The formal opening of the Medford exhibition building took place Saturday, in conjunction with the farmers' institute. The interior of the building was literally a mass of roses, contributed by the ladies of Medford, and not the least attractive feature of the exhibit were the ladies themselves, rivaling in sweetness and beauty the roses which they were arranging with such deft hands. Mineral specimens of various kinds, samples of grains and other agricultural products, photographs of Southern Oregon scenes tastefully arranged made a pleasing ensemble and brought forth many expressions of admiration, not only from the citizens of the town, but from persons passing through on the trains, which now stops ten minutes to give passengers an opportunity to view the exhibit.
    Among the exhibits which attracted more than ordinary attention were some figs, nearly full grown, some half-ripened cherries and well-developed apples from the Leever place, near Central Point, some fine specimens of copper ore from the Blue Ledge and pure quicksilver and cinnabar ore from the Meadows cinnabar mines. The exhibit will be added to as the season advances, until Medford will have one of the handsomest exhibits along the line.
    The lighting of the building is one of its best features. A continuous line of lights, numbering nearly 200, runs around the outer edge of the porch, and inside the lights are in equal profusion.
    Credit is due, and whole lot of it, to the gentlemen who inaugurated the enterprise and especially to Hon. John D. Olwell, who gave it his personal time and attention from its beginning to its completion.
Medford Mail, May 19, 1905, page 1

Medford Mail Tribune, August 11, 1905, page 1


    At the Medford exhibit building farmer A. C. Tayler has two specimens of agricultural products, which show the change that has come over him of late. Last spring he carved upon the outer skin of a growing squash--this was just after he had deserted the shoe shop for the farm--the legend "Tayler the Footfitter.'' The squash grew to enormous proportions and is now on exhibition as aforesaid and upon the rind the words carved by Mr. Tayler show plainly. At the time he plucked the squash from its parent vine he also excavated from the soil a mighty beet. Upon this latter he carved the words, "Tayler, the Hayseed." These two inscriptions show that Mr. Tayler has gone to the soil--forward, not back--and is proud of his calling.
    Some Idaho pears are shown by F. W. Streets, very large and showy in appearance.
    R. Edwards, formerly of Medford, has forwarded some gold specimens from the Last Chance mine, in Bohemia district, that are first class.
    E. P. Bennett shows some fine King apples grown on his place in East Medford.
    John J. Brown, of Central Point, contributed some Orange cling peaches of great size and beautiful appearance.
    Some large Bartletts and Comice pears sent in by Thos. Pankey, foreman of the Snowy Butte orchards, are among the attractions.
    The Griffin Creek section is represented by some fine Late Crawfords from J. McPherson's orchard.
Medford Mail, September 8, 1905, page 1


    One of the features of the exhibit building this week is an enlarged photograph of one of the sugar pine trees of the upper Rogue River country. The tree is at least ten feet in diameter, not the largest by any means of the many big trees in that section, but still big enough to be out of the "pole" class.
"City Happenings," Medford Mail, October 27, 1905, page 5


    Some of the good works of the [Commercial Club] is much in evidence any dark night when we look on the well-lighted exhibit building. It is one thing greatly appreciated by every citizen of our city, and perhaps some do not know that it is through the efforts of the Commercial Club that this building is kept well lighted. The club is replacing the globes as fast as they burn out, and we have paid a bill of $15 at one time for electric light globes to replace those burned out.
J. A. Perry, "No Influence Brought to Bear," Medford Mail, April 6, 1906, page 1


