Pie Trivia

 It is thought that pies were first made by Egyptians during the New Stone-Age, about 9500 B.C.

Animated pies were popular in the 14th century.  The nursery rhyme " four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie," refers to such a pie. According to the rhyme, "When the pie was opened, the birds began to sing."  When the pie was cut into, the birds would actually fly out!  Birds, frogs, and small mammals were also used.

 Cobblers came into creation during the 19th century in the American West.  Westward bound pioneers adapted traditional oven-baked pies to something that could be cooked in a dutch oven.  The earliest reference to a cobbler is from 1839 by The Kentucky Housewife, Lettice Bryan.  She described the pie as; "not fashionable for company, it is very excellent for family use."

For a period in time in Kansas, it was illegal for restaurants to serve ice cream with cherry pie.

 Boston Cream Pie is actually a cake; and cheesecake is actually a pie (tart to be exact).

The Wham-O Frisbee's prototype was a metal pie pan.  The inspiration for this still popular toy came from the Great Depression era when college students entertained themselves by tossing around empty pie plates.

The Josephine County Historical Society is holding its annual Pie and Ice Cream Social on Friday, July 29th, 2011 at the Schmidt Barn and Gardens from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Please join us!

Waldo Safe and the Stories It Could Tell!

This story appeared in the Grants Pass Daily Courier on July 25, 1931.

"In the business office of the Cold Storage plant is a relic of early Josephine County, an iron safe, which for years was the strong box at the Charley Decker store at Waldo and went with the business when it was taken over by George Elder.  The safe was made in Boston, shipped to Crescent City by water and from Crescent City to Waldo by pack train.  It has no combination but is locked by a big copper key."

How much gold do you suppose passed through this safe from Waldo?!  The Waldo Mining District was instrumental in the creation of Josephine County.  In 1856 when Josephine County was carved from Jackson County, Waldo became our first county seat.

According to Heritage Research Associates, report number 234, the George Elder store was the last business to remain in Waldo; this store and the post office closed in 1928.

I wonder what happened to George Elder between the time his store closed and his death.  Looking at the census reports, George Elder was born In Waldo, and had lived there all of his life.

• On the 1870 census from Waldo, George W. Elder was listed as being 2 years old; the son of John and Minerva Elder.
• On the 1900 Waldo census, George is now 31 and single, living as a boarder in the home of Charlie Decker and works as a merchandise salesman for Charlie. 
• On the 1910 Waldo census, George is a 41 year-old bachelor, renting a home and listed as a retail merchant. 
• On the 1920 Waldo census, George is 51, still a bachelor, renting a home and listed as a retail merchant.

1920 was the last census I could find George Elder listed on.  George Washington Elder died June 2, 1931 (the month before the Daily Courier's news article about the safe was published), and is buried in the Jacksonville Cemetery along with his parents and siblings. 

Take A Walk Along The Illinois River

 

A beautiful way to spend a warm July day is taking a hike along the Illinois River.

Getting there:  Take the Redwood Highway to milepost 24.  Turn west onto Eight Dollar Road.   Continue on Eight Dollar Road until you see the "Green Bridge."  Park in the gravel parking area and follow any of the "lightly used" dirt roads.

The Flight of Daedalus and the Fall of Icarus

Woodcut printed by Riederer, Freiburg im Breisgau, 1493.

According to Greek mythology, Daedalus made a set of wings for himself and Icarus, his son in order to escape from the labyrinth of King Minos on the island of Crete.  Daedalus flew successfully from Crete to Naples, but Icarus did not.  Forgetting about his father's warning, Icarus flew so close to the sun that the wax on his wings melted, the feathers floated away, and Icarus plummeted to his death in the sea.

This woodcut is thought to be the first printed illustration of human flight.

Pardon Me Ma'am

One-eyed Charley Parkhurst was one of Wells Fargo's best and well known stagecoach drivers.  

Charley was a rough-spoken, tobacco chewing, cigar smoking, card playing individual.  Although sociable, Charley preferred sleeping in the stables with the horses rather than sharing quarters with the other drivers.

It wasn't until Charley Parkhurst died in 1879 that people discovered Charley was actually a woman.

"Charlene" Parkhurst was born in 1812 in Vermont, the same year that her mother died.  Sometime prior to 1817 her father dropped her off at a New Hampshire orphanage.


She later escaped from the orphanage by wearing boys' clothing, and found work in a livery stable.  She eventually made her way west, working in stables along the way.


She stayed in California after retiring from driving.  It was here that she cast a ballot in the 1868 Presidential election; perhaps making her the first woman to vote in the United States.


So, did she vote for Ulysses Grant or Horatio Seymour?

