"Personal Items and Eagle Point and Surrounding Districts," Medford Mail Tribune, June 25, 1927, page 5


    Brownsboro is on the site of the first settlement of white men in Oregon. Trappers for the Hudson Bay Company operated in the valley before Oregon was claimed by the United States. [This is unconfirmed.] Henry Brown settled in the valley in 1852, but returned to his former home in Wisconsin in 1858 or 1859, and brought back with him his four brothers--Robert, George, William and Richard--their mother and a sister, reaching Oregon in 1860. He acquired by homesteading, preempting and purchase 3,000 acres of land along the valley of Little Butte Creek, extending from the present site of Brownsboro up the valley for a distance of six miles. The other brothers also acquired lands in the valley, most of it still owned by their heirs. Today there is little that can be called a town, as there is but one store and a service station, post office and a school house.
    The school is known as district No. 39, and has a residence for the teacher. The school board is composed of Wm. H. Hansen, chairman; Earl Tucker and Louis Blass; Carl Bieberstedt is clerk.
    Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Wright came to this country from Montana last fall and bought 15 acres of land, with the store and post office at Brownsboro, and in addition to these enterprises they conduct a service station and serve refreshments. It is Mr. Wright's intention to establish a muskrat farm on this place as soon as he can get the matter lined up.
    Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Tucker own 280 acres and have been conducting a dairy farm, but are now changing from cows to sheep. At present they have but 45 head of sheep and a few cows. They are old residents of the valley.
    Mr. and Mrs. Wm. M. Hansen are operating a dairy farm of 130 acres and raising beef cattle as well. They live in an old home sitting back from the road with a fine lawn in front and some flowers growing about the yard. At present they are milking but eight cows. They have lived there for nine years, and like the valley.
    William Gibson has a nice place on the road above Brownsboro, devoted to cattle and sheep raising. A neat house, big barn and tank house are on the place.
    Mr. and Mrs. George Brown own a very attractive farm with a neat residence. Their place consists of 1,400 acres of bottom and hill lands devoted to stock raising and dairying. They are now milking 13 cows. A small family orchard is kept. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have a family of five daughters. He was born on the place, part of the old Brown estate.
    Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Fox are occupying the farm of Walter Wolfskill and caring for the place during the absence of the owner, due to sickness. They moved on the farm this past week. It is a very nice place, with an orchard.
    Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Charley have a ranch of 1,200 acres on which they are raising stock, hay and grain. Forty acres are planted to wheat. A comfortable home and necessary outbuildings are found, and a garden for family use is planted. Grade and registered Herefords are raised, about 200 head being kept fattening on the farm crops at all times. They milk seven cows. Mr. Charley was raised on the place and very naturally knows of no place more attractive to him. It is part of the old Brown estate.
    The school house of district No. 65 stands by the road just above the Charley ranch. Floyd Charley is chairman of the board of directors, and Mabel Brown is clerk. Mrs. I. L. Bradshaw and George Brown are also directors.
    Mr. and Mrs. Lee Bradshaw are prominent in the affairs of Little Butte Creek Valley. They have a fine ranch of 160 acres on the creek, both sides, but their fine large home is located on the south bank of the creek.
    Growing and fattening stock is the chief industry on the ranch, and all feed raised is marketed in the form of fat beef cattle. They usually have between 400 and 500 head of cattle on the place and pastures. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bradshaw were raised in the valley and could not be lured to any other place for a permanent home.
    I found no one at home at Louis Blass' or J. A. Woods'.
    Coming back down the valley I found the place of Ralph Bieberstedt, who has his uncle living with him. They had the misfortune to lose their house by fire on Sunday evening, June 5th, and are now preparing to rebuild. He has 200 acres, on which he grows grain, hay and corn, and has a good orchard.
    Mr. and Mrs. William Butler own 160 acres and conduct a dairy farm and have a few sheep and hogs. A nice home and a big barn are on the place, and Mrs. Butler has some pretty flowers growing about the house. It is known as the old Benton Bowers place, but Mr. and Mrs. Butler have been living on it for the past 14 years. Some fine wheat is maturing, and a nice field of oats was noted. Mr. Butler says he can grow as much to the acre on his place as any in the valley.
    Mr. and Mrs. Halleck Ball live on 140 acres three miles up the creek from Eagle Point. They are practicing general farming and raising hogs. They have been on the place but three years, but are well satisfied with it.
    Mrs. Jacob Monia has a ranch of 160 acres on the south bank of Little Butte Creek, with 30 acres under the irrigation ditches and the balance in pasture. She conducts a dairy farm, raises cattle, hogs, turkeys and chickens. She milks about 30 cows and ships her cream to Medford.
"Items About Brownsboro People," Medford Mail Tribune, June 25, 1927, page 5


    Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Crawford own two acres of ground with a neat cottage and garage on it. They have planted a garden and some flowers. Mr. Crawford is a mechanic employed at Skinner's garage.
    Mr. and Mrs. Newton L. Smith live on Dr. Keene's splendid farm of 120 acres. Raising alfalfa and dairying are conducted on the farm, which is one of the pioneer places of that section of the county.
    Mrs. Mary Markle and her daughter, Miss Anna L., have a place of four acres with a neat brown cottage. Mrs. Markle has owned the place seven years and since acquiring it has put up a chicken house, cow shed, barn and garage. They are engaged in gardening and raising berries, keep 3 cows and 1175 chickens.
