Most of us who live in Josephine County, Oregon have learned that Kerby was named after an early settler named James Kerby, but have you ever heard the story of how Kerby was founded?
In Josephine County's early mining days, an entrepreneur decided to open a billiard parlor in Grants Pass. He went down to Crescent City, California, where he purchased a billiard table. Now this guy was transporting the table strapped to a pack mule. Once the man and the overburdened mule reached the site of where Kerby is today, the poor mule collapsed and died.
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| Sketch by Gary Swanson |
This man knew he was pushing his luck to have moved the pool table as far as he had, so he decided that the spot was a good as any other to open a billiard parlor. He erected a tent over the table and opened the first establishment in Kerby (Kerbyville).
An elderly miner told me this story and several others; I don't know if he was pulling my leg, but it sure was interesting to listen to him!
An elderly miner told me this story and several others; I don't know if he was pulling my leg, but it sure was interesting to listen to him!
For the most part, it's not a tall tale. The source of this story is an article written by Dennis Stovall for a 1903 edition of "The Sunset" magazine. The name of the packer was Tig Martinez and the billiard table was actually destined to be delivered to Jake Cohen who had a saloon on Althouse Creek (probably at Browntown).
ReplyDeleteRemember, Grants Pass didn't exist in those days.
I have a copy of this article if you'd like. Mail me: chair@jeffersonminingdistrict.com
I just came across this today - and am fascinated! I have been doing a lot of genealogy research and am currently working on the history of the Martinez family in Waldo. I would love to read the article you mentioned, but the email address doesn't exist anymore. Any thoughts on how to get a hold of the article?
DeleteI know the man who has a copy of this article. He is well-versed in Josephine County history and gold mining history. If you would like to send an email with your request to swanliterary@gmail.com, I would be happy to forward it to him.
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