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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 1963)
MtutUMD mail IHlBUMt, Mt-UtUHU, OHLGOM SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 24, 1963 g j dward Mead, Among the Last of the Northwest Barnstormers & ..,,- . By ARTHUR S. TAYLOR somewhat chilly. We waited car, purchased wagons and ot hall. Ed tells us in his land, Oregon. We visited Sur-miles distant over some of the Bay For a time he ran a little v ' ' Southern Oregon College for the stage from another di- horses, and we covered 2.000 book, "Doubling Back," that prise Valley with its four lit-1 most beautiful summer roads store, then bad health inter ..!. . ' Historian rection, hooked on four hoi es miles of mountain roads, the accomodations were often tie towns snuggling un to the in existence. We oneneri nn M if u .i (hi. t:n. ik.i t . I "V - . v , & - ,tw" sj A 7 EDWARD MEADE Northwest Barnstormer Street Dedication Request Is Denied By Medford Council A request to dedicate El Mar ave. was denied by the Medford city council Thurs day night. The dedication had been requested by Mrs. Madeline Inskeep, through her attorney, Harry C. Skyrman. It was explained that the proposed avenue and the sur rounding area had been plat ed in 1911. The street was later vacated, but the plat is still in force. It would be be tween Capital and Hillcrest ave. Since the area was plated prior to being annexed by the city and prior to the city's subdivision ordinance, It was stated that if the street was dedicated, the city could not require them to meet present street standards for a subdi vision. Minnimun Standards According to the city's sub division ordinance, minimum standards are set forth for streets used to separate land. This would not be the case in this situation, it was explain ed, since the plat has been on file for some time. The vote was 6 to 2, reject ing the request. Voting for the request were William Singler and Joe Hosick. It was opposed by Robert Cunning ham, Al Bradford, Robert Van Sickle, R. L. Baccus, Richard Travis and Terry Green. In other action, the council approved a report from the airport committee concerning the fixed base and private op erations at the Medford Mu nicipal airport. Adequate Parking Flight operators are requir ed to provide adequate park ing, office space, and restroom facilities; maintenance shop operators would provide rea sonable shop space for their services under cover in a clean and workmanlike man ner; and all new operations will pay a minimum annual rental of $500 in advance. It will be applied against rent owing the city for the first year, it was stated. Each applicant of a new operation would have to establish financial and moral responsibility and integrity and qualifications as to train ing and experience to provide service. Rental rates were set at 4 cent Der sauare foot npr vear on all ground area, improved or unimproved, leased to each operator; 3 cents per gallon for gasoline and 5 cents per gallon for oil for all petrole um products to be paid to the city; tie down fees will be divided one-half each between city and operator designated to handle tie down spaces, and that private hangar own ers pay 2 cents per square foot per year for all space leased. Paid Each Month It was stated that all fees and charges, except private hangar rents, be paid to the city monthly. Annual flat fee charges are to be pro rated and paid on a monthly basis. Other recommendations ap proved included scheduling expiration dates of future leases to coincide with time schedule for proposed de velopment and improvements to airport facilities and to avoid differences in lease terms resulting from changes in rate schedules, to establish and post speed limits for ve hicular traffic and private parking, and to create a per manent airport committee to advise and work with the city administration. It was sug gested that the committee in clude a member of the coun cil, an airport commercit op erator representative and one member at large. A suggestion that bids be called to operate the tie down space was tabled. In other matters concern ing the airport, the applica tion of Robert E. Osborn, 725 Pennsylvania ave., for a lease at the airport to operate a helicopter was accepted by the council on the condition his operation meets the re-quirements. Flyway Survey Shows Increase Washington TOP0 The In terior DeDartment said Fridav die 1AK3 annual survey of wintering waterfowl in the Pacific flyway states showed a slight increase over the 1QR2 roiint. The number of ducks count ed increased 10 per cent, but a 14 per cent decrease in geese was recorded. Tallies on fonts wprp down 15 Der cent. and on black brant. 18 per cent. A 42 per cent increase in whistling wans was re corded. Compared with a 10-year average. Pacific flyway ducks, geese, brant, and swans were found to be 4 to 14 per cent above average. The department said 28 per cent more mallards were ob served this year than in 1962, principally in Washington and .Idaho. Army Reserve Plans Open House Young men of military age and their parents will be guests of the second batallion 414th regiment (BCT), at the Armed Forces Reserve Cen ter, 701 North Columbus ave., Medford, from 8 to 10 p.m. Monday. Feb. 25, according to Lt. Col. John F. Rush, com manding officer. Officers and men of the local reserve group will be ready to answer questions and supply information to those interested in serving the re quired military time close to home and for extra pay. "This is he first time the Reserve program has been able to interview and enlist qualified men," Colonel Rush noted. He invited all Interested men and parents to join in the evening's program. He noted that the unit has vacancies for instructors, armorers, mess