Charley is now resting in the Watsonville, CA Pioneer Cemetery.

Rainie Falls Trail Hike Along the Rogue River

The hike to Rainie Falls along the south side of the Rogue River is the perfect hike for a hot summer day.

The trail is well-maintained, although narrow and rocky.  Much of the 4 mile round-trip Rainie Falls Trail is shaded and offers spectacular views of the Rogue River.

 About a quarter of mile into the hike you'll see Grave Creek Rapids.

As you get closer to Rainie Falls the river gets deeper as the canyon walls constrict.

At about a mile into your hike, you'll see the remainder of one of the Sanderson Bridge footings that spanned this canyon.

 The Sanderson Bridge was built in 1907 by the Civilian Conservation Corps.  This was a suspension bridge that was built to allow miners' to cross over the river.  The bridge was constructed of sturdy planks on the bottom, and a wire and rope network along the sides.  The only ones to use this bridge were men and mules, as no wagons or carts, could navigate the trails on either side.

You will see several streams coming from high up above.

This is a view of the trail on the north side of the Rogue River, where you'll notice shade is very scarce!  When it's 100 degrees out there, you'll appreciate being on the shady, south side of the Rogue.

  You'll hear Rainie Falls long before you glimpse your first view of it.

The view of Rainie Falls is beautiful, and well worth the short two miles it takes to get there.

To get there, take the Merlin-Galice Road until you see the Grave Creek Bridge. Park on the north side of the road, just before it crosses the bridge. The Rainie Falls Trail starts on the south side of the road.

Jesse James Remains On Display

The following article appeared in the Morning Oregonian on April 30, 1888. 

"Singular and Unsuccessful Show -- A short time since a fellow turned up in Ashland, from no one knew where, calling himself Dr. Sealy, and opened an exhibition, the chief and only attraction of which was the alleged remains of the notorious desperado Jesse James.  The show did not prove a grand success, and the few who visited it were apparently unable to tell whether the exhibit was the real carcass of the defunct desperado or not.  Wax figure, or whatever it was, it looked like Jesse James, and it bore all the bullet holes which marked the genuine remains of the departed celebrity.  The doctor had a companion who was supposed by some to be Frank James, but who did not seem inclined to exhibit himself.  After doing Ashland the whatever-it-was was boxed up and taken to Grant's Pass, where its exhibition did not pay expenses, so it was again boxed up and sent by express to Roseburg, where at latest accounts it remained uncalled for, the proprietor not having been seen or heard of.  From present indications it seems likely that the next appearance of this Jesse James "what-is-it"  will be at an old-horse sale."

Frank and Jesse James - 1872

 I went in search of the missing Jesse James "what-is-it" in its' last known destination of Roseburg, but the only thing I learned is that there are sure a lot of people named Jesse James!

What Is Patriotism?

 There are many, many definitions of patriotism.  The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines patriotism as:  Love for or devotion to one's country.  Here are a few notable definitions:

"Patriotism is not a short frenzied burst of emotion, but the long and steady dedication of a lifetime."   A quote from Thomas Jefferson

"Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiently or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country. In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else."   A quote from Theodore Roosevelt
 

"Patriotism is a salt against rottenness, a glorious spur to high endevour; it recovers the half-obliterated virtue of loyalty, calls every man to service, and ennobles great and small alike."   A quote from Percy Dearmer

"A man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle." A quote from George William Curtis

 "Such is the patriot's boast, wher'er we roam,
His first, best country ever is at home."  A quote from Oliver Goldsmith 

Two Men Fall To Their Deaths From Train

This news story published July 2, 1906 comes from an out-of-state newspaper.

"Portland, Ore., July 1,--An Oregonian special from Glendale, Ore., says that as the north bound Southern Pacific passenger train pulled out of Leland station this morning, two unknown men attempted to board the front of the engine, missed their footing in some unknown manner and went under the train, instantly killing both of them.  The county coroner from Grant's Pass held an inquest, but nothing of consequence was learned.  The men were evidently workingmen, probably machinists from San Francisco.  Papers on one of the men indicated his name to be Al Fisher.  Nothing whatever was found on the other."

Image courtesy of: Eric Polk.  This particular engine was manufactured in 1909.

 Although Josephine County has seen it's share of train accidents over the years, the completion of the Southern Pacific Railroad had a huge positive impact on the Rogue Valley.  The completion of the railroad gave us a much needed link to the rest of the country, both economically and socially.

 

If you're interested in learning about the history of the Southern Pacific Railroad in Oregon, I found this fascinating website: Southern Pacific in the Cascades.  It is filled with detailed stories and amazing photos.