    There have been a number of specimens of fruit and grasses brought to the exhibit building this week.
    George J. Post, who purchased the Patrick farm, near Central Point, brought in a limb of Bartlett pears upon which the pears are as thick as they possibly can be. He has already thinned his pears twice and must make a third thinning on part of the orchard in order to have perfect fruit and save the trees. He shows a limb of peach plums and one of plums, not named, that are in the same condition as the pears.
    Mahlon Purdin has a bunch of Jackson County-grown flax on exhibition.
    W. H. Brown, of the famous Ben Lomond orchard, contributes some very fine apricots.
    I. M. Harvey shows some fine Yellow Transparent apples, grown without irrigation.
    Early Alexander peaches of large size are shown by Thos. Collins, of East Medford.
    A specimen of German millet comes from the farm of John Heimroth and is very fine.
    A new kind of wild grass, something nobody seems able to name, was brought in by Capt. Rawlings. It was found growing thriftily on a dry hillside about ten miles from the city. The specimen is about a foot in length and has well-seeded heads.
    Wednesday morning the last of the 1905 pumpkins were thrown out. For over nine months that mammoth squash had been one of the attractions, but like all of us, old age finally conquered.
Medford Mail, July 13, 1906, page 1


    The man with his eyes open can see several things at the Medford exhibit building nowadays. He can form some idea of the diversity of the agricultural and horticultural products of Southern Oregon, as well as of the benefits of irrigation. A few of the late specimens brought in are:
    Some fine Newtowns, grown by Wahler Bros., near Medford, which would be of extra size if matured.
    A 24½-ounce Trophy tomato, grown by Goodpasture Bros., of Willow Springs, which is worthy of mention, not only for its size but on account of its early maturity. Goodpasture Bros. have solved the problem of irrigating a dry farm and proven themselves first-class gardeners. They have sunk several wells on the place and have a pump mounted on trucks and operated by a gasoline engine. When one portion of the garden is sufficiently moistened they move to the next well, keeping up the process until the whole is irrigated.
    W. H. Norcross shows some Spitzenberg, Newtown, Beitenheimer and Ben Davis apples, showing the exceptional growth with irrigation. He irrigates from a pumping plant driven by an electric motor and will have the finest of his many fine crops.
    Allen Smith, of the Orchard Home, exhibits some immense pears, of the Clapp's Favorite variety.
    An exhibit with a history is a three-foot specimen of the third cutting of red clover, grown by H. M. Coss, on a city lot, with city water. Mr. Coss claims that off this small piece of ground he will produce enough hay to feed a team of horses and a cow all winter.
    Two specimens of alfalfa seed are shown. One from the Facklam farm, near Central Point, and the other from George J. Post's farm, in the same locality. The first was grown on light soil and the latter on heavy. Usually the seed grown on light soil is the best, but this year the heavy soil leads, due to dry weather, say the experts.
    J. W. Peart, of the Buena Vista orchards, shows some fine Spitzenbergs.
    A two-foot limb from the Bear Creek (Lewis) orchard contains eleven large and perfect Bartletts, showing systematic and intelligent care on the part of the manager, Mr. Harris.
    Clinton Cook, of Applegate, shows some very fine hops.
    There is a fine showing of wheat and oats from the Capt. Short place, near Medford. One wheat stool has 120 stems with six- to eight-inch heads.
    There you are. Apples, pears, tomatoes, alfalfa, clover, wheat, oats, nothing that grows in the ground or on top of it, all produced to the highest degree of perfection. Did you notice, however, that the product is still finer where the ground is irrigated? Just remember that.
    We pretty nearly forgot to mention several oak branches literally loaded with acorns. That means fat bear, deer and pork this fall.
Medford Mail, August 17, 1906, page 1