    Mrs. Isabel Mace has a very pretty place she calls her own and works it by herself. A story-and-a-half bungalow of pleasing design on the 3½ acres attracts attention. She has a garage, stable and chicken house also on the place, and a pony and cart furnishes her transportation for shopping and visiting. She has owned the place since 1920.
    Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Stump live in a neat cottage on five acres and raise alfalfa only. They came from California and have resided on the place for two years.
    Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Cummings and son, Ralph, work a farm of 27 acres, and specialize in gardening and fruit, having 9 acres in pears and apples. A few chickens are also kept for home consumption. A cabin, barn, stables and chicken houses are the improvements.
    Mr. and Mrs. N. C. St. Arnold cultivate a five-acre tract as a truck garden, raising almost every kind of vegetable. A neat cottage and stable have been erected on the place, which they have owned for the past two years. They come from San Jose, Calif.
    Mr. and Mrs. A. Benson have a new house and a new barn on a place containing 15 acres, devoted to dairying. They are now milking five cows. They have been on the place only since last January.
    One year ago next September Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Swing moved to their place of five acres, where they are raising garden truck and alfalfa. A few chickens are also kept for their own use.
    Mr. and Mrs. B. R. Wood have a cabin on 1½ acres of land, on which are growing garden truck and strawberries, and they are also raising some rabbits. They have lived on the place less than two years.
    Mr. and Mrs. B. V. Steele live in a small cottage on North Pacific Highway. Mrs. Steele suffered a stroke of paralysis while residing in Greyhull, Wyoming. When they left there last November she could not walk, but when she arrived in Medford she had recovered the use of her limbs. Mr. Steele works in the cement block works.
    Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Vaughan have a neat 5-room modern cottage on their 5½ acres. Most of the land is planted to alfalfa. They raise chickens and have a good garden for their own use.
    Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Sherrell have a nice little home on 5 or 6 acres, planted to alfalfa. A chicken house is provided for their small flock of chickens.
    Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Chastain have a brand-new home on two town lots. They grow flowering plants for sale. They have been in their new home but a month and a half.
    Mr. and Mrs. Roy Lightner have a neat new cottage and garage on the highway.
    Mr. and Mrs. John R. Crews have a big white two-story house on the highway.
    A new service station, store and refreshment stand on the highway is the "Owl Service Station," owned and managed by W. D. Whisenant. Cold drinks and oil are served, but not mixed.
    Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Darr live on a 12-acre tract off the highway on the banks of Bear Creek, in a neat cottage, surrounded by lawn and flowers. Mr. Darr conducts a gravel pit and stone crusher, where he crushes stone, washes and screens sand and gravel, and specializes in plaster sand and roofing gravel. A spur track from the Medford logging railroad runs to the plant, and shipments are made over a wide area.
    Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Woolridge have a cozy cottage on the highway near the Owl Service Station.
    Harry F. Caton is building a new frame house of six rooms on the highway in the mill section, just beyond the railroad crossing. He is also putting up a hollow little structure to house his new service station, store and refreshment stand and confectionery. A neat sum will be invested in this improvement.
    Snowy Butte Orchard comprises a tract of 115 acres at the edge of Central Point, owned by Mr. and Mrs. James T. Love, who bought it seven years ago from Fred Hopkins, is one of the show places along the Pacific Highway. Twenty-seven acres are in pear orchard, 65 acres are planted to alfalfa and 10 to wheat. The orchard is about 40 years old, but still producing good crops, and the outlook for this year is fine. A fine home [is] on the place, containing 16 rooms and a large basement, three fireplaces and three porches. Eight other buildings are on the place, including tenant house, packing house, garage.
"Personal Items Along the Pacific Highway North," Medford Mail Tribune, June 25, 1927, page 6


    After crossing the so-called "desert," a stretch of a few miles of thin soil that is not watered by irrigation, one driving north out of Medford on the Crater Lake Highway comes to Antelope Creek and its rich valley land, with many prosperous and productive farms. Limited time and means of transportation curtailed my explorations and personal observation, but I was well informed that many of those farms, that have remained in the same family for two or three generations, have yielded abundantly.
    On the hill overlooking the valley stands the old Cingcade home, the property of Mrs. David Cingcade, and occupied by her son and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cingcade. It is a large two-story frame house, painted white, and nearby is a large barn and other outbuildings. While it is still referred to as the old Tincomb ranch, it has been in the Cingcade family for 44 years. The place embraces 280 acres, utilized for diversified farming. The ranch was one of the pioneer "donation claims," as they were known in early days. The farm is irrigated by pump from the waste water of Antelope Creek. Grandma Cingcade lives in a neat cottage in Eagle Point.
    Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Riley live on 40 acres on Antelope Creek, and milk 12 cows. A good new house and a big barn are on the place. Mr. Riley was born in Jackson County in 1858, and Mrs. Riley is also a native of Oregon.
    Crossing Antelope Creek you come to Little Butte Creek. In the rich valley of this creek I spent most of my time, recorded in other articles. On the south side of the valley near the highway lies the fine farm of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Young, who have a fine large home on their 160-acre farm. Near the house are some large bearing apple trees that were set out more than 75 years ago, in the early '50s. The farm is used chiefly for growing hay and wheat. A large barn and substantial outbuildings are used. About 300 White Leghorn chickens are kept.
    Further up the creek, on the old road leading into Eagle Point is the fine home of Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Mittelstaedt, a 2-story frame house, with a front porch enclosed by screening, and festooned with Virginia creeper, a fine lawn and flowers. A big barn is also standing on the place, which embraces 23 acres, planted to alfalfa. At present the farm supports but six milk cows. Mrs. Mittelstaedt has a flock of 250 White Leghorn chickens, but at the present price for eggs poultrymen are not very enthusiastic.
