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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 6, 1962)
6 C SUNDAY. MAY 6. 1962 Tea Given at Historic Ranch Hou&e Honoft Woman on Ninetieth Birthday MEDFORD MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFORD. OREGON -o By MARY KKVB Gold Ijll - A tea given in the stately cf&een Anne style Chavner family home on April 26 honored Mrs. W. E. Thompson, the former Mar garet Chavner, on her 90th birthday anniversary. Mrs. Thompson was born on the ranch in 1872, the daughter of Thomas and Margaret Chavner, well known Jackson county pioneer couple, and has lived there most of her life. Mr. Chavner laid out the original townsile of Gold Hill. ' The house, built in 1891, is now the home of the honored woman's son and daughter-in- law, Mr. and Mrs. Chavner Thompson, who were hosts for the tea. Guests were wel comed between 2 and 5 o'clock in the south - wing parlor. In this room stands a rose, wood piano that was brought around the Horn to Crescent City, Calif., and from there to southern Oregon by pack oldors completed the center- to sell it to Jackson county piece. The lilacs were picked ; He had hired Chinese work from original bushes thatjers to build the road which were planted after the house i is known as the old South Pa uns hnilt ' For the occasion the ored woman wore a floral ; cific highway. h; 1 Ranch Large O train. It is more than 100 years old. Mrs. Thompson is a pianist, as was her sister, the late Mary Ann Chavner Pryce. An oil painting, the work of Mary Ann, also adds interest to the room. Mrs. Jack Mayer, daughter of Mrs. Thompson, came from her home in Portland for the celebration. She is the former Horlense Thompson. Guests signed a memory book, a gift to the honoree from her daughter-in-law, who wrote an original message in gold. Cards and mementos of Mrs. Thompson's 90th birth day anniversary will be plac ed in the book. Mrs. Oscar Rosenberg, Gold Hill, took charge of the book. Pouring during the afternoon were Mrs. S. K. Velliquette and Mrs. Prentice Petty, both Gold Hill. An arrangement of orchid lilacs stood in a gold trimmed crystal bowl on the tea table and gold lapers in crystal polished cotton frock of aqua marine and lavender and her corsage was a lavender or chid. Mrs. .William M. (Allie) Thomas, who is Mrs. Thomp son's companion, was among the guests. Her corsage was a white orchid. Mrs. Thompson resides on the ranch in her own home that she and her husband had built about 1006. She has a view of the city of Gold Hill from her house, which is located just opposite the Rogue river. It was in this home where she and her hus band reared their son and daughter. Father Founds Town The late W. E. Thompson first came to this area because of his interests in the Blue Ledge mine near Copper. Pri or to coming to Oregon he had mined In Mexico, Mon tana, Idaho and Canada and was well known in the gold rush days. Mrs. Thompson's father was a prominent figure in the Gold Hill lode legend for which he named the town of Gold Hill. He laid out the townsite and donated It as such so that the railroad company would con struct the railroad via this route. He furnished the pipe and tank for the railroad to encourage establishment of the station. The original watur tank for the trains was locat ed on the south side of the railroad tracks just about op posite the street from the old Gus Erickson house, on Sec ond avenue. Thomas Chavner built the first bridge across the Rogue river above where the railroad bridge is now lo cated. This bridge was the Cen tennial Toll Bridge built in 1876. It was used as a toll bridge until 1IW!8, the year of, his dealli when he arranged The original Chavner ranch consisted of about four sec tions, 2,000 acres, of land. In addition to the townsite of Gold Hill, it Included the Dar danelle, which was an early- day settlement prior to Gold Hill. In that area there is now a restaurant, service sta tion and trailer court. During .he years about half of this land has been sold. Mrs. Thompson had two old er brothers and a sister. They were Michael Chavner, Peter Chavner and Mary Ann Chav ner Pryce. She recalls that as infants all were taken out in a unique baby buggy. This old buggy, she said, was taken to Jacksonville when the fam ily went to town and wheeled up and down the historical old streets while the parents shopped. Her own youngsters were both wheeled about the ranch in it, and on the streets of Gold Hill. It is now stored on the second floor of the Queen Ann house. Mrs. Thompson's mother died when she was eight years old. She attended school just one week at the early day Dardanclle school, and re ceived her education at St. Mary's academy In Jackson ville where she graduated in 1088. She went to Cincinnati College of Music to study pi ano during 1890, and in 1894 returned cast for more study. This time three years were spent at the New England Conservatory of Music in Bos ton, Mass. Children Build Home It was prior to her return to the east that the Queen Anne home was built. This took place after the death of her father, who died in 1888. The sons and daughters had the residence built and es tablished it as the Chavner family home. 11 was construct- o iwr ' xy-'v. iv . 4..