    The exhibit building is beginning to look like a display of Jackson County products more than ever. The people have been very generous with their contributions, and as a consequence the display is especially good.
    L. B. Kent sent in some very fine silver prunes this week.
    Oatman & Rapp, of Talent, contribute some Yellow Newtowns that are hard to beat.
    Mrs. Walden, of Medford, has some extra fine Spitzenbergs on exhibition.
    Wm. Aitkin, of Ashland, shows some soft-shell almonds. His crop went four bushels to the tree this year.
    Eagle Point comes to the front with a variety of products. There are some Red Romanite apples from the orchards of S. B. Holmes and A. L. Haselton. Some chili pepper plants, full of "fruit," which is of extraordinary size and corresponding torridness, grown by Mrs. Della Lewis. Some Prize Taker, Australian Brown and White Southport Globe onions from A. L. Haselton, the boss onion grower. Mr. Haselton has been growing onions each season for several years on the same piece of ground, and in order to give it a rest will not plant it next year, but has leased two acres of well-fertilized soil from a neighbor upon which to grow onions next year. As evidence of the fact that there is money in the fragrant esculent Mr. Haselton pays a rental of $150 for the two acres for one year.
    Some Portugal onions, grown by Frank Lewis, of Eagle Point, are attracting much attention. They are a new variety here. Last year George Taylor, of Taylor, Young & Co., of Portland, was much impressed by the Jackson County onions at the Lewis & Clark fair. At his own expense he imported seed of the best variety of onions from Portugal and sent the seed here by F H. Hopkins, to be distributed among the growers, and they are all well pleased with the result. The onions are large, very finely flavored and not strong, and are said to be excellent keepers. They mature very quickly. The seed from which grew the onions shown by Mr. Lewis was planted on March 8th, and matured much quicker than other varieties transplanted from hot beds. A. L. Haselton has also some of the finest Yellow Bellflowers ever grown.
    The fourteen-inch sunflower mentioned last week is overshadowed this week by an eighteen-inch blossom of the Russian variety grown by A. L. Jones.
    The boss muskmelon this season was grown by P. L. Simpkins, of Central Point. The seed for this melon, called the Hanford, was sent to him from California in a letter and from those seeds he has grown a wagonload of melons. This particular specimen weighs twenty-seven pounds.
    The Comice pears, grown by G. A. Hover, are topnotchers.
    One of the most interesting and unique exhibits is that of R. E. Peyton, of Peyton, Oregon, which deserves and receives a special article.
    Some Wealthy, Yellow Newtown and Spitzenberg apples and Lemon Cling peaches come from J. S. Barrett's Up-to-Date nursery. The Newtowns are especially fine.
    S. G. Simon, who last year purchased the Hartley forty-acre orchard, west of Medford, shows some of the finest Beurre Bosc and Comice pears of the season.
    Those Jonathan apples from the Lewis orchards, in size, coloring and general all-around excellence, are hard to beat. It's a close race between them and the ones from S. M. Nealon's Table Rock orchard.
    Some Petite prunes of fine quality are shown by Jake Huger.
    Mrs. G. W. Heckathorn, of Eagle Point, sent in some specimens of table beets, of a size that would do credit to mangelwurzels.
    Some very fine Howell pears come from the foothill farm of George Andrews, on Griffin Creek.
Medford Mail, September 21, 1906, page 1


    About the best exhibit in this week is that contributed by J. F. Ditsworth, of Leeds, in upper Rogue River, demonstrating seemingly that the higher up you go the better the fruit. His Howell pears and Spitzenberg apples are especially worthy of mention. They might be equaled but not excelled. There are also some beautiful Fall Bellefleurs, Newtowns and Jonathans.
    George Carey, R.F.D. No. 1, shows some extra fine Flame Tokay grapes from the old Elmer farm.
    Jos. Hoskins exhibits some specimens of Gloria Mundi apples, the interesting feature of which is the fact that they were grown on "desert" land without either irrigation or cultivation. You can't keep fruit from growing in the Rogue River Valley.
    Some good Wheatland peaches are contributed by G. A. Hover.
    S. G. Simon, of Medford, has some Flame Tokay grapes, and Comice and Beurre Bosc pears. All are top notchers as to quality.
    A large Mexican casaba comes from the farm of J. W. Myers, of Central Point.
    The old Schumpf quartz ledge, in Willow Springs district, is capable of producing something beside gold ore, and this fact is demonstrated by a fifty-pound watermelon grown by N. Jerry, and which is appropriately named the "Nugget."
    Miss S. A. Larrabee, of Central Point, shows a very fine collection of Comice and Beurre Bosc pears; also some Ben Davis apples.
    Some exceptionally fine Newtowns are contributed by Jas. W. Peart from the Lyons orchard, east of Bear Creek.
    Mrs. F. M. Amy, of Central Point, earns the gratitude of the lovers of flowers by a handsome contribution of white asters.
    J. W. Miller demonstrates the rejuvenating power of water. An old peach tree on his place, in West Medford, had not produced any fruit for several years. This season the tree was given plenty of water and not only produced good fruit but seems to have renewed its youth.
Medford Mail, September 28, 1906, page 1