    Returning to Crater Lake Highway, we will cross the Little Butte Creek, pass the Oasis Service Station and the side road to Eagle Point, and proceed northward.
    Mrs. S. E. Hart lives alone on her place of 80 acres, where she has made her home for the past fifty years. She rents the land to tenants, but has not had much returns in recent years, she says.
    Rolly Matthews has a stock farm on the right of the highway, just beyond the Hart home. I did not find him at home.
    On the left of the highway, where a road turns to the Rogue River, is the home of Mr. and Mrs. G. B. Matthews. He owns altogether in three tracts, 996 acres, and specializes in raising market cattle, Herefords being his favorites. Nothing raised from the land is sold, but fed to stock and thus marketed. Mr. Matthews was born at Eagle Point and has resided on his farm for 34 years. He is a son of John Matthews, one of the earliest settlers in the Little Butte Creek Valley. Mr. Matthews informed me that in early days he had seen as many as one hundred Indian squaws digging camas bulbs, which they used to make bread, on what is now a part of his ranch, where the Indians used to camp each year. They came to hunt deer, antelope and bear, and catch salmon, which they smoked for winter supplies. Mr. Matthews has two crude stone mortars that the Indians employed to pulverize camas in. He says the Indians that visited them in those days were known as Diggers.
    Adjoining the Matthews ranch on the west is the fine large orchard of W. H. Crandall, which has been christened "Weowna Place." This orchard covers 38 acres and is planted to apples, pears, peaches and apricots, and some plums. Among the varieties of apples he raises Mr. Crandall mentioned Yellow Newtown Pippins, Spitzenberg, Arkansas Black, Black Twig, Grimes' Golden, Yellow Bellflower, Stark's Golden Delicious and Crandall's "Mystic." This latter is an unclassified variety, like Topsy--just growed. When he bought the various varieties 17 years ago and set out his orchard, among the different kinds that had been shipped were specimens of this mystic tree. They all grew and are scattered through the orchard. It is a fine tree, unaffected by blight, and the fruit is superior in quality. No horticulturist has been able to identify it, so Mr. Crandall has to give it a name. Of pears, he raises Bartletts, D'Anjous, Winter Nelis and Bosc. He also raises apricots and has four kinds of peaches growing on the place, viz.: Crawfords, Elberta, Tuscan Clings and Strawberry peaches. Two or three varieties of plums are also grown. Last year, a dry year, without irrigation, the place produced 8,000 boxes of apples, 2,200 boxes of pears, a large quantity of peaches, and some plums and apricots. Mr. Crandall says he is above the frosts and has never lost a crop of apples or pears in his 17 years on the place.
    Proceeding out the highway, the next place on the right is Clarence Eakin's. Clarence was not at home, but I met his brindle bulldog. The dog is a pretty good bluffer.
    E. E. Printzhouse has a small place with a new cabin on the left side of the highway. A stable and chicken house have been erected and a garden and flowers planted. He has accumulated a large pile of agates in his yard.
    Mr. and Mrs. John Printzhouse bought 20 acres last fall for general farming and have built themselves a cabin. Their land is under irrigation for the most part.
    Last August Mr. and Mrs. B. O. Eakin came here and bought ten acres on the highway for general farming. Part of their land is under irrigation.
    Mr. and Mrs. O. B. Eakin purchased 20 acres a year ago last March, cleared it and built a neat cottage. Only 5 acres are under the irrigation ditch, but they tend to use that for garden truck, and also plant corn.
    Mr. and Mrs. Frank Smith moved onto their place only a few weeks ago and live in a neat new cottage. They have 20 acres of land, some of which has been planted to corn. They are going to raise some chickens. Mr. Smith works for a lumber company.
    Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Benson and son Jack have a place of ten acres bought last September, and on which they are developing a new home. The land was all covered with brush and had to be cleared. Mr. Benson and son work for the Copco. A cabin for the family has been built.
    Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Roberts have six acres and intend to start a poultry ranch. A cabin has been built. Mr. Roberts is patrolman for the Crater Lake Highway from Trail to Medford.
    Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Maynard bought 14 acres last summer, built a cabin, dug a well and put up a chicken house. They will start a poultry farm. When bought the land was covered with timber, most of which has been cleared off. Mr. Maynard works in Medford.
    Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Pullen live on six acres on the highway opposite Plaza Garden. They have a new two-room cottage, a big new barn, a chicken house, about 200 chickens and two cows. They have been on the place only since last August. It is their ambition to possess a poultry and dairy farm.
    Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Roberts and son have a fine new home just beyond Plaza Garden, on 40 acres along the highway. An 80-acre homestead back on the hill also belongs to them. It is their ambition to make a dairy and stock farm. Three years ago the place was covered with timber and there were no fences. Now it is all cleared, with a good fence enclosing the land, a new house, big barn, and chicken house. A nice garden is growing, and the land is all in alfalfa. The family is from Missouri and Oklahoma, but have lived in the vicinity since 1913.
    "Plaza Garden" on the Crater Lake Highway is a new station, 15 miles from Medford, established less than a year ago by Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Shearin. A store, service station and refreshment stand have been put up. In summertime they will specialize in selling home-grown fruits, vegetables and melons of their own raising and of their neighbors'. Mr. Shearing saw the place about two years ago and bought a 40-acre tract along the highway, all of which he has disposed excepting 15 acres. This place is the center and nucleus of a small colony that has settled on the highway during the past year or two, and there will be many more to follow. Mr. and Mrs. Shearin are Ohio people, but good Oregon boosters.