-. Mood Indigo Theme of St. Mary's High Prom Mrs. W. E. Thompson, who celebrated her 90th birthday anniversary April 26, it shown here with her son, Chavner Thomp son, and her daughter, Mrs. Jack Mayer, Portland, and the elaborate Queen Anne type house which has been a source of in terest in southern Oregon since it was built in 1891. Mrs. Thompson's father, Thomas Chavner, laid out the townsite of Gold Hill on part of his original holdings of four sections of land and the family has farmed and raised cattle continously on the place for more than 100 years. Mood Indigo was the theme for St. Mary's High school i junior-senior prom held Fri-1 day, May 4 at the Rogue Val ley Country club. Decorations were done in various hues of blue and purple in keeping with the theme. James Cal houn and Miss Barbara Lew-1 is were the general chairmen. Roy Taylor's band fur nished the dance music for the event which was attended by 33 couples. In charge of the decorations was Miss Kathy Hout, while Miss Linda Metz was publi city chairman. The programs and tickets were arranged for by Miss Mary Lee Lowry , and Miss Laura Batzer was chairman of the chaperone committee. Guests were the Very Rev. Carl Mai, the Rev. William Noon Luncheon Set ' By Mistletoe Club The only meeting scheduled for this montb for Mistletoe club of the Royal Neighbors of America lodge, is slated for Wednesday, May 9 at 12 noon. Mrs. David Fraysher will be the committe chairman. Those who attend are asked by the officers to take a hot dish, salad or dessert. FOE Auxiliary j Group To Meet Past Presidents of the aux iliary to the Crater Lake chapter, Fraternal Order of i Eagles, plan a luncheon meet ing at 1:30 p.m., Friday, May 11 in the home of Mrs. Jesse j Wagner, 112 Cottage street. McLeod, Richard the Rev. John Paup, William Ilg. Mc- Kibben and Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Friel. Chaperones were Mr. and Mrs. Jack Batzer, Mr. and Mrs. Van Calhoun, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Darland, Mr. and Mrs. Quentin Lewis and Mr. and Mrs. cd by a man named Stewart the valley to conduct the serv- - kA r Chartier who marie quite a record for ' ices. About 1945 Mass books 'V"S- v-ndlTier himself when he completed it j a"d vestments kept at the T. D InqtallpH Chavnprs were timrpH nvpr 1 inaiQIECU ,,i unc jwi. xiic uuLiau, sidliu- at fen A perfect gift for Mother's Day . . . beautiful new frames from Columbian's cap tivating spring collection. 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FeRRIALS Broken Sizes REG. 29.95 SPECIAL CLEARANCE $1488 ONE GROUP SPORT BLOUSES $2.83 2 S4.C0 ing in a grove of Laurel trees, is a three-story structure with 12 rooms including two par lors; one in the south wing land one in the west wing. A round kilchen, built of brick, has I-een modernised by Mr. and Mr.-:. Chnvner Thcmpsnn, and windows add er'. The double parlor sliding doors arc H feci high, and ceil in: s in the house are 10 feet. There is a fireplace in each of the two parlors downstairs and one fireplace on the sec ond floor. With the exception of a few years, the house has been continuously occupied by members of the Chavner fam ily. The husband of Mary Ann Chavner was an Englishman who was one of the first physician-surgeons in Medford. During the earlier days, Catholic priests came from parishes in Jacksonville, Med ford and Grants Pass to hold mass in the west wing parlor. Until about 192(1 the priesls alternated between the Chav ner home and other places in to Father Nicholas Deis at the Medford parish. During the years that Mass was held in the west-wing parlor, the fam ily piano was used as an altar. An early-day priest, Fa ther Blanchet, who conducted religious services in the or isin.'il Chavner home about 1854, used an old cupboard for an altar, and it is now stored on a porch at the Chav ner Thompson home. Mrs. Chavner (fiuth) Thomp son has added to the Chavner house some of her own prized Mrs. Ellis Chartier will be installed president of the West Side School's Mothers club at a meeting Wednesday, May D, at the home of Mrs. Robert B. Webber at 8 "i.m Cthers to be installed will ne Mrs. cranes hlvnn. vic- presir:cnt; Mrs. E. L. Jack secretary, and Mrs. M. R. Doty, treasurer. Members are reminded of Ihe West Side School Student Hobby show to be held at the school Friday, May 25. at 6:,1U p.m. Many of the activities, possessions. These include black pottery pitcher which p.m. Many of her parents brought from including the cake and plant England and which is 160! sale and hamburger fry, are years old, a set of china dish- I arranged by the parents cs which belonged to her through the Mothers club, mother and an heirloom plate : about 160 years old. She also j "j-q Elect lino KJLCii ui aiiiciiijitt wiiilii her father, Thomas F. Slater, mined In Italy. Ruth Thompson is an ar dent horsewoman; and she also enjoys assisting her hus band on the ranch. The family stresses that neither the premises or the house are open to the public. Elections will be conducted during a meeting of the Little Garden club of Medford when they meet Wednesday, May 8 al 7:30 p.m., in the home of Mrs. Dale Graham, 817 Peach street. Mrs. C. T. Basom will be cohostess. A., ,:f-ilii! .rite. Win Mother's Heart! .. :; t 1 Give mother a gift from Town and Country Shop . . . the perfect way to pamper her on Mother's Day. 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