    The show in the exhibition building nowadays, although not entirely complete, is one of which any section might be proud, and it would take prizes anywhere in a horticultural or agricultural show. The Mail has endeavored to record the new exhibits as they come in, but, owing to the great number brought in every week, has been unable to give more than the most brief mention of each. To be fully appreciated the showing of fruits, vegetables and grains must be seen.
    This week there are many fine specimens.
    J. L. Demmer has some very fine Royal quinces and some large P. Barry pears.
    Bates Bros. contribute some Jonathans from their young orchard of good size and fine coloring.
    L. E. Van Vleit has some Ben Davis, Spitzenberg, Jonathan and Newtown apples. The latter are very fine. He has some very good Comice pears also.
    The Jonathans from M. I. Minear's place are very fine, being highly colored and of even size. He also shows some nice Comice pears.
    Some good Newtowns are those from D. McKiliop's orchard, near Central Point, grown by S. F. Hathaway.
    The grape show is very materially increased by the Muscat, Black Malvoisies, Tokays and Malagas from C. D. Reed's vineyard at Jacksonville. A California grape grower who has 500 acres of vineyard said they were the finest he had ever seen, and that he had none such grapes in his whole 500 acres.
    This same Californian commented on the Winter Nelis pears from the Snowy Butte orchard, and refused to believe that they were of that variety for awhile. California Winter Nellis were not more than half that size.
    A big red-cheeked Pippin from E. J. DeHart's orchard leads in that variety so far, although those from W. H. Bradshaw's orchard, northeast of Medford, are a close second.
    J. S. Barnett is up to date in growing as well as in the name of his nursery, as the King and Newtown apples shown by him demonstrate.
    Some of as fine Beurre Bosc pears as one would wish to see come from D. R. Hills' orchard.
    F. W. Knowles, of Jacksonville, has some peaches of the Golden Cling variety that are hard to beat.
    L. G. Porter shows some Ben Davis which are very large.
    W. H. Norcross, of Central Point, has some Newtowns that are worthy of especial mention for their uniformity of size and form.
    The Beurre Hardy contributed by L. B. Kent, and the Le Conte pears shown by I. M. Harvey are the first of these varieties to be brought in.
    Thos. P. Kahler is after the record with a couple of enormous mangelwurzels, each one of which is capable of keeping a cow busy for some time disposing of it.
    The Sunrise spuds, grown by J. G. Fry, north of Medford, are the best in the spud line yet brought in.
    Mrs. Will Davis, of Medford, has some fine quinces.
    John Hamrick contributes some immense Royal Burbank potatoes, grown on Bear Creek second bottom soil.
    Those Rambos, Bellefleurs and Spitzenbergs from J. C. Pendleton's orchard are hard to beat. The two first are especially large and the latter most beautifully colored.
    Jesse Richardson, from the north of Rogue River, is the first to send in corn of 1906. It is good enough for any country.
    S. W. Boyd carries off the belt for Jonathans with a plate he exhibits this week. He also has some Salway peaches that are prize winners.
    H. M. Hurley has Salway peaches, Rose of Pena and Tokay grapes, Beurre Hardy and de Anjou pears and Jonathan and Red Cheek Pippin apples, all of them top-notchers in their class.
Medford Mail, October 5, 1906, page 1


    George J. Post:--"There are a whole bunch of people from the cold countries dropping into Medford these days. See that fellow over there? I'll bet any amount of money he is from North Dakota or Minnesota. How do I know? Well, look at the heavy clothes he wears, also the overshoes and cap with ear mufflers attached. A fellow, a stranger to me, stepped into the exhibit building a few days ago, clad about as above described, and I went up and spoke to him something like this:--'Had pretty cold weather up north where you are from this winter, haven't you?' His reply was:--'Well, yes, we've had very little July weather for several months past, but how did you know I came from the north?' I called his attention to the fact that the skin was peeling off his ears and nose. He had evidently frozen these members not long since, and he didn't freeze them in Southern Oregon. He finally told me he was from the Alberta country in Canada."
"Things Told on the Street," Medford Mail, March 1, 1907, page 1


