Grants Pass (Images of America) by Joan Momsen

We are now taking orders for Grants Pass (Images of America) by Joan Momsen!
Place your prepaid order by September 21, 2012 and the shipping is free.

The book shows photos of downtown Grants Pass from 1883 to c. 1964.  It shows how downtown developed, some of the earlier churches and schools, merchants, government buildings, transportation and parades and gatherings.  Each chapter is in chronological order and progresses from the 19th to the mid 20th Century.  There is a brief history at the beginning of each chapter. There are photos that long-timers may remember but there are also photos that have seldom been published. 

 It will bring pleasant memories to people who have lived their entire lives in Grants Pass, but can also enlighten and educate the newcomer. It would make a great gift to someone who once lived in Grants Pass and has moved elsewhere and to anyone familiar with the city.

Grants Pass (Images of America) is expected to start shipping on September 25,2012, or will be available for purchase in our Research Library at that time.  If you come in and purchase your copy at our library within two weeks after publication, you will receive a free gift.

All royalties go to support the Historical Society.

Althouse Church - Josephine County

Althouse Methodist Episcopal Church

The Althouse Methodist Episcopal Church in Cave Junction, Oregon was incorporated on February 22, 1893 by James M. Payne, John E. Seyfirth and Alvin Morey.

This plain, but sturdy building was built on land donated by a parishioner named McCann.

Like many churches in Josephine County, services were held by circuit riding preachers, including the well-known and respected T.L. Jones

At sometime between 1893 and 1900 it was moved to its present location on Holland Loop Road.
  

This building now belongs to the Bridgeview Community Church, and is the only remaining church building left from the 1800s in the Illinois Valley.

What Ever Became of Ezra Meeker's "Oxmobile?"

What Ever Became of Ezra Meeker's "Oxmobile?"

The first time Ezra Meeker traveled the Oregon Trail was with his wife Eliza Jane in 1852.  His goal was to become a farmer; which he did.  He went on to become a successful businessman, historian, entrepreneur, civic leader, miner, merchant and author.  

Meeker was successful at whatever he put his hand to, but he was passionate about preserving America's legacy of the Oregon Trail.

He kept the Oregon Trail on the front pages by making many trips during his later years by retracing his original journey.  In 1906 he backtracked his steps in an ox-driven prairie schooner; traveling from his home in Washington state to Washington D.C.  He continued going back and forth along the Oregon Trail by train, car and plane.

 

In 1928 Ezra Meeker asked Henry Ford to refit a car to resemble a covered wagon.

Courtesy MOHAI (Neg 1986.5G.1920)

At the age of 98, Ezra was once again planning a trip along the Oregon Trail.  He fell ill shortly before making the expedition and had to return to Seattle by rail.  Ezra Meeker died December 3, 1928.

So what happened to the "Oxmobile?"  Both the Oregon Trail Memorial Association and the Henry Ford American Museum wanted it, but neither organization has it!

ILLAHE The Story of Settlement in the Rogue River Canyon

"ILLAHE" by Kay Atwood

This book is a treasure trove of family history and stories.

If you had an ancestor who settled in the Rogue River canyon, this book is a MUST read!

You'll notice the type of people who settled in the Rogue River canyon on the Curry County side of Kelsey Creek were vastly different from those who took up residence on the Josephine County side.

The Curry County side was made up mostly of families who moved from the Klamath River area; miners who married Native American girls.  They relocated to the Rogue River Canyon in search of a more sustainable way of life.  They became self-sufficient, only having to purchase coffee and flour.

The Josephine County side was predominately single men searching for that elusive yellow stuff; gold.  They had to hike in and out of their canyon home for all of their supplies.

"ILLAHE" is a great reference guide for the geography and history of the Rogue River canyon.  

ILLAHE can be purchased now for just $19.95.

or at the Josephine Historical Society's Bookshop located in the Research Library at 512 K Street, Grants Pass; or at their Online Bookshop.

Hike to Tanner Mountain - Josephine County, Oregon

08/08/2012 - Author's note --  History has proven to be wrong on the name of this mountain and the lakes that lie beneath it.  The correct name is "Tanner," and future maps hopefully will correct this misspelling so long in err.

Thanks to Gary Swanson for the following post...

Beginning our trip from Grants Pass, Oregon, we headed Southwest on Highway 199, which is called the Redwood Highway, as it will take you to the majestic redwood forests in California.  At Cave Junction, we headed toward California Via Waldo Road, which becomes Happy Camp Road.  Just after entering California, we turned left into the Siskiyou National Forest, and after meandering back and forth over the state lines, we finally reached our jumping-off point in Oregon, and Josephine County. We were fortunate this time of year to drive far in without 4 wheel drive. We began our hike in the Red Buttes Wilderness area.

The trail winds uphill, through thick forests that thin out gradually as we climb.

The silence is incredible!

There are no sounds, other than our footsteps, and my labored breathing.

No birds were present at this altitude, as there really isn't anything for them to eat.

Talk about the "forest primeval", when a tree dies, it may still remain standing for another fifty-plus years. Protected by its neighbors, it could stand guard for a hundred years, unless fire should expose it to the winds by clearing away its' defenders.

