The Southern Oregon Historical Society’s website now includes a map to a unique series of historical markers in Jackson County that were placed by the Society in the 1970s. All but the Tub Springs marker are made from welded sections of railroad rail. Just exploring the online map can be fun and educational. Its researchers, […]
The Southern Oregon Historical Society invites you to join them for Lion Dance Clinic on Sunday, March 13 at 1 pm at the Rogue Valley Mall. St. Mary’s students will teach observers how to perform the traditional Lion Dance featured in the annual Chinese New Year parade. Instruction will include the cultural and historical significance […]
Music filled the Rogue Valley a century ago as it does today! On Saturday Feb. 27, 2016 from 10am-12pm at the downtown Medford History Center of the Southern Oregon Historical Society, Stephen Bacon of Bellwood Violin will talk about three groups of Southern Oregon fiddle makers and show representative Chinese instruments that were used in […]
This month, the Southern Oregon Historical Society opens its 2016 annual exhibition—“Courage in the Golden Valley: Chinese History in Southern Oregon” which highlights the lives and impact of 19th century Chinese immigrants to this region, presenting this history through the voices and perspective of the Chinese to […]
Music was one of the bright spots for the pioneers who settled Southern Oregon in the 1800s. Lives of frequent hardship were lightened by songs of home and love; toil accompanied by music was easier to endure; and gatherings with friends and family were cause for celebration. On Sunday, January 10, Historic Jacksonville, Inc. will launch […]
Historic Jacksonville, Inc. will celebrate the Victorian Christmas Boxing Day tradition on Saturday and Sunday, December 26 and 27, 2015 when all Victorian Christmas tours of Jacksonville’s historic Beekman House will be $2 per person with a canned good donation for ACCESS. If visitors pay full price ($5 for adults, $3 for seniors or students), […]
Experience a Victorian Christmas this holiday season at the historic Beekman House, located at 470 E. California Street in Jacksonville, Oregon. This 1873 residence, home to Jacksonville’s wealthiest pioneer family, is decorated for a 19th Century Christmas celebration, and you’re invited to visit. Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday in December, […]
Kick-off the Yuletide Season at Hanley Farm! Begin by creating your Holiday Wreath using bases made from all natural materials cut fresh from the farm. And, a special treat, straight from the North Pole – Santa Claus accepted our invitation, AND he’s bringing his favorite helper-Elf with him! In addition to Santa and wreath-making, browse […]
On Saturday, November 7, 2015 – kick-off the holiday season in downtown Jacksonville at the Victorian Holiday Ball at the U.S. Hotel Ballroom. The seasonal event is sponsored by the Belles & Beaus Old West/Victorian Society. Food for the evening will be catered by the Jacksonville Inn. The ball runs from 6:00-10:30pm. The evening includes […]
How neat have these evenings been? Those who have joined us all agree – GREAT! UNIQUE! FUN! RELAXING! Not to mention, someone else does the cooking and entertaining! Christina and Rion took October off, but they’re back and planning another fun evening of pizza and music. October 15, 2015, arrive early and take a tour […]
Make your own scarecrow, and if you’d like, enter your scarecrow in the People’s Choice contest. If your scarecrow wins, in addition to receiving an award, you’ll have bragging rights! You don’t need to be present when contest winners are announced October 11 at 3pm. When you’ve finished creating your winning scarecrow, enjoy the other […]
Hanley Farm’s been taken over by a mysterious woman. All of Jacksonville, Central Point, all of everywhere, is astir! What happens when unwanted visitors venture onto the cornfields to learn the Lady in Black’s deep, dark secret, what is it? Will you find out, or will the monster lurking in the shadows stop you? You’ll […]
The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce is excited to present their 2nd-Annual Haunted Trolley Tour on October 29, 30 & 31, 2015. The tours will provide a light-hearted approach to our local history—sharing stories of Jacksonville residents who haven’t quite been able to say “goodbye!”
Tickets are […]
It’s hard to believe that this year’s “Meet the Pioneers” program will mark our 10th Anniversary for this very popular and fun Jacksonville event. Who knew that our planned one-time event in 2006, to raise some much-needed funding for restoration and preservation work in the […]
The Victorians created elaborate rituals around the passing of a loved one. Join Historic Jacksonville at the 1873 Beekman House between 11am and 3 pm on Saturday or Sunday, October 3 and 4, 2015 to explore how Jacksonville’s most prominent pioneer family honored the dearly departed in the late 1800s.
The historic Beekman House, located at […]
Everyone knows that Peter Britt was a photographer, but did you know that he was also a painter? Learn about the early artists, and also contemporary artists of the Rogue Valley at the next Tales from the Collection event on Saturday, September 26, 2015 from 10am-noon at 106 N. Central in Medford. The event is […]
What a great time we had last month at Hanley Farm’s first Community Pizza Night. It was a great success – thanks to everyone who attended, enjoyed great food, music and friends. We invite you all to return, and those of you who missed the first pizza night, be sure not to miss this one!