    Another example of the public-spiritedness of Medford's citizens was shown in the building, by a number of its citizens, of an exhibit pavilion. The exhibit building is of unique and attractive design, its style of architecture being patterned after the old-time Mission. It is situated near the depot, in full view of passing trains. It contains samples of productions from the orchards, farms, mills and forests of the tributary territory, the diversified character of which almost leads the visitor to believe that he has wandered into a world's fair building instead of a local exhibit building.
"The Cream of Creation," Medford Mail, April 26, 1907, page 3




    Another example of the public-spiritedness of Medford's citizens was shown in the building, by a number of its citizens, of an exhibit pavilion. The exhibit building is of unique and attractive design, its style of architecture being patterned after the old-time Mission. It is situated near the depot, in full view of passing trains. It contains samples of products from the orchards, farms, mines and forests of the tributary territory, the diversified character of which almost leads the visitor to believe that he has wandered into a world's fair building, instead of a local exhibit building.

    The largest attendance at any recent meeting of the Medford Commercial Club was present Wednesday evening, when the exhibit building was again discussed. The club rescinded its resolution of the previous meeting endorsing the maintenance of the exhibit as at present conducted and adopted a resolution declaring that the exhibit should be maintained by the club, and appointing a committee to open negotiations with John D. Olwell for the purchase of building and exhibits.
    Real estate men were out in force and were unanimous in the opinion that the maintenance of the exhibit, as at present conducted, with a real estate office in the structure, worked to the disadvantage of the other realty dealers, and that the time was ripe for the Commercial Club to acquire the structure and maintain the exhibits. A deed was shown to be on record conveying a half interest in the building itself to the Commercial Club, signed by four of the eight contributors to the building fund, the Jackson County Bank, Fred. H. Hopkins, J. W. Perkins and Edgar Hafer. It was brought out that this offer had been made the club in 1909, but had been rejected, after which two of the signers, F. H. Hopkins and Edgar Hafer, had informed the club that they had signed under a misunderstanding, and withdrew the offer, but in the meantime the deed had been recorded.
    The resolution was presented by Dr. J. M. Keene, who, however, refused to sign it as sponsor, whereupon R. H. Hanauer assumed the responsibility. A long debate ensued, in which it was demonstrated that the sentiment of those present was overwhelmingly in favor of the resolution.
    President Colvig left the chair to speak against the resolution and took occasion to score real estate brokers for instances of misrepresentations to purchasers made by them. He considered the entire matter a fight between real estate brokers and not proper for the club's action. He thought the club could not afford to maintain the exhibit as creditably as it was kept up at present. He urged real estate men to get together for their own good and the good of the valley and end their rivalry.
    R. H. Hanauer and J. M. Keene led the fight for the resolution. Bert Anderson stated that he thought it a question of special privilege and that in permitting the exhibit as conducted to be maintained on its right of way, the Southern Pacific was granting an unfair advantage to Mr. Olwell. Messrs. C. E. Whisler and G. Putnam opposed the resolution and he latter offered to amend by striking out section 1, which rescinded the Commercial Club's former action, and section three, which declared the maintenance of the exhibit injurious. Section one was retained by the club and the signer of the resolution agreed to striking out section three.
    As finally adopted, the resolution rescinds the former action of the club claiming it is not the sentiment of majority of the club to maintain, if opportunity is secured, a creditable exhibit, and authorizes a committee to secure a proposition from Mr. Olwell for the purchase of building and exhibit; and submit the same to the directors of the club.
    President W. I. Vawter of the Jackson County Bank stated that the directors of the bank had appropriated $200 as the bank's share of the publicity fund of the Commercial Club, in accordance with an agreement with other banks, to give the same amount each. The other banks had not lived up to the agreement, but had increased their donation to $400 from the First National and $300 from the Medford National, but the Jackson County felt bound by its original agreement and felt aggrieved that the club had refused by resolution to accept it and that such action had been published. He stated that his bank had given $200 a year when other banks had given $100, had always been a large giver and had the welfare of the club at heart, but stood pat on the original offer of $200, which the club voted to accept.
    J. A. Perry spoke of the club's display at the Chicago land show and presented a list of 3500 names of people who had attended and wanted information regarding this section.
    Mr. Schenk of the Omaha land show urged the club to make an exhibit at Omaha in February, and the proposition was referred to the exhibit committee to report to the directors.
Medford Mail Tribune, December 22, 1910, page 1

