Thirty years ago, three master entertainers joined forces to create the fantasy film Labyrinth: director Jim Henson (creator of the Muppets), producer George Lucas (the man behind Star Wars), and actor/artist/rock god David Bowie.
If your memories of Labyrinth are vague, you’re probably a guy. If, however, your memories are tinged […]
I wrote this column several years back and have never repeated a column before now. Read on and you will understand why I am re-publishing this sweet reminder.
I am dedicating this entire column to the Britt Society, the unsung heroes of Britt Music and Arts Festival. Did you know […]
Being so involved in real estate, we look at sales numbers and home values every month, quarter and year. Sometimes the numbers go up and sometimes the numbers go down, but if you look at the numbers over a longer period of time, they tell a clear story. In […]
At the beginning of the year, I wrote this would be a year for transformation and change. Like it or not, things are changing all around us. It’s becoming harder and harder to ignore what is not working in our lives and in our world. This continues to be a year […]
Marble collecting can be fun, interesting and exciting. Generally, you wouldn’t think too much about a bag of random marbles found at a thrift shop or garage sale until you look more closely beyond the common cat’s eyes, the clearies, the swirls, and the shooters, and see […]
“Water is the vehicle of Nature.” ~Leonardo da Vinci, “Codex Atlanticus” c.a. 1600
The great “Renaissance Man,” Leonardo da Vinci, was obsessed with water. Over and over again he drew water—flowing, falling, whirling, raging, destroying. Da Vinci’s series of black and white sketches, called “The Deluge,” depicts a torrential apocalypse, perhaps […]
Buying a home is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. A home inspection is an inexpensive way to find out about the overall condition of the home. It is important to conduct a home inspection to avoid a costly mistake by purchasing a property […]
Here comes September. “Where did the summer go?” is a common question dating back long before our time. The yearly cycle repeats itself: children go back to school… vacations end… commerce picks up… and soon squirrels will begin to hoard fall nuts for the long winter. Speaking […]
The Southern Oregon University Laboratory of Anthropology (SOULA) just returned from a month-long dig on the coast, investigating two sites associated with the Rogue River War of the mid-19th Century. This work is just part of a multi-year project that has taken us all over southwest Oregon, including Jacksonville. During the […]
With the move of Jacksonville’s City offices into Jackson County’s historic courthouse building on North 5th Street, it seems appropriate to focus this month’s Pioneer Profile on Silas J. Day, the County Judge who initiated the historic courthouse’s construction.
Day was described in the 1904 publication, Portrait and Biographical Record of Western […]
It’s hard to believe that summer is coming to an end and that fall is just around the corner. It was a busy summer with a number of private tours, Tuesday Evening Strolls, History Saturday in the Cemetery, and our monthly Marker Cleaning Workshops. New this year, the Tuesday Evening Strolls, proved to be very […]
Are you looking for a fun excuse to get outside with the family this summer? How about a beautiful location that explores the rich history of the Rogue Valley and provides green, shade-covered lawn areas for picnicking? If this sounds appealing, the Southern Oregon Historical Society invites you to visit Hanley Farm every Thursday from […]
Out of the Mouths of Babes—“Okay, let me get this straight. The arts are part of the humanities which encourage us to develop our potential as humans throughout a variety of disciplines designed (among other things) to awaken our empathy, encourage individual expression and appreciation of diversity. They also alert us to our connection with […]
Brace yourself. The cultural phenomenon known as Star Trek is about to turn 50. In the coming weeks, you’ll likely hear a lot about the celebratory gatherings taking place. But we like to think this monumental anniversary calls for a look back to the beginning.
On September 8, 1966, Star Trek […]
As most of you know, on July 29 & 30, Britt celebrated the Centennial of the National Parks Service, with the world premiere performance of “Natural History,” a composition written by Michael Gordon, and inspired by the beauty and splendor of Crater Lake. Members of the Britt Orchestra, along with members […]
One of the things I love most about the Rogue Valley is the abundance of fresh, local produce and other goods grown on our surrounding rural lands. However, with projected population growth and the legalization of marijuana, comes increased pressure on farmland and the ability of farmers to afford farmland.
There are a number of organizations […]
Rental Market—The rental market has gone crazy in the past few years with three inter-related trends that have impacted the rental market and caused rents to skyrocket in Southern Oregon and throughout the United States.