"Personal Items and Prosperity Along Crater Lake Highway," Medford Mail Tribune, June 26, 1927, page B6


    There may be other valleys in Oregon as rich and as fascinating as that of Little Butte Creek, right here in Jackson County, but I have never visited any. The land is rich, the water plentiful, the climate delightful (when it is not raining), and the scenery--well, not exactly sublime but inspiring, enthralling, beautiful.
    The front street in Eagle Point--the old highway--I have rechristened Riverside Drive, for that is what it really is. It follows the creek right through town and out into the country for miles. It is adapted for a boulevard or speedway, as there are very few crossroads or intersections to be found in eight miles. The attractive homes along this drive right in Eagle Point are worthy [of] a separate article in the paper.
    Mr. and Mrs. Gus Nichols live in a very pretty residence in the edge of town. Their home is a story-and-a-half bungalow style, painted brown, with green roof, has a cobblestone veranda and a cobblestone wall or fence in front of the place. A conspicuously large black walnut tree grows in the corner of the front yard, but a still larger one--said to be the largest in the valley--is growing in the back yard. In addition to their town home, Mr. and Mrs. Nichols own a ranch on Salt Creek. Mr. Nichols is a stock buyer.
    Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Smith have a ranch of 160 acres. Dairying and poultry receive their attention. Ten cows are being milked, and 300 or 400 White Leghorn chickens are kept. Their home near the edge of town is conspicuous for its fine large weeping willow growing by the front fence.
    Max GeBauer, who lives in Medford, owns a dairy ranch covering 200 acres, 143 of which is under irrigation. He maintains sixty dairy cows on the ranch and is now milking 45 or 50. The cream is separated and sent to Medford. A good residence and a large new red barn are on the place. The house is surrounded by stately locust trees of great age.
    Fred Frideger, who lives in Medford, has a pear orchard of 21 acres on the road to Brownsboro, where we are traveling--in this article.
    Frank Lewis has a ranch of six acres, on which he feeds 5 or 6 cows. He has a business in Eagle Point, but loves his ranch best.
    Mr. and Mrs. Joe Moomaw live on 3 acres in a neat home. They keep 3 cows and will build a new barn soon.
    Mr. and Mrs. William Perry own 22 acres, with two houses. He is raising alfalfa and has a fine orchard. Mr. Perry is supervisor of three road districts. He has made improvements on and in his house. Besides a new coat of paint, it has been remodeled inside, a water system installed with electric pump, and a well, a bath put in. There is a fine lawn and flowers in the front yard, a hedge and hedge arch over the front gate. A big barn and good outbuildings are on the place. All his land is under the Little Butte Irrigation Company ditches.
    Old Mr. Daley has a delightfully pretty home on the side of the road, but his inborn modesty prevented him from telling me anything about it--so I will say nothing.
    A place with a house on either side of the road, big barn, profusion of flowers in the front yard, orchards and hay fields, all on 160 acres, is the property of Mr. and Mrs. L. K. Haak. Orchards and dairying are the leading interests on this farm, but Mrs. Haak conducts a rabbitry in which she raises chinchillas and New Zealand Reds. She lays claim to the finest stock in the valley and cannot satisfy the demand for her rabbits. Mr. and Mrs. Haak came from Michigan in 1908, owing to the failing health of Mr. Haak, but they would rather live in Little Butte Valley than any place on earth. Mrs. Haak grows every known perennial flower that can be found in the valley. She is an active officer in the local and state grange.
    A farm of 140 acres belonging to J. H. Cooley, of which 40 acres are given to an orchard, is being farmed by Mr. and Mrs. L. O. Caster. One hundred acres are used to produce feed for cattle, which are marketed as beef stock.
    Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Ward conduct the former Eagle Point Orchard--a farm of 126 acres--used for apples and pears, but principally for dairy cows and quite a number of pigs. They raise alfalfa and garden truck. Six acres are still planted to pears and eight to apples. Their place is reached by a bridge across the creek--the first one above town.
    G. W. Daley has a fine large farm with a big barn and a neat new home. Dairying and fruit farming engages his attention. I found no one at home when I called.
    Mr. and Mrs. J. I. Philbrook came up here from San Diego County, California, and on the first of last February bought the Fred Johnson farm, 20 acres of which is a pear orchard. The farm consists of 100 acres of land and has a fine new house, new garage and stable. Alfalfa will be raised as well as fruit, garden truck and melons.
    For the past year and a half, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Bitterling have been living on the A. C. Ratcliffe place, which they bought. It contains 95 acres, on which they are practicing diversified farming. Mrs. A. C. Ratcliffe, the mother of Mrs. Bitterling, lives in a neat new little cabin on the place.
    Crossing the creek and climbing a winding road through an oak grove that covers the hillside, after [a] half a mile hike I came to the residence and warehouse on the "Butte Creek Orchards" land. This place, covering in all 320 acres, of which 35 are set out to pears, 80 to apples (Newtowns and Spitzenbergs) and 35 put into alfalfa, is the property of R. L. Hunstock of Los Angeles, and the crop is being looked after by the American Fruit Growers Association. H. L. Gonyon is manager for the latter and is taking care of the growing and packing of the crops. Some of the trees are over 20 years old. D'Anjou and Bartlett pears are grown. Two residences, a large packing house, pump house and two tanks, barn and machine house are among the improvements. Two Hayes spray rigs are used. Four men are now employed, but this force will be doubled when thinning begins. The first cutting of alfalfa has been made. Mr. Gonyon informed me that the fruit is looking good and a heavy crop is expected. Last year the orchard produced 8,000 boxes of apples, 1,100 boxes of Bartletts and 2,200 boxes of D'Anjous. The panoramic view--with Medford in the distance 12 miles away, the Rogue River Valley to the west, top of Table Mountain to the southwest, the peak of Mt. Pitt to the east, the Siskiyous to the south--is an incomparable sight, from the residence of the Butte Creek Orchards.
