Jacksonville Review  – August 2025

ON A BEAUTIFUL summer morning in June, the Friends of Jacksonville’s Historic Cemetery hosted the second installment of this season’s History Saturday series, “Scandalous Stories in the Cemetery.” Presented by local historians Carolyn Kingsnorth and Steve Carolis, the talk reminded us that the Victorian Era was a time dictated by rules, with strict guidelines governing social interactions. Any misstep, be it intentional or not, could be considered scandalous.

Carolyn and Steve, both former History Saturday presenters and Meet the Pioneers cast members (Carolyn having appeared in all fourteen MTP productions), told seven stories of 1800s-era Jacksonville residents whose behavior was considered scandalous back in the day. We heard about the talented young artist Dorland Robinson, whose unhappy life ended in suicide, and Alice Berry, wife of the Ashland train station master, whose happy life came undone after learning of her husband’s second career and family. In between, there were scandalous stories of: seduction and revenge (James Fay and Hannah Ralls); marital neglect and reconciliation (Theresa and Payne Page Prim); a former sheriff and wealthy hog farmer acquitted of shooting his previous attacker (William Bybee); the many exploits of a flamboyant and often married local hotel owner (Jane Holt); and a prominent local family whose unlucky daughter was murdered by her sister’s estranged husband (Helms family).

These well-told tales made for a very interesting morning! Two of them, from Meet the Pioneers, are viewable on YouTube (Oregon History Tales): “The Holts” (2013) and “Alice Berry Kane” (2022).

Cooler weather a week later proved ideal for the dedicated Friends marker cleaning crew (except for team leader Dee who “is admittedly a lizard who loves it best when the weather is closer to 90 degrees”). Nonetheless, participants in June’s Marker Cleaning Workshop (third Saturdays through September) cleaned an impressive twenty-two markers near the Sexton’s Tool House and hope to clean all the markers in the quadrants surrounding the Tool House by year end!

Please check our website at friendsjvillecemetery.org for future events and programs. 

AUGUST Cemetery Events

History Saturday in the Cemetery
Saturday, August 9, 10-11:30am
“Jacksonville’s Jewish Community in the 1800s”
No advance registration is required. May not be suitable for the very young. Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes.
There is no fee for the tour, however donations supporting our programs are greatly appreciated.

Marker Cleaning Workshop
Saturday, August 16, 9am-noon
Come learn the latest tools and techniques to safely clean and preserve the many grave markers in our cemetery that are covered in moss, lichen, and dirt and have become difficult to read. This is a hands-on workshop, so dress accordingly. Bring a stool to sit on, plus sunscreen and a hat.

All Events—Meet at the Sexton’s Tool House, top of Cemetery Road. Parking within the cemetery.

Featured image: History Saturday, June 2025: Scandals in the Cemetery – Photo by Eric Rogers