The first is the rapidly-growing population. There has been very little building during the recession […]
I lost my patience the other evening. Patience and controlling the tongue are active, not passive. Patience is graduate level virtue not without personal cost and tamed tongues are essential to relationship, respect, and reconciliation.
Mary was out of town so I was dining alone. The restaurant was busy and […]
East Side, West Side, all around the town…
Boys and girls together, me and Mamie O’Rourke
Tripped the light fantastic on the sidewalks of New York
Things have changed since those times, some are up in “G”
Others they are wand’rers but they all feel just like me
They’d part with all […]
Excavations at Jacksonville’s Chinese Quarter resulted in a small assemblage of coins that burned with the house in the fall of 1888. Through numismatics, the study of coins, it is possible to see past the damage and determine how they were used prior to the fire. The numismatic material included coins […]
Before telling you about this month’s events and activities, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the passing of a very special lady and friend, Dee Moore, who died on June 26. Dee was a very strong supporter of our Pioneer Cemetery and of everything historic in Jacksonville. She served on the Board […]
When John McCully took the stage out of Jacksonville in the winter of 1861, he closed the door on the town, his home, his marriage, and his family. He left his wife, Jane, with his debt and three children. Over $7,500 was owed on his 2-story brick commercial building and his […]
It was lunchtime. The café was jumping. We stood near the entrance, enjoying the air-conditioning while quietly awaiting an available table. Across the room, a gentleman stood to leave. As he approached the door, he glanced at our faces and smiled in apparent recognition. “Mr. Robot is coming back,” he […]
We are very excited about our entire 2016 Britt Orchestra season. On Opening night, Friday, August 5, Music Director Teddy Abrams opens the 2016 Britt Orchestra season with a new commission by celebrated Russian-American composer Lev Zhurbin, whom The New York Times has called, “strikingly original and soulful.” The Russian program continues with Shostakovich’s complex […]
Learn to Grow Food in Your Own Yard!—The Rogue Valley community is invited to visit Hanley Farm every Thursday from 4:00-7:00pm to learn how to grow food in a way that is affordable, labor-saving, and requires no irrigation. The Agricultural Manager is excited to lead tours of the demonstration […]
As school year draws near, we turn our attention to the benefits of art in education. A fresh search immediately brought a New York Times article, prepared by Park West Gallery, before us. Here are a few highlights:
“Dr. Eugene Beresin, M.D., M.A., professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and executive director at The Clay […]
My first memories of lavender are associated with my English maternal grandmother—as her signature perfume, yes—but also as a tiny muslin bag full of this sweet-smelling plant which I used to sleep with, tucked into my pillow. I remember sitting on the garden wall as a child and making pretty little bags and weaving lavender […]
If you were to travel in the 18th century, you would most likely go by sea, for months at a time. You would pack your belongings in a very large trunk. Trunks were very heavy, made of wood, metal and leather, with a domed or flat top. The wood inside […]
“Heat, ma’am! It was so dreadful here that I found there was nothing left for it but to take off my flesh and sit in my bones.”
~ Wit and Wisdom of the Rev. Sydney Smith, 1856
Reverend Sydney Smith (1771-1845) was an English humorist and writer who became a clergyman because […]
A question that comes up continuously in real estate transactions is—“What is title insurance for and why do I need it?”
Title insurance is important because it protects buyers of real estate and lenders against any property loss or damage they might experience because of liens, encumbrances or defects in the title […]
A couple thousand years ago, a contributing writer to the world’s best-selling book penned, “If any man thinks he knows anything, he knows not yet what he ought to know.” ¹ I think we’re learning that unfettered access to information is inversely proportional to knowing the truth about anything. […]
A BIG Thank You—Thank you with sincere appreciation and gratitude to everyone who was able to help with our pre-Memorial Day Community Clean-up of the cemetery grounds on Saturday, May 21. It was wonderful and refreshing to see a number of new faces helping out. We had a great turn-out and so much was accomplished: […]
Creating an exhibition is a thoughtful, creative, intensive—and fun process. One of the many challenges for the curator is combining academic research with strong visual components to tell the story so that it’s both engaging and educational.
