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 stand grave-side and greet visitors and share their stories of life in Jacksonville and the Rogue Valley. Tours, which take approximately one hour, will depart every 15 minutes starting at 4:00pm until the last tour at 7:30pm. Tickets are sold based on the departure time and cost $12 for adults, $5 for children (12 and under) and $29 for a family of 2 adults and up to 3 children. Tickets may be purchased at the Jacksonville Chamber and Visitor Center, next to the Post Office, or by calling 541-899-8118 for reservations. They will also be sold at the event on a first-come, space-available basis. Since MTP normally sells-out, we encourage purchasing tickets early and in-advance and suggest young families or those requiring more time to get around, consider taking an earlier tour. All tours depart from the “D” Street Parking lot, where guests will be entertained by the Old Time Fiddlers, District 4 and the 4th Wednesday String Band. Remember to dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. We feature new and different stories every year; some sad, others fun, but all interesting tales of Jacksonville’s Pioneers and the contributions they made to our little community.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of this year’s stories:

John Bennett and Eliza Jane Jacobs Wrisley—He was a farmer and land owner who crossed the plains not once, but twice, and voted on the State Constitution in 3 different states. Eliza, who accompanied John on one of his crossings, was known as the “Hostess of the Inn at Fort Wagner” during the Indian Wars.

Judge Alex and Ruth Sparrow—This is a love story between Ruth Clemens caught in “an unfortunate previous marriage” and the handsome Superintendent of Crater Lake National Park, Alex Sparrow, who died tragically in a terrible accident.

Auguste and Mary Petard—learn about the early wine makers from France who planted 90-acres of grapes and started making red and white wine. Life near Jacksonville was good and successful, but all that would change when the family first heard the word “Prohibition.”

George and Sarah Trefen and the Mysterious Neuber-Long House—Was the death of their daughter, Sadie Perry a bride of just two days, more than just a tragic accident? Mrs. Trefen certainly thought so!

Josephine Lucretia Martin Plymale—A Pioneer Activist, mother of 12 children, journalist, candidate for political office, business owner, and a woman far ahead of her time.

Emil and Amalia (Mollie) Britt)—While they may have lived in the shadow of their famous father, they had many accomplishments of their own and were an important part of Jacksonville life and society.

Please visit our website at www.friendsjvillecemetery.org for additional details, pictures of last year’s event, and a short promotional video. You can also visit www.youtube.com and enter Oregon History Tales in the search box and look for the covered wagon to view stories from our 2012 and 2013 programs.

MTP 2013 Photo by Cammy Davis