Meet Rob Esterlein, SOHS Executive Director

Rob Esterlein as a volunteer scarecrow

Our Haunted Field and Scarecrow Festival were so successful this year that we’ve decided to extend next year’s event from two-nights of terror to three! Actually, just about everything we’ve done this year has been successful, due to the dedication of volunteers and faithful fans who attend our events. BUT, credit needs to be given to one who’s provided unwavering support and enthusiasm to everything we’ve done – our SOHS Executive Director, Rob Esterlein. His support has been above and beyond the call of duty. For instance, following a Hanley Farm Origins dinner, we needed help washing the dishes. Rob pitched right in, literally rolled-up his sleeves  and helped out! When we needed another Scarecrow for this year’s Haunted Field, Rob stepped-in and was one of the scariest scarecrows in the field!

Rob is a Texas native, born In Fort Worth. Following a 4-year stint in the Navy, he attended the University of Texas at Arlington, studying history and anthropology. When asked about his professional background, he said, “What began as a grad student needing money, turned into a lifelong commitment to the work of museums.” He eventually accepted a position with the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, TX. About 4 years later, he says “I packed up and headed for Oregon.”

What prompted him to respond to our search for an Executive Director? He answered that the position filled his desire for a “leadership position in a museum or historical society, and the opportunity at SOHS really fit what I was looking for.” Plus, his wife’s sister and her family were relocating to the Rogue Valley, presenting an opportunity to unite family that had been separated for several years.

When asked if Rob has experienced culture shock, he said he didn’t find as much culture shock as many people thought he might. He notes, “Fredericksburg, where I lived and worked for almost 5 years, was founded in the 1840s and had grown into a center for cultural and epicurean tourism. If you combined the attributes of Ashland and Jacksonville, you’d get something very much like Fredericksburg.” He did, however, observe that “Barbecue here isn’t quite the religious experience that it is in much of Texas!”

So, what about his vision for Hanley Farm and SOHS? Ever gracious, he responded, “My vision for Hanley Farm is, more or less, irrelevant. We are an organization with deep roots in the region, and my role is to help the organization and the community that supports it to define, express and realize a vision.”

 Holiday Celebration at Hanley Farm

Beautiful Hanley Farm

On December 1, come celebrate the holiday season at Hanley Farm and make a holiday wreath, enjoy a cup of warm cider as you browse about and visit our mercantile, where you may find that just right gift you’ve been seeking. Visitors may tour the Hanley Farmhouse and view the holiday exhibit of items from the SOHS collection. PLUS, this year we’ll have a special visitor, direct from the North Pole! Santa Claus has accepted our invitation to visit the farm, and he’s bringing his favorite helper-Elf with him. We hope you’ll join us! Entrance is free, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

For more information about Hanley Farm or upcoming events, call us at 541-773-6536, Ext. 1002, visit us on-line at www.sohs.org; or check out our Hanley Farm Facebook page.

Hanley Farm, owned and operated by the Southern Oregon Historical Society, is located at 1053 Hanley Road, between Jacksonville and Central Point.