Monarch butterflies have been on earth for roughly 175 million years, but it’s only since the 1990’s that their numbers have declined by 80%. In 25 short years, 560 of the 700 million Monarch butterflies in North America have disappeared.
Being in the presence of a Monarch has brought me great […]
“The first week of August hangs at the very top of the summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning.” ~Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting, 1975
I love this image of August, the month when summer’s heat […]
When it comes to your landscaping, long-term planning offers many rewards. Resale value, maintenance considerations and future landscape plans are a few reasons to plan ahead…now!
When planning the initial infrastructure for your landscape, start with the end in mind. […]
The world we live in today is a digital one and searching for a home is no exception. Buyers now have apps that let them search by location and neighborhood. Online listings have virtual tours so viewers can look at potential homes while narrowing down their search in […]
July 4th has come and gone… now for the “lazy hazy days of summer.” If you missed it, we had one “swellegant” party here in town on the Courthouse lawn with 350 to 400 people this year. That’s not counting the many volunteers as well as the […]
Damaged Cemetery Headstone—Sadly, in June, we discovered the headstone of William Thompson who died in 1856, broken into several pieces and flat on the ground. At this time we believe this was most likely the result of an accident, and not a deliberate act of vandalism, the fact remains that a beautiful piece of our […]
As part of Jacksonville’s 2010 Sesquicentennial celebration, the Southern Oregon University Laboratory of Anthropology (SOULA) conducted a large-scale archaeological excavation at the former homestead of Peter Britt, which is now the Peter Britt Gardens and Britt Festival grounds. Due to the volume of archaeological material recovered from the project, paired with […]
Ross Lane, which meanders through the Valley floor just north of Jacksonville, demarcates some of the former land holdings of Colonel John England Ross.
Ross, who gained his title and his reputation as an Indian fighter during Oregon’s various Indian wars, is an enigmatic character. His first marriage was to a half-breed […]
Robert Atkinson, known in Jacksonville as “Bo,” first moved here in 2000 with his effervescent wife, Iris, and the two immediately became a popular and well-known couple around town. Bo’s quiet and unassuming manner belies the fact that he had a distinguished career in the army as a helicopter pilot and […]
By the time you read this, the migration will have begun.
Dozens of classically trained, world-class musicians will be returning to the stage on Britt Hill, where Conductor Teddy Abrams will greet them, ready to chase the summer doldrums from all of our brains.
To some, the summer seems a sleepy time. […]
By the time you read this News from the Hill, the Britt Orchestra will have arrived here in beautiful southern Oregon. Thanks to over 90 host families, our orchestra members are already settled into their temporary homes for the Season. Teddy Abrams, Britt’s Music Director, and Mark Knippel, Director […]
Dropping in to the cool, comfortable gallery at Art Presence Art Center will provide you with the gift of new artistic dimensions, stress reduction, and possibly a treasure to add to your collection! Stop by to view the art currently on exhibit any Friday, Saturday, or Sunday from 11:00am-5:00pm.
Artists Workshop Annual Show & Sale—The Southern […]
Are you thinking of taking a trip up to Crater Lake National Park this summer? Are you wanting to escape the heat of the Rogue Valley to bask in some cool mountain air? As you probably already know, Crater Lake National Park is an 80-mile drive from Jacksonville—about an hour-and-a-half to two-hour drive, depending on […]
When I entered Mary Ann Byrne’s stately historic Jacksonville home on California Street to begin my “Sensational Seniors” interview, I was greeted with, “I have always lived in and loved older homes and, while they take a good deal of tender care and are expensive to maintain, they help define who […]
Glass insulators have been around since 1840 when the first telegraph lines were strung across America. They were non-threaded, and had wings or “ram’s horns” that some collectors today call “Mickey Mouse ears.” Another type from that era was the “glass block” design. They were square-ish. Soon […]
She rested gently in his soft, young hand
In awe, he stared, at a smallness so grand.
What have we done? In earnest he pleaded.
They forgot, she whispered, how much we are needed.
But I don’t understand, he stuttered through tears.
You’re not to blame, she said, it’s been going on for years.