personnel and supply people. Vacancies, he added. are limited and will be filled during this month. Capt. Ted McDaniels of the Medford Reserve unit has spoken before several youth groups recently and will be available Monday night. Colonel Rush aLso pointed out that Sgt Kenneth Olds it available at the Reserve Cen ter for Inquiries and Inforrr.a tion concerning military jervice. "I remained at the smelter as a copper weigher, mingling with Senator Paris Gibson, Charles M. Russell, the cow boy artist, and spent my sal ary among the boys trying to drown my sorrows until Jan. 1, 1900. "Then I joined Andy Mc Phee's bloodhound - Uncle-Tom's-Cabin-troupe. I slept in a two-foot bunk with a real double-in-brass-bloodhound-ac tor for two weeks. Then I re ceived my two weeks' notice because I could not do Eva and a bloodhound at the same time. I quit the Private Palace Car at Spokane with $5 in my pocket and the thermometer at 20 below zero. 'I stepped lively and called all the theatres. While talking to the manager of the last one on the list (the toughest free and easy joint in the city), the telephone rang and the man ager answered the same, then turned and asked me if my name was Meade. I answered 'yes' and he told me that someone wanted to talk to me at Davenport. I did not know that there was a town by the name, and thought he meant Davenport's famous restau rant. However, I took the re ceiver and said 'Hello.' "When I had received my notice to quit the McPhee out fit, I immediately sat down and wrote to my old friend, Robert Buchanan, who recent ly organized a dramatic show in Spokane and was on the road. I had taken a chance and my letter had been for warded. He now wanted an actor and had been chasing me by telephone all over Spo kane. I was glad to hear him say, 'Is that you, Meade? This is Buchanan. When can you join? Fifteen and cakes. Will send ticket. Call at railroad of fice. Come on first train to Davenport, Washington.' I said, 'Goodbye,' hung up the receiver, and double-quicked it to the railroad office, got my ticket, and the next morn ing I was on board Buchan an's private car. When I shook hands with old 'Bob,' I re marked, 'Once more you have proven to be the Good Samar itan'," Such experiences were com monplace to Ed Meade, who was about the last of the old barnstormers. A "barnstorm er" is an actor who tours through rural districts staging theatrical performances i n barns and makeshift theatres. In the second decade of this century the term also applied to aviators who gave flying exhibitions. Practically all of Edward Meade's adult life was spent as an actor in small communi ties in the Pacific Northwest. He was born in Sandwich, De Kalb county, Illinois, Aug. 1, 1863. He came to the Oregon country as a professional ac tor about 1900. Ed Meade could play any part, double in brass, and take a part in the olio. He could also load a wagon with trunks and properties, and then drive two teams of horses hitched tandem over the roughest of roads to the next town. The old actor never played the big towns. Probably Med ford, in southern Oregon, was the most sizeable place in which Ed's company ap peared. Ed played little places. As he said: "I left Vale one morning on the stage-and af ter riding over rocks, ruts, and corduroys for 15 miles, I arrived at Westfall, popula tion 50, consisting of cow punchers, stockmen, etc., with about 75 more within a 12 mile radius. I billed the town, arranged hotel accomodations, rented the town hall (no scen ery), ate a square meal, and talked like an auctioneer while the stage driver was changing the horses and the other passengers were eating. We rode 15 miles more to a stage station at the foot of a lofty mountain, arriving there after dark, lt was April, and and proceeded to climb the mountain. "I rode nearly 48 hours and billed Drewsey and Harney while the driver and passen gers ate and changed horses. They were small places, like Westfall. I arrived in Burns the next night at 12 o'clock and realized that I had been experiencing something. I went into the barroom of the hotel, put dates on some half sheet posters to send back by the stage driver to Harney, then asked the bartender for a drink of brandy. His name was Baldy and he asked me if I was a preacher. I said 'Put me to bed.' "We did a wonderful busi ness. Each one of us doubled many parts with all kinds of whiskers and wigs. Bob Bu chanan said that we did not need more actors, but we needed more whiskers. We went north from Burns by stage to Canyon City, Oregon, then to Sumpter, Idaho, and by rails back to Weiser and the private car, which had been left there in care of the cook. "The trip proved a financial and healthful success, so much that Buchanan took the car and troupe to Boise, sold the car, purchased wagons and horses, and we covered 2,000 miles of mountain roads, through Idaho, Utah, Nevada, and California that summer." Stuck in Mud As Meade related, other things happened, too. "We got stuck in the Strawberry Mountain mud. The sheriff, four horses, two deputies, one murderer, and five horse thieves en route from Burns to the state prison at Salem, pulled us out." What were the names of some of the plays? "The Fatal Wedding," and "Old Ken tucky" were favorites in southern Oregon. "East Lynne" did good business in Ashland. "Beyond the Rockies" was another. "Edge wood Folks" was a rustic mel odrama with plenty of slap stick. And you may be sure that Meade worked at one time or another in "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Then there was "Thelma, a Tale of the Northland." Among the musical plays were "Two Merry Tramps." the "Sultan of Sulu," the "Rajah of Bhong." Of course, names were interchangable. Some times the "Rajah of Bhong" changed into the "Sultan of