    The negotiations with John D. Olwell for the purchase of the exhibit building by the Medford Commercial Club appear to have come to a sudden terminus, with little hope of being able to consummate the deal that at last accounts was supposed to be all but closed. The representatives of the club claim he has backed down from his original proposition.
    They state that Mr. Olwell offered that for $2000 cash he would within ten days turn over all of the interest in the building save that of J. W. Perkins. Now it is stated that he will turn over only those of J. E. Enyart, Hunt Lewis and himself, and that he will not move out before April 1.
    This is not satisfactory to the members of the committee, so they state, as the parties putting up the money to make the purchase would not agree to it.
    Thus the deal appears to be about where it started, and both sides obdurate.
    Words of Mr. Olwell to a representative of The Sun yesterday conveyed an entirely different meaning than the foregoing. The committee, appointed at the last meeting of the Commercial Club to close the deal for the exhibit building, visited the owner yesterday, and on being asked by The Sun if that meant that the deal was closed, Mr. Olwell said:
    "No, the deal was not closed. The committee called to confer over certain details regarding the transfer. The papers are not yet in shape, but I suppose will be ready within two or three days for my signature."
    Mr. Olwell did not intimate that a snag of any nature had been encountered.
Medford Sun, January 22, 1911, page 1

    An ultimatum was delivered yesterday afternoon by the commercial club committee to John D. Olwell which, in the words of the committeemen, was that they had raised the $2000 and the money would be paid over to him if he would turn over the exhibit building in ten days; otherwise the deal was off.
    The members of the committee are S. A. Nye, Fred N. Cummings and F. J. Newman. As soon as they were assured that they had the money on top they rang up Mr. Olwell by phone, catching the Hotel Nash. He was told that such was the situation and that the decision of the committee was that he could take it or leave it.
    His reply was not an acceptance. He stated that he would agree to vacate in ten days if he could, but that if he could not do so in that time he would vacate as soon as possible, but would not agree to vacate for certain until April 1.
    This was merely promised to be reported back to the committee, but the members stated that they would not consider it nor any proposition different from that contained in their ultimatum.
    There the matter rests, and it is Hobson's choice as to which side will be safe guess for the first play. Both are essaying to stand pat.
Medford Sun, January 24, 1911, page 1

    After undergoing a thorough painting process, the interior of the Chamber of Commerce building, together with exhibits of local produce and manufacture, which are being installed today, is taking on an appearance of a county fair in the miniature.
    Pictures of Crater Lake and other Southern Oregon scenic points in color, the work of E. J. Patterson, are hanging on the walls in attractive positions. The display window space is now practically taken up, with H. A. Cady allotted the north window of the building to show mineral ores of various kinds, neighboring a display of mill products by the Morton Milling Company. The next four window spaces have been allotted to the Owen-Oregon Lumber Company, ,Rogue River Valley Canning Company, California Oregon Power Company and the Medford Floral Society, which now has a small decorated Christmas tree in its space.
    Specimens of the prize-winning grains and grasses, exhibited at the last state fair by Jackson County, were being arranged this afternoon by E. R. Oatman and Howard Warner.
    As their donation to chamber of commerce work, it became known today that the West and Hall paint company painted and repapered the building free of charge, spending approximately a week on the task, which has made a decided difference in the general appearance.

    W. B. Smith has made application for a permit to move the old Jackson County Chamber of Commerce building from Front and Main streets to 714 Palm Street, where he plans to remodel the local landmark into a residence, according to a statement made by City Superintendent Frank Rogers yesterday.
    The building was erected in 1905. The present offices of the Chamber of Commerce are located at 213 West Main Street.
Medford Mail Tribune, November 19, 1944, page 9