How can […]
As the days have gotten longer and music flows off Britt Hill, I know summer is definitely upon us. Around here, the natural surroundings of our historic town cast our summers with an almost magical quality.
While […]
Everyone wants to get the highest price possible when selling their home, and many people believe their home is worth more than it actually may be. After all, homeowners have emotions attached to their home and, as a result, often think their home is worth more than prospective […]
I enjoy reading Paul Becker’s column. Our mayor is bedrock small town life. Some will respectfully disagree with his views on city business but none can argue the irreducible wisdom gleaned from the better part of a century living the dream called America.
Paul will continue to defend the next […]
Southern Oregon, as well as most of the nation, is experiencing a record-low inventory of homes for sale. Matched with strong demand, prices are being driven up. One would think that all properties on the market are faring well, but it always goes back to supply and demand—and not […]
Independence Day is at hand. Congratulations and Happy Birthday America. It’s been quite a ride for 241 years. When the Continental Congress formalized the Declaration of Independence with the signature of John Hancock, they took a step so bold and daring and went where no others had […]
However one refers to the Civil War—the “War to Preserve the Union,” “War of the Rebellion,” “War to make Men Free,” “Freedom War,” or the “War Between the States”—it preserved the United States as one, indivisible, nation.
In an 1889 study, performed by Union soldiers William Fox and Thomas Livermore, it was reported that approximately 620,000 […]
The Rogue River War of 1855-56 marks a pivotal point in the settlement of Oregon. The conflict centered on the years of hostile and violent encounters between the Native Americans and settlers during the Gold Rush in Southern Oregon. The War was fought across southwestern Oregon and concluded with the removal […]
Educational Programs-—May was a very busy month and thanks to our volunteers, a very successful one! I would like thank Pam Smith who was my fellow docent for our first Tuesday Evening Stroll of the year on May 9, touring the Red Men sections of the […]
Well into the 20th Century, the Fourth of July was a bigger U.S. holiday than Christmas. Long before Congress declared July 4th an official holiday in 1870, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail shortly after the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 that the occasion “ought to […]
Comic books once were considered kid stuff. No one over sixteen admitted to reading them, let alone dared to dream of watching his or her favorite superheroes on the big screen. A theatrical serial starring Kirk Alyn as Superman arrived in the 1940s, but it was sequestered in kids’ matinees. […]
The creation of new objects, either real or abstract, the changing of matter such as clay, fabric or glass into something different, the association of images that reminds us of another place or time…these are talents that provide artists with a special connection to other human beings, a way […]
Anger can be an instinctual response to protect ourselves, like a dog’s growling and barking response. It can push us to take action to change what doesn’t feel good, help us to set boundaries, and if handled with care, can even be a healthy way of letting-off steam and frustration. But […]
It’s time to reflect on our local trails as we head into our summer months. As residents of the Rogue Valley, we can pretty much head any direction, and in less time than it takes to shop for groceries, we find our feet pointed ahead on a path meandering over hill […]
I have a thinking problem. They say that admitting that you have a problem is half the battle, but I’m not so sure. I’m in pretty deep. I’m not talking about normal, what’s-for-dinner sort of thinking, although I have plenty of that. I’m talking about furrowed brow cogitating, bordering on the […]
It’s often said that we are slaves to fashion. Such was the case with the mesh envelope bag and the elegant, beaded handbag. These handbags, so loved by the 1920’s Flappers, were quite fashionable until well into the 1950s. Even now, these vintage handbags are carried as evening accessories by […]
Pollinator protection does not have to be relinquished in exchange for managing mosquitoes. The impact of mosquito spraying on pollinators is long-lasting. Studies show wild bee populations are even more susceptible to pesticide exposure than honey bees due to biological and habitat differences.