    Up the valley, 2½ miles above Eagle Point on the banks of Little Butte Creek, and right by the roadside, stands the cottage home of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Phillips, owners of "Meadow Brook Ranch," a place of 155 acres. Between the road and the house a fine little brook flows--hence the name. The cottage is surrounded by trees and climbing roses. A big barn and fine silo are nearby. Two sons help them to operate a dairy and milk the ten cows. Hogs and turkeys are also being raised--in fact, Mrs. Phillips is developing one of the finest and largest flocks of Mammoth Bronze turkeys in the neighborhood. She expects to have 500 this summer. The family has been on the place but two years in July. They came up from Tulare County, Calif.
    Mr. and Mrs. Carl Esch have a ranch of 280 acres near the mouth of Antelope Creek, on which they are raising poultry, conducting a dairy and practicing diversified farming. Their place is but 2½ miles from Eagle Point. They milk ten cows and keep registered Holstein cattle. Commodious buildings are on the place for all uses, and a fine home is occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Esch.
    Mr. and Mrs. Sam Johnson have a large ranch near the mouth of Antelope Creek and conduct dairying and diversified farming, and raise chickens, having increased their flock by the addition of 500 young chicks. They have 80 acres in their place.
    Pote Brothers are the owners of the Linn orchards, covering 25 or 30 acres. These orchards were bought by the present owners from James M. Linn in 1926. He set out the trees in 1922, among them 600 young apricots, the largest and only apricot orchard near Eagle Point. Last year nearly twenty tons of apricots were harvest in this orchard, but this year the crop was pretty badly damaged by frost. The owners expect a big pear crop this year, to help make good the losses on apricots.
    About twelve miles up Little Butte Creek is the ranch of Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Meyer, consisting of 860 acres. It is a stock ranch and hay is raised and sold in the form of livestock and beef cattle. Their two sons, Edward and Herman, live with them and have additional land adjoining, which they operate in conjunction with their father. All the places have adequate and substantial buildings.
    "Alta Vista Orchard," on the highway, comprising 120 acres of land, is the property of C. A. Knight of Medford, under charge of J. C. Spencer as manager. In addition to fruit, a large amount of alfalfa is produced annually from the place.
    The Wilfley Orchards embrace 120 acres of land, and more than 100 acres are planted to fruit trees. It is one of the best and oldest orchards in the valley. Bosc pears and apples are raised, some of the finest in Jackson County. Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Wilfley are the owners of this fine place. Two fine residences and large packing houses, barns, machine house, etc. have been erected. The owners may justly feel proud of the fine place.
    A new enterprise that has sprung up recently is the "Snowy View" service station and store on the highway, five miles out from Medford, and three miles from Central Point, at the junction of the two roads. This new station is owned by Dr. I. D. and D. E. Phipps, and is in charge of the latter. A building 20 by 50 feet is being erected to accommodate the cook house, recreation room and shower bath to be added. A store and service station have already been built. They contemplate laying out a 9-hole golf course as well and the erection of cabins and a camp ground for tourists. They carry a stock of campers' supplies, refreshments, oil, gas and accessories.
    Opposite the "Snowy View" service station and store, Grant Matternick conducts an oil station. "Snowy View" is very appropriate for the name of the station, as a view of Mt. Pitt's snowy peak shows to the east.
"Personal Items and Prosperity Along Crater Lake Highway," Medford Mail Tribune, June 28, 1927, page 6


    At the bend in the road, a mile and a quarter this side of Jacksonville. F. E. Bybee has a fine farm of 100 acres devoted chiefly to the production of alfalfa hay, and in the winter for feeding cattle.
    For the past twenty-three years Mr. Bybee has had assisting him in his large home and farm Mr. and Mrs. John Vincent. The home is a spacious eight-room house equipped with latest modern conveniences, has electric service and a gravity water system. Surrounding the house are shade and fruit trees and a profusion of flowers. A fine lawn is dotted with rosebushes; the veranda is almost covered by a climber rose laden with blooms, and Mrs. Vincent has some rare and beautiful flowers growin', among many others a Hugh Dixon rose that is superb. A family orchard with apricots and apples supplies the farm household. A good garden and berry patch are maintained for home use, as are a flock of chickens and two cows. The fence around the house and front yard is covered by climbing rose vines. Across the highway stand the big barn, stables and outbuildings. The farm produces from 500 to 600 tons of hay a year, and three crops are raised. From two small fields not exceeding 40 acres, they have the shed and bulbous blue grass seed totaling 12,000 pounds--a pretty good record. The farm is part of a large tract owned in early days by Mr. Bybee's father. Mr. and Mrs. John Vincent own 20 acres of alfalfa land just across the highway from the Bybee home.
    "Green Mountain Ranch" is an orchard belonging to W. J. Webster, who is now absent in Scotland. Seven acres are in bearing pears and seven in young trees. There is a big barn on the place, but the residence was burned some time ago. A small cottage in the orchard is rented by Mr. Erwin, who works in the city.
