sponsor July 4th
celebrations and an Easter egg
hunt for community children.
Scouting groups are under
the sponsorship of the organi
zation. The Jaycoettes is a women's
auxiliary to the Javcees. They
initiated the Eagle Point
drooler's organization about
year ago. Over 100 new
families were called on dur
ing the first year. The Jay-
ceettes also sponsor a com
munity talent show and have
entered a float in the pear
blossom parade for three
years. Thcv also sponsor the
Campfire girls.
The Lions club is actively
parlicirjuting in construction
of the Scout - Community
building. The Lions donate
glasses to needy children and
annually sponsor Christmas
and Halloween activities.
Helo Needy Families
The Lions auxiliary helps
needy families at Christmas
time, sponsor dental work for
needy people and make
friondsliin baskets for the el
derly. They are also helping
with the Scout - Community
building.
The Garden club has 25
members and sponsors a flow
er show, plant sale and Christ
mas show each year.
Every woman in the com
munity Is a member of the
Home Extension unit.
Youth groups include the
Bluebirds and Campfire girls,
Brownie and Girl Scouts, Cub
Scouts, Boy Scouts and Ex
plorer Tcouts. and 4-H clubs.
The city has three churches.
The post office handled total
receipts of SI 5.203 in I960.
The 1950 figure was SO. 653
There are 536 rural hoxci and
290 boxes in Ihe nwl office
Publicised Project
The Scout-Community build-1
ing is one of the most (re- il he momentum ha? been built
quently nnblicied projects injup It s a mjghtv hard thing
Eagle Point. The structure to stop.
banks of Little vorite resting place tor eagles, u was i-diitu
city is a prom- first post office was established, the logical
this was a fa- Main street has changed quite a bit since the
. -
will be for use by young peo
ple's groups of the community.
If it isn't being used by city
youth on a certain date, then
an adult group may use it.
Construction was started in
April, I960. Plans and legal
work started in 1959. The
building features three sepa
rate meeting rooms, a kitchen,
dining room, auditorium and
recreation room. Floor space
totals 3.792 feet.
Volunteer workers have
done all construction and
funds have been donated.
Practically every organization
in town has had a part in con
structing the buildinz. It
should be completed by late
spring or early summer.
Sizable Imprivement
The most sizable city im
provement in many vcars is
about lo get under wav. In
1960 approval was given for a
S236.000 sewerage system. Of
the tolal amount. $150,000 is
in the form of a bond issue.
In addilion, a $24,000 federal
grant was approved recently.
Of the remaining $62,000,
S30.000 can be raised by front
foot assessment against the
property benefited. Bancroft
bonds may be issued for anv
unpaid assessments. The bonds ;
will be put up for bid in the !
near future. I
The engineer's report re-1
vealed some pertinent facts
about the city's future. In 1020 (
the city s population was less
than 200. In 1930 it was about
210. It had risen to 250 by
1940. Then the boom started.
In 1050 it had jumped to 690
and by 1960 it was 730.
Tile engineers concluded
that if the present rate of
growth continues, the popula
tion will reach 1.100 by 1090.
If the 1940-60 growth rate is
extended, population will be
1.470 by 1990.
According to census re
ports, 21 per cent of cities in
the 500-1,000 population
groups have declined in poD
ulation since 1950. Most of
these cities have been quite
donendent upon the lumber
industry. Eagle Point is not
entirely in this category. Agri
culture is one of the principal
supporters of the community.
Certainly lumbering is impor
tant. However, the city isn't
r.oing to fold up and hasn't
folded up when lumber mills
left town.
Mayor Ed Putman says that
''a"le Point has a bricht fu
ture. He realises, of course.
that problems have to be over-
come. But his enthusiasm and
vigor combined with that of
local citizens have arconi-
ilihed much in recent year
. 1 1
I A
MEDCO RAILROAD-The Jackson County Home Owners
Protective association has been organized in an attempt
to persuade Medford corporation not to convert its pres
ent railroad right-of-way in the county to a logging
truck road. Safety is one of the factors the home owners
are concerned about. Many houses arc extremely close to
the present railroad, as this picture shows.
I W 'y
gill
Mortuary
Most Modern Funeral Facilities
in one location in Oregon. Why
accept Less than the Best.
JOE R. HOSICK
Funeral Director
SISKIYOU
i 111 I ifclJlltts-'.
ONE CALL
ONE
LOCATION
Phone
SPring
2-5488
Oj
fij
tj
fl
605
- " r . ...
i 1 n ; ., Time nrlinn Ilia
w ' V p. o Pnint
name lor it was tagie i-un".
dajs ot trie catit..
INVESTIGATE
and
SAVE
Dignified
Reverent
Sincere
Crematory
Columbarium
Inquiries
Invited
Highland Dr
Mortuary
Cemetery
Mausoleum