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 Time,” and the talk and tour led by Pat Stancel and Joan Hess will focus on the minority ethnic groups who both settled in and were native to the Rogue Valley.
Then join Jacksonville Town Historian Larry Smith for “Behind the Counter” tours of the Beekman Bank, at the corner of California and North 3rd streets. The second oldest bank in the Pacific Northwest, the building and contents remain exactly as Cornelius Beekman left them when he locked the door for the last time in 1915. Tours begin at 11:15 a.m., and 12:15, 1:15, and 2:15 p.m.
And from 12 noon th 4 p.m., the Rogue Valley As join Historic Jacksonville for “Travel in the Victorian Age” at Cornelius Beekman’s homestead, located at 470 E. California Street. Beekman was Jacksonville’s wealthiest and most prominent pioneer settler, and, as was typical of upper class Victorians of wealth and prominence, Beekman family members traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe. Souvenirs from the family’s frequent travels are among the artifacts featured in the Beekman’s 1873 “Carpenter Gothic” style home.
Tours of the House will be offered at regular intervals with costumed docents sharing information about the Beekmans’ many trips and the modes of transportation available to them. Vintage vehicles including Model Ts, Model As, and a 1910 REO will be displayed on the lawn in a mini “Show and Shine” courtesy of the Rogue Valley A’s Chapter of the Ford Model A Club of America.
Cemetery tours are free, but donations are welcomed. Bank tours are $2. Beekman House tours are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and students; lawn activities are free.
For additional information, call 541-245-3650, or e-mail info@historicjacksonville.org.
Featured image is of Town Historian, Larry Smith “Behind the Counter” at Beekman Bank.