    Mr. and Mrs. Wm. F. Weddell have a 20-acre orchard planted to D'Anjou and Bartlett pears, which they bought almost two years ago, when they came from California. They built a neat little cottage and garage on the place.
    Mr. and Mrs. John R. Norris live on a place with 30 acres planted to an orchard of pears and a few apples. It is called the "Midvale Orchard" and is owned by C. M. English. A nice cottage, barn and stable are improvements on the place. They have resided there but two years.
    Perrydale is a hamlet all to the good--pleasing, pretty, progressive, and apparently prosperous. A sort of sylvan colony, as the homes are all set among the native oaks, madrones and pines. Two private roads lead off the highway, and on either side of the first one--coming into town--homes are built, and on one side of the second.
    Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Dixon have a fine home and buildings on four acres, two of which are growing wheat and the other two used for garden. They keep some chickens and have a cow. A pretty lawn embellished with bright flowers lies in front of the big house, and a wide veranda is almost covered by a climber. Big oak trees surround their home. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon come from Moscow, Idaho, and bought the place less than two years ago.
    Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Cole bought their home in Perrydale last April and are remodeling it. When ready they will move out from town and raise poultry.
    At Perrydale you will find one of the most extensive poultry farms in southern Oregon, and only seven years old. When the armistice was signed that ended the world war, C. F. Carpenter was soon released from serving his country overseas and, coming home, together with his father launched an experiment that has grown rapidly into a success. F. S. Carpenter and son, C. F., operate the Rogue River Poultry Farm together, and produce everything in the poultry line--eggs, live chickens, dressed chickens, day-old chicks as well as operate an extensive truck garden, to feed their poultry and to sell to the public. The farm embraces 65 acres, 35 of which are planted to wheat, and a prime orchard and 10 acres devoted to garden truck, which the elder Carpenter looks after. Four men are employed on the ranch all the year round. The poultry products from the farm require the running of a truck, which makes two or three trips a week to the Klamath Falls country. The farm is equipped with nine poultry houses and a dozen colony houses, and has a capacity for 5000 laying hens. Brooders are provided that are electrically heated, and the incubators with a capacity of 50,000 eggs are of the hot water type. In addition to the poultry houses, there is a big barn, plucking plants, garages and machine shed. A fine country home in a most attractive setting of trees, flowers, vines and beautiful arbors, is occupied by the parents, while a neat new bungalow has been erected for the younger Mr. Carpenter and his wife. White Leghorns are chiefly raised, though the farm has some Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks. These hens and chicks are supplied with cold drinking water from a well, piped to every chicken house on the farm. Chicks are shipped to all parts of southern Oregon.
    Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Murphy operate a dairy farm just beyond the Carpenter place. It embraces 55 acres and supports a large herd, 20 cows being milked at present. A fine bull is also kept. The milk house and fine two-story residence are of brick. The home is enclosed with a neat picket fence; the yard is filled with flowers. A big barn stands nearby. Some fine Rhode Island Reds are also kept.
    Mr. and Mrs. F. V. Young live in a nice residence among the trees on eight acres, on which he conducts a rabbitry, specializing in the raising of exhibit stock for breeding purposes. He keeps about 100 pedigreed chinchillas on hand. Mr. Young also raises Rhode Island Red chickens of fine pedigree for their hatching eggs and the roosters for breeding purposes.
    Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Tyrrell have a fine large home setting on one acre of ground, with a very attractive lawn and some beautiful flowers. Oaks and locusts grow around the house. A well-kept garden testifies to Mr. Tyrrell's skill with a hoe and the hose.
    Dr. and Mrs. Edw. W. Hoffman have a neat new bungalow and garage the corner of Perrydale Road and Jacksonville Highway, opposite the Dixon home. Two large laurels stand in front of the grassy lawn. The home has been built less than a year.
    Mr. and Mrs. John R. Tyrrell have a very attractive cottage and concrete garage on Jacksonville Highway, adjoining his father's place in the rear, where they share a fine cow together. In front is a concrete wall with a trench in the top holding earth and growing vines, which will trail to the ground in time. They have an acre of ground and keep some chickens. He is a school teacher.
    Mr. and Mrs. R. O. (Doc) Stephenson have a very pretty cottage and a good garage sitting well back with a fine lawn and growing flowers in the front yard. The house is modern in every particular, with electric light and automatic water system, built four years ago, and makes a delightful country home. Mrs. Stephenson has shown initiative and taste in the selection and arrangement of her flowers and vegetables, of which she has a profusion. The back yard is equally as attractive as the front yard and appeals to the "inner man" more, for there she has all kinds of "good eats" growing. The wire fences are used as trellises for her berry vines. Old stumps were made to carry vines, and an old well was turned into an arbor. A Jersey cow gives her milk, a collie dog is her companion while "Doc" is attending to business in town, and the birds sing all day in the trees. Her mother is her next-door neighbor. Mrs. Stephenson has a right to be happy in the possession of her home.
    Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Oatman live on the two acres in the rear of the Stephenson place, in a rustic brown house surrounded by flowers. A garage stands nearby. A garden supplies the family needs in vegetables. They are enjoying country life to the fullest. Mr. and Mrs. Oatman are the parents of Mrs. Stephenson.
    Mr. and Mrs. Geo. L. Armstrong own two acres in the rear of the Oatman place, and have built a very attractive home of novel outline with gray cement tile or bricks. They have a garden, too, but both work in the city during the day and have little time at home. They started improving last year. A small grove of majestic pines grows nearby their new home.
