The Latest News From The Josephine County Historical Society
| On May 30th 2012 "Flowers for the Fallen" Joan Momsen, president of the Josephine County Historical Society accepts with gratitude a gift from Richard (Dick) Smith, steering committee chairman of the Veterans Walk of Honor in Merlin.  Mr. Smith, on behalf of the Veterans Walk of Honor donated 41 CDs containing the biographies of Veterans from Josephine County. The CDs will be preserved at the Historical Society. You can click on the photo above to view them online at the Merlin Community Park Veterans Walk of Honor website. | Grants Pass Historic District Walking Tours Free for Members of the Josephine County Historical Society  They will be held on the first Saturday of the month, beginning on June 2nd, and continuing through October 6th. Reservations are required. If you are interested, please call 541 479-7827. The price is $5 per person. Special arrangements may also be made for other dates; just give us a call. | |
Justin Rohde, hiking enthusiast and history buff, as well as creator of the Klamath-Siskiyou Trailfinder website has shared a fascinating research paper about the THE HAPPY CAMP TRAIL & EARLY BOTANIZING with us.   |
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| We are happy to welcome Bea Ryan at Sterling Bank as one of our new business supporters.   Bea Ryan and Sterling Bank are committed to improving lives and strengthening our community. Sterling Bank’s support comes in the form of contributions, community partnerships and volunteerism. Their motto: “Choose a bank that can keep up with your vision.” Bea and her excellent and courteous staff can help you with all your banking needs. Sterling Bank has just moved into their beautiful new location at 598 NE “F” Street, Grants Pass! In addition to being Area Manager at Sterling Bank, a founding member of the Applegate Trail chapter of the DAR, a genealogy and history buff, Ms. Ryan is also the founder and president of Our Foster Kids, Inc. Having been a foster child herself, Bea realized that many needs of these children were going unmet. She and a group of volunteers started a grass roots effort to help these kids out. As Bea says, “These children are the future leaders of our communities, of our country. It is our responsibility to protect their future.” Our Foster Kids gather items year round to give not only Christmas gifts, but Easter baskets and back to school supplies to the more than 400 children with open DHS cases in Josephine County. If you would like to find out more about Sterling Bank please visit their website at: https://www.bankwithsterling.com/Home.aspx. If you would like to find out more about Our Foster Kids please visit their website at: http://ourfosterkids.com/. | Hundreds of historic photos are for sale through the Josephine County Historical Society, and now you can view and purchase them online!  These historic records of our early discoverers and settlers make great wall displays when framed, and cover everything from gold panning, dredging, arrastras, and mines to railroads, historic buildings, sites and signs, towns, dams, bridges, ferries, sawmills, pioneer families and schools. They are available through several different mediums; printed black & white photos, mailed to you on a disc or emailed. Most of the catalogue is available for viewing online, and can be ordered and paid for online, or you can print out an order form to send with your check. Shipping is free! Just click on the photo above to see what's available. |
It Happened On The Oregon Trail We have just added this intriguing volume to our Bookshop! To purchase it online, just click on the picture! Or, you can pick up a copy in our Research Library at 512 SW 5th Street, Grants Pass, OR Tuesday - Friday from 10:00am to 4:00pm To read a review of this book, click here. |
Take a hike to: Tannen Lakes  |
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On Saturday, April 21, 2012 there was a dedication ceremony to unveil the new Historic Site marker for Fort
Vannoy. It was at Fort Vannoy Farms.
 For additional details please visit our Fort Vannoy page. |
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Have you read a good book lately?
 Click on the book to read a review! |
From our blog... Grafitti Found in the Oregon Caves |
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We are pleased to welcome Gold Miner Restaurant as a new business supporter!  Gold Miner Restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 6AM to 2PM and Sunday from 8AM to 2PM. 786 SE 7th Street Grants Pass, OR 97526 Click on the photo above to visit their website; you can even download their menu! |
Welcome back Southern Oregon Sanitation!
 Southern Oregon Sanitation is a 60-year-old, family owned and operated business specializing in waste management systems. The firm’s key component is in residential waste. With 24,000 customers and the motto “Anything people want to get rid of, we want to be the solution,” the SOS team has not only established itself as the neighborhood garbage company, but also a pro-active business concerned about the environment. For example, the SOS management team has partnered with local businesses and organizations to promote safe and green waste systems. Partners include the DEQ, Rogue Waste and Sparc Enterprises, among others. Over the years, SOS Sanitation has significantly increased its capacity to serve Josephine County and surrounding areas, including territories in Jackson County. The goal is to consistently develop approaches to waste management that are efficient, cost effective and sustainable.
