Focus on Hanley Farm – December 2017/January 2018

We credit Germany with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century, when “devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes.” And, in other countries, it was believed that the evergreens would keep away “witches, ghosts, evil spirits and illness.” Fact or fiction? Today, one thing we can be sure of is that families decorate their homes during the holiday season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, and adorn their doors with wreaths as a sign of welcoming.

And at Hanley Farm, the tradition continues! Wrap-up the holidays with a tour of the beautifully decorated Hanley Farmhouse on Tuesday, December 26, from 11:00am-3:00pm. Three generations of Hanley’s lived in this beautiful home, beginning with Michael and Martha Hanley, when they built this house and started holiday traditions in the late 19th century. Traditions that endured to the 1980s, through their children and then their three granddaughters—Martha, Mary and Claire. Today the home is preserved in its entirety, to be shared with the community and to offer a glimpse of life in a bygone age.

Enjoy the old-fashioned warmth of this two-story farmhouse. Your costumed docents will guide you through the home and bring history to life with holiday tales and stories about the rich history of the Hanley family and farm. As you await your tour, relax and enjoy a warm cider in the pavilion. Or, stroll through the Hanley gardens and take a self-guided tour of the grounds. House tours are $5 for non-members, $3 for SOHS members.

We look forward to seeing you December 26 at Hanley Farm!

Windows in Time Series—December 6 & 13: Dennis Powers, Historian and Author, is the guest speaker for the December presentations, “Believe it or Not: The Strange & Unique Stories of Southern Oregon.” Powers has written over 200 scripts for JPR’s “As it Was” radio program, and is the author of 15 published nonfiction books, including the “Treasure Ship,” “Taking the Sea: Perilous Waters, Sunken Ships and the True Story of the Legendary Wrecker Captains,” and “Where Past Meets Present: The Amazing People, Places & Stories of Southern Oregon.” His December talks focus on stories of Southern Oregon and its people, those who have made Southern Oregon into what it is today, and their unique stories. You won’t want to miss this fascinating look back, and the opportunity to learn about the interesting people and little known facts that have made Southern Oregon unique!

Presentations are from noon-1:00pm on Wednesday, December 6, at Medford Library, 205 S. Central Avenue and again on Wednesday, December 13, at Ashland Library, 410 Siskiyou Boulevard. Windows in Time is a series of free monthly lectures sponsored by the Southern Oregon Historical Society and the Jackson County Library Services.