While curating my most recent exhibition, Courage in the Golden Valley: Southern Oregon Chinese History […]
The story of Jane and John McCully appears to have been one of opposites attracting. Jane has been described as “courageous, valiant, dauntless, adventuresome, and plucky”—worthy virtues for a pioneer lady and perhaps a partial reflection of her Scottish heritage. She was born in 1824 in Alloway, Scotland, home to the […]
Under the hot mid-day sun at Hanley Farm, I find myself challenged to stay cool during the first 100 plus degree heatwave of the summer. As I walk through the garden, I am taken aback as I observe that the plants surrounding me appear to be unfazed by the […]
After the recent passing of our dear friend and artist member, photographer Ron Moore, Ron’s wife, Dee, generously donated a number of items to benefit Art Presence Art Center. Included are a collection of Ron’s photography in a variety of sizes, beautiful photography books, bins, a high director’s chair, and much more. We will begin […]
It’s official: Teddy Abrams loves a challenge. Now entering his third season as the Britt Orchestra’s music director, Abrams is challenging himself, the musicians from whom he will coax each precious note, and the audience that we’re sure will fall under his spell. If you anticipate a snoozy little symphony […]
Today, nonprofit performing arts organizations across the country find that to meet the challenges of the 21st century, we must innovate. Some of the most promising solutions are generated by those of us who are willing to work differently by working together. Partnerships enable performing arts organizations to make the most of each other’s strengths […]
In April, 2016, Rogue Valley residents Ken Snelling, Terry Rasmussen and Bill Anderberg, teamed-up to participate in the Face of America Ride, one of the largest annual non-competitive bicycle rides in the nation. With more than 600 riders, including nearly 135 injured veterans, the event draws and inspires thousands more participants, spectators and supporters.
In 2017, […]
Once you make an offer on a home and your offer gets accepted, many people think there is not much more to it and that the home is virtually theirs. But hang on, there’s a lot more left before you own that home! Since we’re at the start of the home buying season, […]
My wife kept reminding me about how I talked of writing a column on aging, in other words, growing older. I kept putting it off but finally came to the conclusion that I’d better write this now before she forgets to remind me. (She’s getting older, too.)
This […]
History Saturday, June 11, 10:00-11:30am—Please join the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery for our second program of the year, “The Chinese: Their Role in Jacksonville’s History,” presented by Docents Lynn Ransford and Anne Peugh. This program promises to be very interesting and informative. Following the talk, there will be a short walking tour to grave […]
Last month we looked at the early years of Benjamin Franklin Dowell, great, great nephew of Benjamin Franklin and a pioneer Jacksonville resident, in his role as attorney, packer, and claims collector. This month we’ll visit a more established Dowell as he becomes a Washington lobbyist and a newspaper publisher.
Dowell had […]
At Hanley Farm, we grow food in a way that requires no irrigation, no machinery, and low labor beyond planting and picking food. Our objective is to demonstrate a simple way to grow food that is approachable to the general public. Everyone has the right to grow their own […]
Our gut is our biggest immune system organ and contributes to our overall well-being. Some health professionals are now linking digestive issues like indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux, and even weight gain, to “leaky gut.” “Leaky gut syndrome” causes symptoms like bloating, gas, cramps, food sensitivities, and aches and pains. They […]
They lurk behind closed doors. Almost everyone has one—in their garage, in their closets, in their desk, or in a drawer. They are “Pockets of Chaos!” These pockets are where we just dump stuff off, sometimes with no rhyme or reason. We have busy lives, replete with memorabilia, paperwork, bills, and general paraphernalia. […]
Essential oils. We hear about them more and more these days and find them in many more stores than ever before. But what is an essential oil, how is it made and what are they used for?
Without getting too “sciency” or technical, an essential oil is the extracted volatile organic compounds of certain flowers, leaves, […]
Step right up, folks, for the most captivating show of the era. It’s everything a big-budget entertainment should be: edgy, unpredictable, alternately hilarious and horrific. Yes, it’s that character-driven competition known as The 2016 Presidential Election.
We’re fascinated by this big show. But as absorbed as we are, we can’t bring […]
“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.” ~Aristotle
From Paleolithic cave paintings onward, making art has been universally important to human beings. We find evidence of art in every culture everywhere, at every point in time. If, as anthropologist Ellen Dissanayake suggests, we “step outside our […]
Did you know that the original Britt Gardens, designed by Jacksonville pioneer photographer and horticulturist Peter Britt, was once a destination attraction in the Northwest? Portlanders would make special train trips to come see the gardens.
Did you know there was once a brewery that stood next to the sidewalk going up to the Britt grounds, […]