There is an occasional sound of a chipmunk scurrying away from our approach, but you can hear your heartbeat up here. Not a plane, or vehicle!

This bear sign was exciting to find, as we saw places that had been ravaged, likely so it could dig up a squirrel, or some ants for lunch.   Desperation for adventure must have taken over for me to resort to photos of scat!

From alongside the trail, the terrain beyond is wild, and beautiful!

Underbrush is not difficult to bypass, as it grows slow this high up.

The bears sometimes hasten the decay of the rotting trees. This one was likely here long before Christopher Columbus was even born.

Do I see an end to this trail?

Looking back, at my wife following behind with our other dog, as I break trail to fend off the creatures of the mountain, and listen for the cry of the Sasquatch.

Wow! Just as I thought we had made it to the top, I cross the beautiful meadow, and as I peer over the edge, I see More mountain!  A LOT MORE Mountain!

This is not the peak, so we trudge across, and up the meadow.

This is a view into the "roadless" wilderness.

As we reach the upper end of the steep meadow, the actual peak is challenging my 70 years, and I wonder if I am even capable of making such a climb.  After a lifetime of wearing a tie, and dress clothes, where the highest climb I had to make was up the "corporate ladder", this seemed a bit much.  Also being as I hate heights, what a challenge!

Beginning the assault on the summit, and my better sense, the views became even more incredulous for a city boy.

Looking back down was easier.

The trail winds along the edge in places to avoid the ancient, twisty, and very thick mountain shrubs.

Now we can see another mountain range in the other direction.

Now, we are close to the sheer face of the summit, and it makes me wonder how the "real" mountain climbers ever get the nerve the first time the one of these things going straight up the cliff!

Only one time-ravaged tree remains.  There are no signs of others, and it sits as a silent sentinel about halfway up to the peak.  If only we could observe what it has seen.  When you consider how long it took to grow at over six thousand feet this is really astounding.

Made it!  Here we are, dogs, and all!  The only thing miserable about the entire trip was the thousands of BLACKFLIES!

I have heard about them, but in 3 and a half years in the area this was my first encounter.  There were literally well over a thousand of the innocuous, vile creatures.  They covered the entire peak, and my immediate thought was that we may find something dead, but a quick look around revealed nothing.  I did not get the feeling of being bitten, as I have had several thousand mosquitoes on me in a Minnesota swamp before, but they were so thick that they just covered us completely!  Just a few feet from the top, and the flies returned to their homes; the invaders retreating.

How interesting would it have been to be on the U.S.Geological Survey team? Wherever we go, it seems that these folks were already there.  Looking  We are at 6298 feet above sea level.  I think a trip to the coast will be necessary for me to decompress!

Below us is Tanner Lake.  We have hiked in to this lake, and its little sister East Tanner lake before, and the trail to the lakes also will wind up to where we now stand, but it becomes a total hike of about seven and a half miles which at that time was too much of a challenge for the old guy to care for!

I must confess that my wife took this photo, as I felt mine may have been blurred (which it turned out to be), and I hate heights so much that she got this photo!

You can barely see East Tanner lake in the photo center, but I took it quickly, as the only thing I hate more than looking up, is looking down!

This is from the other side of the peak.

Looking back up at the summit was so much easier, and I realized it was not so bad after I got used to it.  Next, I think of Grayback Mountain: it's over 7000 feet.

A glance back at the sentry tree, and we depart.

Do I see a way up the face?  Forgedaboudit!

Wow, More scat. This time from an elk.

And a Coyote!  I found what I'm certain was a cougar track, but it wouldn't photo.

Also footprints!  Isn't it great that we could bring you all of these signs, and scat?  Anyone can photograph animals, but whoever gets these kinds of mementos?

I know, my wife thinks it's dumb also!

Signs of coyotes are everywhere, as the attempt to dig out the ground dwelling chipmunks.

Now that the peak is over the hill it looks a lot more tame.

The trail back down.

The Tanner Mountain summit is far up and to the right.

Looking Northeast.

One of the lesser peaks on our way out.  The view below is the edge of the cliff-side road, and looking into California.

Thanks for viewing, and WELCOME TO OREGON!

Wild Bill Hickok - Did General Custer Miss Him?

The following post was written by Gary Swanson.
 

When George Armstrong Custer died at the Little Big Horn, our country lost one of its greatest heroes.

 Just over a month later, James Butler (Wild Bill) Hickok was murdered in Deadwood, South Dakota.

He was shot in the back by Jack McCall, and the poker cards he held would forever be known as the "Deadman's Hand."  His fingers held two black aces, two black eights, and history still argues about the fifth card.

 "Wild Bill" Hickok lies in the Mt. Moriah Cemetery overlooking the town of Deadwood.

On his gravestone it is engraved:

"J.B. HICKOK

DIED Aug 2, 1876

AGED 39 years

CUSTER

WAS LONELY

WITHOUT HIM"

Mt. Moriah Cemetery is authorized by the United States Congress to fly the American flag in perpetuity.  Our country's flag is never lowered here, 

and it watches over the peaceful graves of our western history players.