Click on their logo to visit their website. |
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We are pleased to welcome Redwood Glass Service as a new business supporter!  On any size job large or small they offer fast, prompt, & courteous service. On auto they guarantee no leaks! On homes they offer quality windows, doors, mirrors, shower doors. On Auto's & RV's, insurance work is their specialty. They are glass specialists when it comes to motor homes. They offer excellent service on store fronts: plate glass, windows & doors, insulated glass, screens, polycarbonate, plexiglass. They also offer one day service in most cases. Click on the Redwood Glass sign above to visit their website, or give them a call at 541 476-8101. |
Hull & Hull Funeral Directors has been serving Josephine County since 1928, and we are proud to welcome them as one of our business supporters.  Virgil E. Hull, the founding father
of Hull & Hull, moved to Grants Pass with his parents, when he was just 10
years old. After graduating from Grants Pass High School in 1926, he traveled
to Ohio to study at the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, earning his
degree just two years later. Virgil and his wife Esther gave birth to four sons; their son Virgil F. "Fred" Hull became the second generation to join the firm, and in 1964 Fred's wife Diane joined the team. Their children, Kirk and Kendra, came on board as the third generation of the Hull family, and in 1982 they started Southern Oregon Cremation Services.
Three wonderful generations since 1928! You don't get there unless you
treat people right, and they do! |
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We are happy to welcome Mary Tillery at North Pacific Financial Corporation as one of our new business supporters.   Mary has been doing loans in the Rogue Valley since 1986. She provides warm, personal service with honesty, integrity, and great results! Click on Mary's photo to visit the North Pacific Financial website, or give her a call at 541 471-2727. |
A big welcome back to Roe Motors!
Roe Motors is a family owned and operated Buick, GMC and Cadillac dealership that has been serving Southern Oregon since 1983. Their philosophy is to take great care of their customers while giving back to the community they serve. Click on the photo above to visit Roe Motors website. |
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We are happy to welcome Caveman Heating & Air Conditioning as one of our business supporters. Owners Alan and Stacy Martin and their staff at Caveman Heating & Air Conditioning work diligently to make sure you get exactly what you need at a reasonable price. Their business offers a full range of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning services including geo-thermal and radiant floor systems. They have a team of trained, friendly service professionals that service all brands and types of equipment. The company is very involved as a trade ally of Energy Trust of Oregon and other similar programs guiding customers through the paperwork that is required to receive the rebates. Caveman Heating & Air Conditioning are proud supporters of various school programs and other organizations throughout the valley.   1010 SE Milbank Road Click on Alan and Stacy's photo, or the logo to visit Caveman Heating & Air Conditioning’s website. |
We
are pleased to welcome Gates Home Furnishings as one of our business
supporters. George
Gates Jr. established Gates Furniture in Grants Pass, Oregon in 1946. The
original 5000 square foot store was located on the corner of 7th and H Street.
In 1952, George’s wife Lois assumed the position of store manager after George
contracted polio, which left him a quadriplegic confined to respiratory
equipment. Nick Gates, Giff's son, is the next generation of the Gates family to be in the family business, and his dad says, "To see my son Nick enter his third year in the business is very gratifying as his passion may even exceed mine." Gates Furniture has gone through many changes over the years. It’s gone from 5,000 square feet to 30,000 square feet, expanded to larger buildings and it’s even changed its name to Gates Home Furnishings. What hasn’t changed in over 60 years is the stores commitment to its employees, its customers and its community. Please click on the above photo to visit Gates Home Furnishings website. |
We're happy to welcome Rough and Ready Lumber Company as a new business supporter!
Congratulations to Rough and Ready Lumber Company! They are celebrating their 90th year in business this year.
Rough and Ready is the only remaining sawmill in Josephine and Jackson counties. During the early 1940's there were more than two dozen sawmills operating in the Illinois Valley alone. Rough and Ready's success is remarkable when you consider all of the government controls working against them.
Perpetua Forests Company, a sister company of Rough and Ready Lumber will also be celebrating a milestone this winter when they plant their millionth seedling.
As a business supporter of the Josephine County Historical Society and a stop on the 2010 "Passport to History" program, we thought it would be a good time to revisit Gary and Wendy Swanson's trip to Rough and Ready Lumber Company.
Click on the photo to see the Rough and Ready Lumber Co. tour!