Sensational Seniors – November 2019

When I first asked long-time Jacksonville resident, Barbara Oakes, to consent to being interviewed for “Sensational Seniors,” she replied, “Oh gosh, I have never done anything that was sensational.” Hopefully, this article will prove how wrong her initial assessment was.

Born on May 21, 1944 in Santa Ana, California, her father was a Santa Ana fireman while her mother was a stay-at-home mom. Barbara attended Santa Ana public schools, graduating from Santa Ana High School in 1962. She then spent a year at Santa Ana Junior College followed by a year at Biola University, a Christian college. During this time, while attending one of her church’s baseball games, she met a player from another church. The player, Jim Oakes, became her husband in 1964. Jim was serving an apprenticeship with International Harvester, working to become a heavy equipment mechanic which he accomplished and became a night foreman for the company. Barbara remembers, “With Jim working nights and sleeping during the day, I was alone a lot, so I decided to search for a job to keep myself occupied.” This search led to her becoming the evening school registrar for Orange Coast Junior College in Costa Mesa, a job she held for one year before starting to work part time for A- Direct Mail Service.

Jim had a demanding job with International Harvester, a job that required him to drive into Los Angeles every day. This, coupled with the 1965 Watts riots and a series of earthquakes, started Jim thinking about a career change. When an opportunity came in 1971 to become the service manager for a new International Harvester dealership in Medford, called Webfoot Truck and Equipment, he happily accepted the job. Barbara was a little more reluctant. “I was leaving the community I had grown-up in and all my friends and family, but I quickly found a welcoming home in Jacksonville.” Jim and Barbara purchased a home on Laurelwood Drive in Jacksonville and spent 32 years there.

Barbara has fond memories of Jacksonville life in 1971. “The stagecoach was the thing then, touring the town and then there would be a hold-up to keep things exciting. There was still a scattering of miners around, and one we called, “Ed the Miner,” would walk to town from his claim some miles away. He would sweep the sidewalk in front of the then Jubilee Club and be rewarded with a breakfast for his efforts. As might be expected, personal hygiene was difficult for Ed, so it was best to stay downwind of him.” She goes on to relate, “In 1971 there were many empty shops in town, several antique shops, the Courthouse was a museum, the Britt Festival was only a two-week classical festival, the Hanleys still lived on the farm, and Frank Carter was our one-man police force.”

For the next two decades, Barbara took on a new career as a full-time volunteer. Shortly after moving to their Jacksonville home, Barbara received a visit from a Jacksonville Boosters Club member, welcoming the Oakes to Jacksonville and urging them to become members of the club. Barbara did not join the club until the following year after going to the first Boosters Historic Home Tour during a December snowstorm. By the second Home Tour, Barbara was a Jacksonville Booster Club member and served as a docent. She remembers, “The Home Tour was moved from December to October with the idea that the Home Tour would give the valley wives something fun to do while their husbands went hunting.” She goes on to relate, “The Boosters Club was made up primarily of women, but we had enough men to do the grunt work. We were always seeking ways to raise money as our funds were quite limited. One project I was involved in was selling and installing fresh greens on California Street at Christmas, but it wasn’t all about money. For example, the Boosters sponsored historical preservation workshops using models from Denver, Williamsburg and Seattle.” In addition to her Boosters work, she volunteered at their Medford Baptist church, serving as the Director of Women’s Ministry and was the secretary for the music director.

As Ms. Oakes moved into the 1980’s she served as Boosters President in 1981-82 during which time their main projects for the year was the restoration of Old City Hall and the Sexton’s Tool Shed at the Jacksonville Cemetery. “We had a big dedication celebration when we completed the Old City Hall remodel. Senator Mark Hatfield came for the dedication where I presented him with a set of square nails we found during the restoration.” The 1980’s found Barbara coordinating the then annual Boosters Home Tours five times and coming-up with the idea for the Boosters to sell “Historic Jacksonville” license plate frames which are still available today at the Visitor’s Center. She spread her Jacksonville wings even more when she became a weekly docent for the Southern Oregon Historical Society museum which was in the old Jackson County Courthouse, (now the New City Hall) as well as the Beekman House. In addition, Barbara and Jim became part of a group who each donated $1,000 to establish the seed money for the purchase of the woodlands behind the Beekman House. This was the birth of the Jacksonville Woodlands Association which now encompasses some 255 acres and 16 miles of trails.

Barbara Oakes’ busy volunteer life took a different turn in the 1990’s when this life-long Baptist became a part-time secretary for the Jacksonville Presbyterian Church. “For some reason after all the years of only doing volunteer work, I decided I wanted a job and mentioned it to Jim. This was during the gas shortage, and Jim suggested I only look for a job in Jacksonville. I did develop a resume and put it away for four months until a friend let me know about the job at JPC. I got called for an interview with Pastor Larry Jung and was hired. I was amazed.” Barbara was to serve as the church staff secretary for ten years which was a busy time for the church. “I absolutely loved my job, but it was very challenging. Pastor Larry had a vision of growing the church, and we went from one to three services. The technology part was especially challenging.” Among other duties, Barbara served on the capital campaign for the new church on Middle Street, serving as liaison to the capital campaign consultant.

Barbara retired from the church in 2000 to assist family members who were facing end-of-life issues and to re-focus on her volunteer activities.
She continues to volunteer at Jacksonville Presbyterian every Monday, has served as a Jacksonville trolley narrator. When she and Jim sold their large house on Laurelwood and bought a townhouse in Jackson Creek, Barbara organized an every-Thursday gathering of neighbors. This weekly event is still going on. Barbara lost Jim in 2015 and three days later a favorite aunt died, so she has had her share of grief, but it has not dampened her vivacious spirit. Recently, a cousin and her family bought a home in Jacksonville, so she now has family nearby again which has given her a lift. She has taken-up knitting and started a group of Jacksonville knitters who meet at the Miners’ Bazaar on the first and third Thursdays of the month. Asked about her take on Jacksonville, she enthusiastically replied, “What a precious town. After 48 years living here, I am still thankful to be here. Jacksonville is a little jewel that you don’t find anymore, and its rich history and its people make it so.”

Barbara Oakes is another Jacksonville treasure to be loved and appreciated!