Before […]
It’s hot out there! Enjoy the Southern Oregon Historical Society’s cool archives and find out about Southern Oregon’s beloved swimming holes and hot springs at 10am on August 22 at the next Tales From the Collection event at the downtown Medford History Center on 106 North Central.
Telling tales about Ashland’s Twin Plunges will be Al […]
Enjoy the last opportunity this year to step into the interior of the second oldest bank in the Pacific Northwest when Historic Jacksonville, Inc. opens the 1863 Beekman Bank on August 8th for rare “Behind the Counter Tours.” Located at the corner of California and North 3rd streets in Jacksonville, the Beekman Bank saw over […]
Learn about doctors, medicine, and health concerns in late 1800s Jacksonville when Historic Jacksonville, Inc. hosts “Victorian Medical Practices” from 12 noon to 4 pm on Saturday, August 8, at Jacksonville’s 1873 Beekman House. Located at 470 E. California Street, in Jacksonville, the Beekman House was home to one of Southern Oregon’s most prominent pioneers, […]
On August 8, 2015, enjoy fresh foods from the Hanley Farm kitchen, local craft beer, and music performed by The Fret Drifters! The Fret Drifters are acoustic guitar wizards known for their high energy shows and their “anything goes” approach to playing. Dancing is encouraged!!!! Bring your lawn chairs and blankets, dancing shoes, and appetite! […]
Historian and NPS ranger, Larry Smith will facilitate the next Tales from the Collections event on Saturday July 25, 2015 at the downtown Medford History Center from 10a-12n. Get an exclusive peak at old time camping equipment, photos and share stories of the bears that came in the night, the deer […]
Visit Hanley Farm for a casual farm-to-plate pizza dinner, made with Hanley produce and locally-grown Rogue Valley ingredients. And, compliment your pizza with a refreshing beer or non-alcoholic beverage of your choice. Prior to dinner, take a guided tour through the no-till garden – see how Hanley farmers grow their delicious vegetables. After the tour, […]
The Cascade Civil War Society has teamed with the Southern Oregon Historical Society to present this wonderful event at Hanley Farm. So much will be happening over the 2-day event, July 11 & 12. Storytelling! Horseshoe Tournament! Hanley House Tours! Wagon Rides! Civil War Demonstrations […]
Step back in time on Saturday, June 20, 2015, when Historic Jacksonville, Inc. brings the 1873 Cornelius C. Beekman House to life with Living History Tours at 12 noon, 1:30 pm and 3 pm. The Beekman House is located at 470 E. California Street in Jacksonville.
It’s 1932. The country is deep into the Great Depression. […]
Quilts tell many stories. They are the stories and memories and love, quilts made by women, mostly unnamed. Nell Mathern tells the history of quilts in Airing the Quilts: Stories from Quilts of the Rogue Valley on Saturday June 27, 2015 from 10a-noon at Southern Oregon Historical Society. This free program is […]
Join Historic Jacksonville, Inc. and local craft guilds for an afternoon of Victorian Hobbies & Crafts from 12 noon to 4 pm on Saturday, June 13, at the historic 1873 Beekman House located at 470 E. California Street in Jacksonville.
“The Industrial Revolution meant increased leisure time for most upper and middle class Victorians,” explains Carolyn […]
Saturday, May 9, 2015 is Jacksonville History Saturday! Visitors, residents, historians, and the generally “curious” can learn about Victorian Etiquette in Jacksonville’s pioneer cemetery, go behind the counter of the second oldest bank in the Pacific Northwest, and learn about popular literature and music in the late 1800s when the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery […]
Step into the interior of the second oldest bank in the Pacific Northwest when Historic Jacksonville, Inc. opens the 1863 Beekman Bank beginning May 9th for “Behind the Counter Tours” on the second Saturday of each month from May through September. Located at the corner of California and North 3rd streets in Jacksonville, the Beekman […]
The Southern Oregon Historical Society will open a major new exhibition of artifacts, photographs, and stories illustrating the role of women in agriculture in Southern Oregon in a space donated by Rogue Valley Mall. The exhibition, Women of the Land: Southern Oregon Women in Agriculture, will be open to the public from May 15 through […]
By Tony Boom
for the Mail Tribune
Posted Jan. 13, 2015 @ 5:51 pm
Updated Jan 13, 2015 at 9:56 PM
A local history buff says the iconic Jacksonville building is in trouble, but others disagree
JACKSONVILLE — Mortar slowly washing away from bricks at the U.S. Hotel has history buff Larry Smith worried about the future of one of […]
A major milestone has recently been met by the Southern Oregon Historical Society. After 27 years of effort by various SOHS staff members, the Snavely collection ( Native American human remains and associated grave goods from the Little Applegate River) have been returned to Robert Kentta, Cultural Resources Program Representative for the Confederated Tribes of […]