Bhong" and vice-versa. Those early barnstormers would play in almost any kind miserable. Play in Butcher Shop "In one town we showed In a large butcher shop for a week, with quarters of beef hanging all over the room. At another place it was in a gran ary, with the audience sitting upon great piles of wheat. And still at another freight divi sion point we actually gave a performance in a round house, and half the audience were Blackfoot Indians. "The troupe went out to their camp, smoked the pipe of peace with the seven big chiefs while big chief Black Feather and his bride escorted us back to town where we gave them reserved seats on a board across the ash pit for a wedding present. "At the end of the week, everybody in the troupe had Indian trinkets galore, which the Indians had traded for tickets at the door. They could not understand the plays, but enjoyed the knife fights and the music. "We opened in Colfax, Cal ifornia, to light business, then railroaded to Nevada City and did not see a railroad or a train of cars for nearly 2,000 miles, except when we crossed the Southern Pacific in Ash tle towns snuggling up to the east slope of the mountains; then to Lakeview, Oregon, for a five-day celebration of the Fourth. The celebration consisted of horse racing, bronco -busting, Indian war dances, and sheep shearing contests. Over Livery Stable "The Opera House was over a livery stable where the people purchased four square feet of floor space for a re serve seat to our show and furnished their own chairs. We did a rollicking business at Lakeview. The next year, we rented Charlie Snider's furniture store, built a plank stage, hung our own scenery, and the citizens packed to the doors every night. "From Lakeview It was a long ride, 100 miles west, to Linkville, (Klamath Falls), then a small town of 600 in habitants. Here we found a real opera house. The mana ger, John V. Houston, was in San Francisco, but we showed under the management of his brother. "We soon went over the mountains to Ashland, Med ford, and Jacksonville. We played at Jacksonville and Grants Pass and from there went to Crescent City, 100 most beautiful summer roads in existence. We opened on Monday night in Crescent City at Endert's Opera House. "We traveled up the Oregon coast to Gold Beach, Port Or ford, and Bandon, then to Marshfield, on Coos Bay. We went through Curry and Coos counties, but did not do very well. Hal the Healer had Just been through Coos county, and picked up all the easy money. "We crossed the Klamath Reservation to Cratiir Lake, played in an agricultural im plement house, at Fort Klam ath to well-educated and be haved Indians, then continued to Klamath Falls." Ed Meade spent his later years in Marshfield, now Coos Bay. For a time, he ran a little store, then bad health inter fered. It was at this time that he also wrote his book, "Doubling Back." He died in Bedford, Va., April 2, 1926, a fpiv years after nnhliralinn nt his book. RUMMAGE SALE Fehl Building Wed. Feb. 27 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Women's Association PHOENIX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Collection ot Items Call 535-2912 or 535-1147 YOU Cfln Still A High School Diploma to vltat to' f illicit ?our ""urcan b yurt quickly, nnisn toli 0, j,m n Ipar tmfi ia : only subjtctt you mtd for Diploma. ; Study or your own paco. Lattit, approvtd textbook, yours to tctop. GroduotB Now A" 'nc'u-e-' n 'ow tuition. Sind for Frti "Opportunity look" T0U ENROLL BY MAIL No silesmcn muni lowir coits for us, lowtr tuition for you. National School! HIIHICHOOLREPT.ltllMllMlT.CalH. "imt A dimion ol National Uthnleil Schools j Addrns. National Schools I GH SCHOOl rjtrmMmTtBllntlUlST.ClllM I PIhu itnd FrM Hih School Opportunity Book Dept. f 1020 I A, I 18 Held Od Enough To Buy Cigarettes Salem 0JP1) If you're 18 you're old enough to buy ci garettes, the house committee on state and federal affairs decided Friday. It tabled a bill to raise the age to 21. Advertisement Arthritis, Rheumatism Vital Facts Explained FREE DESCRIPTIVE BOOK A nublic service to all read ers of this paper, a new 36-page highly illustrated book on Arthri tis and Rheumatism will be mailed ABSOLUTELY FREE to all who write for it. No agent will call. Thi. FRFE BOOK fullv ex plains the causes, ill-effects and danger in neglect of these painful and crippling conditions. It also describes a successfully proven method of treatment without drugs or surgery which has been applied in many thousands of cases This hook it vours WITHOUT COST or obligation. It may be the means of saving years of untold misery. Don't delay. Send for your FREE BOOK today. Address The Ball Clinic . . . Dept. 3-2609-F2, tjelsior Springs, Mo. I ml Just two score . . . one decade . . and 4 years ago . . . JCF was founded. Since February of 1909 Jackson County Federal has engaged in the encouragement of thrift and home ownership. In the past 54 years, JCF has provided ... for the people ... a safe place to save . . . and receive better-than-average earnings on savings. Since the founding date . . . JCF has provided home financing for the building . . . purchase . . . remodeling or -refinancing of homes. Through these many years, and in the ones yet to come, Jackson County Federal has and will continue to meet the savings and home financing needs of the customers with sound and efficient management. Therefore, it is with pride that our age is 50 and 4 years, and to be of service to you . . . providing safe-insured savings . . . and home financing designed to fit your individual income. Dated: February, 1963. . i.i !' ' I I f jf life JCF ii '! JACKSON COUNTY FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSN.!- i : Home Office -2 East Main, Medford Ashland Branch - 337 East Main, Ashland