    Penetrating the grove still farther I came upon a very attractive brown rustic cottage under the overhanging limbs of four or five forest oaks. The front has a lawn and flower garden of unique shape surrounded by a lattice fence with concrete walks and a sundial. This cozy, isolated home is the property of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Janney.
    A farm still farther back on 20 acres belongs to Dr. and Mrs. G. B. Dean. It is a nicely improved place and well kept. The Deans also own other ranches in the county.
"Prosperous Ranches, Nice Homes Along the Jacksonville Highway," Medford Mail Tribune, July 6, 1927, page 6


    The Perry orchard is owned by J. A. Perry, covers 40 acres, all in pears. There are four varieties grown, Bartletts, D'Anjous, Comice and Howells. About 5000 boxes are produced annually. The land is all under irrigation, and alfalfa has been grown during the past four years in the orchard and found to be beneficial as both the yield and quality have improved. Hogs are allowed to pasture under the trees until a short time before picking, and are again turned into the orchards after the harvest of the fruit. Ninety head of hogs were kept the past year, and this number could be doubled within a year or two. In addition to the 40 acres in orchard, there are 10 acres in alfalfa, and the balance of the 58 acres in the farm are in the grove and building sites. In addition to a large and well-appointed residence, there are stables, garage and chicken houses. Two hundred chickens are kept. A good garden is maintained, and a small orchard of cherries and mixed fruits for family use is grown. The house is modern, with water, baths, toilets, electric lights and telephone. Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Hooker are living in the house, and Mr. Hooker is manager of the orchard. Over the entrance to the place is a sign bearing the legend "Madrona Park." Mrs. Hooker has beautified the front lawn with many beautiful flowers, including rare roses.
    Just across the highway another sign over the gate proclaims "Hollywood Orchards," a place covering a total of 200 acres, 100 of which is planted to fruit trees. Fifty acres are utilized for Comice and Bosc pears alone, twenty years old; 20 acres for Boscs seven or eight years old; four acres are in peaches, two acres in mixed fruits for family use; fifteen acres in Newtown apples, and twenty-five acres in oak grove containing the residence of 8 rooms, two cottages, barn 90x60, tank houses, silo, oil house with 16,000 gallons of smudge oil, and tool house, as well as the deer park for two deer. Four horses are used, and ten head of cows are milked.
    The orchards produce about [omission] carloads of pears (532 boxes to the car), 4000 to 5000 boxes of apples, and about 2000 boxes of peaches. The Hollywood Orchard is the property of David Keith, Jr., of Salt Lake City, Utah, and is under the direct management of W. E. Brayton, who with his family live on the place. The residence sits back from the highway with the deer park in front, and a nice cluster of shrubs and flowers in the yard. The Park also contains Canada geese, and about 30 mallard ducks have the freedom of the place. Fourteen peafowl and about 50 R. I. Red chickens range about the barnyard.
    On the highway adjoining Hollywood Orchard stands Oak Grove School, or District 69. This fine building is the pride of the district, as it is one of the most modern district school buildings in the county. It is an attractive structure finished in stucco, one story and full high basement (half above the ground), in which are an assembly hall and a kitchen. Improvements were recently completed on the school building involving an expenditure of $14,000. The officers for the past year, I was informed, [are] Mrs. George Andrews, Alva Brockway and Dr. G. B. Dean, C. A. Hiles, clerk. Mrs. Ruth Hood was principal, assisted by Mrs. Mabel Thornton and Miss Murl Coffeen. The Parent-Teachers' Association furnished a model kitchen in the basement, buying utensils, electric range, silverware and banquet tables, which were presented to the school. It is a grade school, graduating the pupils from the eighth grade. It is thought that another teacher may be needed next year and the rooms increased to four.
    Mrs. D. L. Lawrence lives on 23 acres of land in a large 2-story white house. Grain and hay are raised. Mr. and Mrs. David Hood and Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Fuller share the Lawrence house.
    Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Hooker and children have a real nice residence on three acres of land. About ⅔ of an acre is growing alfalfa, and the remainder is used for the house, chicken house, stable and garage. They keep a cow and about 200 White Leghorn chickens. A pretty lawn and flower bed and garden occupy part of the place.
    Mr. and Mrs. Floyd H. Minear live in a nice residence on 2 acres. They have a stable, garage and hen house, keep some chickens and a cow, and have a garden and small patch of alfalfa.
    Mr. and Mrs. C. Singer have a small cabin and woodshed on 3 acres, but have about closed a sale of the place and expect to return to Salt Lake City, where they have property that reverted to them.
    Mr. and Mrs. H. Clay Barker own a cottage and garage and 2 acres of ground. They are raising corn, melons, beans and garden truck and have about 80 chickens.
    Mr. and Mrs. H. Brewold live in a commodious story-and-a-half bungalow situated on 4 acres that are planted to alfalfa, a garden, and a small orchard of young trees. Their place is embellished with flowers.
    Mr. and Mrs. Roy Ganfield have a neat new cottage, garage, stable and chicken house on [omission]
    Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Barker are now occupying the residence of Mrs. Wolf, but expect to move shortly.
    Mrs. L. K. Parker and son, Woodson, are building a new cottage to contain 4 room and bath. The foundation forms have just been set for the concrete work. A garage will also be put up. They own 1½ acres.
    Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Jennings have a very attractive home with 5 rooms and bath, on 2 acres of land. They have a fine stand of alfalfa, from which they get 3 cuttings a year. A small garden supplies the family needs. The new house was finished just last April. Mr. Jennings is sheriff of Josephine County.
    Mr. and Mrs. D. D. Duff own a pleasant home with many roses growing in the front yard, a big barn and a garage, all on their 13-acre place. A good garden, alfalfa field and some fruit trees are growing on the place.
    Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Jones live on the Alex Duff place, where they rented the house and a garden.
    H. B. Maben has the care of 5½ acres, all in pears and apples. It is the property of his deceased mother.
    Mr. and Mrs. John McNeill have a cottage on a strip of land on the highway that is only the fraction of an acre, yet they acquired it by filing a homestead on the land. The fraction was left out by a discrepancy between government and state surveys. It is the smallest homestead I ever heard of.
    Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Baker have a fine home at the corner of Ross Lane and the highway and conduct in another building put up a year ago a grocery, confectionery and filling station. They are now putting in a Frigidaire cooler for meats, etc.
    Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Rogers have a new cottage and garage on 1⅓ acres opposite Baker's store. They have a poultry house and some chickens. Mr. Rogers is a contractor and builder.
    Mr. and Mrs. O. L. Thuemler live in a big 2-story white house, with three oaks and a garden in front, a garden, and vines at the side and a big red barn in the rear. They own 15 acres, raise alfalfa, keep cows and chickens.
    Mr. and Mrs. C. N. Culey have a fine large new residence of 7 rooms, sleeping porches and 2 rooms upstairs, on one acre. A garden for vegetables and flowers is grown. They built two years ago in April.
    Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Thomas occupy a nice 5-room house next door to Culey's, and have a pretty lawn and flowers, a neat garage and garden. They have lived there four years.
    Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ghelardi own a nice new home one year old on 6½ acres, on which he conducts truck gardening. He also keeps a horse and raises some alfalfa.
    Mr. and Mrs. John Bianchi have a cottage on 15 acres where they raise vegetables for the local market. Part of their land is used for alfalfa and pasture. They have resided on the place three years.
    L. O. Dean has rented the old Dean place and is conducting a dry cleaning plant.
    Mr. and Mrs. Xavier Widmer have a neat cottage and garage on two lots at the city limits, and maintain an apiary with 100 colonies of bees. They find them profitable, but sometimes their bees are poisoned by fruit spray. They have been in their place since last spring.
"Prosperous Ranches, Nice Homes Along the Jacksonville Highway," Medford Mail Tribune, July 9, 1927, page 3


    One of the prosperous, growing sections of the city is the Berrydale district, just at the edge of the city limits, on North Riverside Avenue, or Pacific Highway.
    The building of the Owen-Oregon lumber mill and the rebuilding of the Tomlin mill and box factory in that section added much to the growth and prosperity of the district. Since then grocery stores, markets, bakery, camp grounds, garages, gas stations, battery shop and other lines of business have been established, and indications point to further development.
    The auto camps are crowded every evening, and considerable business is conducted after other stores close in the evenings.
    North and west of the business district a residential section has been built, and new houses are being erected all the time. Many of the residents are employees of the lumber mills.
    The Berrydale store is owned by W. C. Bookard, and was one of the first business establishments in Berrydale. In addition to groceries and fruits he has a soda fountain and sells oils and gas.
    Camp Withus was the first auto camp in Berrydale, was built and is operated by Frank Howard. They now have 14 cabins, equipped with beds, gas hot plates, electric lights and other conveniences. There is also a shelter for autos, have a [omission?] gas and oil stations belong to Checkered Flag and A.A.A. Association. Mr. Howard also conducts a store and lunch counter.
    White and Richard own the Berrydale meat market that is operated by Lester Cash, and carries a nice line of fresh and smoked meats. They remain open until 7 p.m. to accommodate the mill employees.
    The Medford Battery Shop is operated by Walter Severin. It is located in a new building. They do all battery and electrical work.
    I. A. Spencer runs the barber shop, that remains open until 8 p.m. evenings.
    One of the latest additions to the commercial interests of Berrydale is Beck's bakery, located in a large new concrete building, built by J. J. Osenbrugge for Michael Beck, especially for a bakery according to Mr. Beck's plans and has modern equipment. The bakery does a big wholesale business all over the valley and in Medford and employs 8 to 10 people.
    Rainbow Camp, with a nice stucco entrance, is operated by Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Prickett, has well-equipped cabins and camping space. It is located on Bear Creek, and has shower baths and laundry room for campers.
    A. E. Crance's "O.K. Garage" is managed by J. B. McCallain. It was built in April and has enjoyed a good patronage.
    V. Ambroso has opened a shoe repair shop in the Berrydale district.
     "Pete's Garage" was established by P. O. Berg. The building is of concrete blocks and is 40 by 55 feet.
    Walden Brothers own the Cider Mill service station and store, which is conducted by E. O. Walden. Groceries and everything are kept for sale, and real apple cider is on tap.
    Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Boussum own a neat place on the street west of the cider mill.
    Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Skeeters have a home on the Pacific Highway near the cider mill store.
    A neat white house on the highway in this vicinity is the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Nelson.
    Mrs. Alice M. Nichols has a nice home, neatly painted on the highway in that vicinity.
    Mr. and Mrs. Paul Prince live in the new addition to Medford on Ohio Street in a neat cottage.
    Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Antle have a very neat home next door to the Berrydale store.
"The Berrydale District Making Rapid Growth," Medford Mail Tribune, July 30, 1927, page 3