Milestone in Hanley Restoration – Southern Oregon Historical Society’s (SOHS) Associate Curator of Collections, Tina Reuwsaat, a decorative arts historian who specializes in recreating original period furnishing plans for historic interiors, has overseen the completion of the restoration of the Historical Hanley Farmhouse Foyer. Using the probate records from the Michael Hanley estate inventory and […]
Historic Jacksonville, Inc. will celebrate the Victorian Christmas Boxing Day tradition on Saturday and Sunday, December 27 and 28, when all Victorian Christmas tours of Jacksonville’s historic Beekman House will be $2 per person with a canned good donation for ACCESS. If visitors pay full price ($5 for adults, $3 for seniors or students), all […]
When I met Daniel and Matthew Root early on a November Saturday morning to interview them for this piece, I was immediately impressed with their demeanor and attitude…these guys didn’t possess the usual “teenage” vibe I run across all the time. Instead, I found myself face-to-face with two young men who looked me in the […]
As reported in June, 2014, Engine #1, known as the “Tea Kettle,” was recently returned to Jacksonville after being purchased by the Jacksonville Heritage Society, Inc., a local 503 (c) 3. Funding was made possible by Mel and Brooke Ashland, owners of the historic Bigham Knoll Campus. The Ashlands had been negotiating for over six […]
JACKSONVILLE, OR—Historic Jacksonville, Inc. is seeking volunteers to serve as docents at the 1873 Cornelius C. Beekman House on December weekends during Jacksonville’s Victorian Christmas celebration. Docents will share with visitors the elements of a Victorian Christmas including the introduction of Christmas trees, the evolution of Santa Claus, the source of many of our holiday […]
Mark your calendars for the return of this very popular and crowd-pleasing Jacksonville event, Meet the Pioneers on October 10 & 11, 4:00-7:30pm. This will be our 9th-annual presentation which has played to sell-out crowds over the years. Take one of these special guided Living History walking tours through the torch-lit cemetery grounds where Spirits […]
Restore Oregon’s September Heritage Barn Workshop will teach participants about barn styles and types, introduce basic concepts of barn documentation, and demonstrate the types of tools used to build (and restore) historic barns. The workshop will be held at Southern Oregon’s oldest agricultural building, the 1854 Hanley Farm Barn.
Whether you’re a barn owner, a preservation […]
Join Carrie Beekman at Jacksonville’s historic Beekman House on Saturday, September 20, for Historic Jacksonville’s last living history tour of 2014 before Carrie moves permanently to Portland where her brother Ben lives. The Beekman House is located at 470 E. California Street in Jacksonville, and the family will welcome callers at 1:30 and 3pm.
It’s 1932. […]
Join Historic Jacksonville, Inc. and the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery on Saturday, September 13, for the final Jacksonville History Saturday of the season!
This special day of history-oriented activities begins with a 10 a.m. tour of Jacksonville’s Pioneer Cemetery, located at the end of West E Street/Cemetery Road. This month’s topic is “Minorities of the […]
Via horseback, stagecoach, sailing ship, steamship, railway, and “horseless carriage,” Americans were on the move during the second half of the 19th Century! View antique cars and learn about the rapid changes in transportation during the late 1800s when the Rogue Valley A’s join Historic Jacksonville for “Travel in the Victorian Age” from 12 noon […]
A great place to find one last summer getaway… historic Jacksonville Oregon. In this episode of Tank of Gas Getaway, Joe Camarlinghi shows us how you can see the historic town in a unique way: Tank of Gas Getaway – Jacksonville History
Step back in time to 1932 at 1:30 and 3 pm on August 16th at Jacksonville’s historic Beekman House, located at 470 E. California Street in Jacksonville.
We live in a beautiful place. It strikes me each time I return home from traveling how comforted I feel by the patchwork of farms and forests outlined from the air, how I breathe a little more easily...
Explore Jacksonville's Historic past on History Saturday with tours and presentations at Jacksonville's Historic Cemetery, Beekman House and Beekman Bank.
The Old Time Fiddlers join Historic Jacksonville, Inc. on Saturday, August 9th for an afternoon of Victorian Music and Literature at Jacksonville’s 1873 Beekman House. This popular Jacksonville attraction, located at 470 E. California Street, was home to Jacksonville’s most prominent pioneer family and remains completely furnished with family artifacts.
Victorian era “best sellers” included David […]
For those looking for a more in-depth taste of historic Hanley Farm, Origins: A Discovery of Place returns this year on Saturday, July 26 & Saturday, September 13!
Step back in time to 1932 on July 19th at Jacksonville’s historic Beekman House, located at 470 E. California Street. Miners are digging up the streets in Jacksonville’s second “gold rush”; hoboes are hoping for hand outs...
If you are looking for a fun and interesting volunteer project, be sure to join us on Saturday, July 19 at 9:00am and learn how to properly and safely clean cemetery grave markers and memorials.