Fortunately, here in Oregon, we don’t have to […]
And those whose blossoms curl obliquely back,
Ribbed on the sides with a bright scarlet streak,
Shalt of daylily the fair name receive,
If one whose summer’s day the beauties live…
-Rene Rapin (1621-1687)
It’s true that the beautiful daylily (Hemerocallis) lasts but one summer’s day, prompting Bishop Joseph Hall to once criticize the flower […]
Summer is finally here so we can start enjoying our lawns and the outdoor living-areas where we’ve been investing our resources, creativity and personal style. And no one is happier about that than me. If you already have a patio, deck or outdoor area, I encourage you to get out […]
Many households in rural areas of Oregon obtain their water from a well. The question that always comes up in real estate transactions is how much water does the well produce and how much do you need?
The amount of water needed will yield various results, though some websites […]
I just left the title company where our clients picked up a $61,000 check—the proceeds from selling their house. What makes this such a great story is how young and financially smart this couple has been. I first met this twenty-something couple, two and a half years ago when […]
Last month, we ran a film called Saturday’s Children at Old City Hall. It’s a story about people living in tenements… people like my own family.
In buildings like this, there were no elevators, so the higher the floor on which you lived, the cheaper the rent.
Ours was […]
History Saturday, June 10, 10:00am—Plan on joining us for History Saturday in the Cemetery on June 10, when our program will be on what travel by stage coach might have been like, as presented by Joan Hess and Vivienne Grant. The program begins at 10:00am and is approximately 90 minutes long. […]
Welcome to Hanley Farm! Up to and including the month of December, the farm hosts a new event every month!
We began our season April 29 & 30 with the annual Heritage Plant Sale. Hundreds of visitors attended, many lining up before the gates opened, to have the opportunity to choose from over 50 varieties of […]
Saloons and the spirits who linger there will be a recurring theme in Historic Jacksonville’s “Haunted History Walking Tours” this summer. Therefore, stories of beer, whiskey, and early Jacksonville saloons seem an appropriate subject for our June “Pioneer Profiles.”
Gold rush Jacksonville reputedly had as many as 36 saloons when “entrepreneurs” as […]
The time has come. As you might know, the existing benches on Britt Hill provide seating for 662 and were installed in 1987. Today, they are in a state of severe deterioration due to weather and time, including eleven benches that had to be repaired and held together with […]
Summer, At Last!-—This winter has seemed especially long with all the rain that’s come down. Now that we’re all getting outside again, why not come to Art Presence Art Center’s gallery to view and consider a variety of lovely summer-themed artworks created by Art Presence member artists? The show opens on Friday, June 2 and […]
I had just started my interview with Lou Mayersky, my June “Sensational Seniors” candidate, when he had me look at several tall fir trees outside his dining room. “You know,” started, “too many people want to improve their view by cutting trees down. That is a terrible waste of the beauty […]
Shakespeare, we believe, was thinking of us, your humble critics, when he wrote these prophetic lines: “Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.”
With May hard upon us, and the submission deadline for this June column nigh, Will’s rough winds […]
“Eclectic” is the word that I used to describe the 2017 Britt Line-up at our April 6th Season Announcement party, where we had a record-breaking crowd of over 250 upper-level members, Business Partners, and press come together to celebrate the launch of another spectacular Britt season. We revealed many […]
The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt,
head in the sun, heart with nature.
To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body,
but the soul.
~ Alfred Austin
Gardening…I think it might mean something different to every person. To some it means hard work, to […]
If you hold a pencil in your hand for a few minutes, it will not have much of an impact on your arm. If you hold it for hours… your hand, your wrist, and your shoulder start to hurt and over time this little pencil feels like heavy concrete and can […]
For 15 years now we’ve lived in the same, sweet house, and for 15 years I’ve been walking our dogs along the same street. Yesterday as I leashed my companions I grumbled aloud how tired I was of walking this street every single day, twice a day. As we slowly made […]
Although some ignore the time-treasured brooch in favor of something trendier, the cameo has always been a fashion statement. (A brooch is defined as “an ornament fastened to clothing with a hinged pin and catch.) By “always,” I mean at least as far back as the Hellenistic period in the […]
They’ve been around for more than 100 million years. They’re most active at 80°F and unable to function below 50°F. They can sense the lactic acid and carbon dioxide from an animal’s breath up to 100 feet away. The females beat their wings 500 times per second producing a piercing […]