Grants Pass, OR - Real Estate Broker

Why "Piggy" Banks?

Have you ever wondered why so many coin banks are shaped like pigs?

Many, many years ago, dishes and cookware in Europe were made of a dense orange clay called "pygg."  People saved coins in jars made of this clay, and so the jars became known as "pygg" banks.

At some point an English potter was asked to make a "pygg" bank; he misunderstood and made a bank that resembled a pig, and it caught on.

Exploring Eight Dollar Mountain - Josephine County, Oregon

The Golden Valley of the Illinois River again beckoned, as we continued our search along Eight Dollar Mountain.

This is where some say Josephine County's gold rush all started.

Just a short distance upstream from Eight Dollar bridge is where the historic golden Josephine Creek joins the Illinois River for their journey to the Pacific Ocean.

We have followed the mining roads before, as they meandered through the rock strewn valley, which had been devastated by early hydraulic mining.  Everywhere in the area are huge piles of rock left by the dredges of the 1800's.

Today we determined to chase the road 'til it dropped!  Hiking the road is a pleasant experience, even though it can be navigated by 4X4.  Following the narrow road, one is reminded that if driving, you must be extremely cautious, as there are many stones and boulders you must go around and over.

One mistake, and car shopping might be on tomorrow's agenda!

The river is peaceful now, as it whispers through the valley, but now and then it reminds you that it can turn wild!

When it's in a bad mood, the Illinois can take your car for a long ride, as if it were a toy.

Here our journey ends. There is a connection, by climbing a steeper route to join the Illinois River Road up above us. 

Today, is not a good time however, as the road above and the skies overhead, are occupied with fighting America's largest forest fire burning at this time.

The "Oak Flat" fire is raging in areas that were spared by the infamous "Biscuit" fire, which scorched this entire area in 2002.

Today's "Oak Flat" fire was, unfortunately, human caused!

Throughout our trip, giant helicopters coursed above us on their way to pick up and carry their huge water buckets to the fire. 

As the day went on, the wind changed direction, and most of the smoke was blown away from the area around Eight Dollar Mountain.

We found an area where the river was so calm, and not too cold.  We'll have to return another day to take advantage of this "swimming hole."

There are a lot of pretty cool looking rocks in this same area that have been smoothed over the years by the river.

At the end of the trail, we discovered the remains of a large cement and stone foundation.

Huge center concrete pillars must have supported tremendous weight.

Maybe someone out there can tell me what this was, as I know it was too strongly built to have been living quarters.

Since it was at the end of the dredging, I wonder if it could have been an arristra or a "stamp mill" for crushing rock to obtain the gold?

We can't be sure, but this sure looks like a grave site to us.  Oftentimes in our explorations of the old gold fields we have found grave sites similar to this, and it appears that at one time animals had tried to move the rocks and gave up.

This chimney is on a foundation close by.  Could it have been a still, or maybeit was connected in some way to another operation, since it is only a block away from the foundation we found? 

It has a water pipe at the bottom, but I can't figure it out either.

Everywhere along the Illinois River we found mining claims, and in areas where claims are not allowed, and mining is open to the public, modern-day prospectors are abundant.  Here in a short span, of less than three football fields long, there were six suction dredges working.  The above dredges vacuum the fine materials that fill the cracks in the bedrock.  As the rivers are powerful in the Spring and Summer, the fine gold is pushed along with the current, and gold being heavier than rock, gradually fills the lowest cracks and crevices in the river.  These suction dredges bring up the material, and run it over the sluice, pictured above.

If you're looking for a place to live, where you can enjoy the outdoors, and some of the most beautiful county ever seen, start packing for Josephine County, Oregon!

Price Reduction on Home and Property For Sale - 425 Crow Road, Merlin, Oregon $299,000 MLS #52914614

One Owner, Custom Built Tom Martin Home and Property For Sale. Beautiful, private setting on 2.71 manicured acres, fully fenced.  Land on other side of Crow Rd. is BLM. Mature trees & fabulous landscaping surround the home. Only 8 minutes from Grants Pass & on a beautiful, private knoll. Tile roof compliments this family retreat. Large metal wood shed & large equipment shed. Huge, fenced garden to keep deer from helping themselves to your vegetables.

Immaculate tri-level home, with tile roof and enhanced with a stone facade on both sides. The lawns have full sprinkler systems, and are manicured fit for a golf course. Decorative concrete dividers surround all areas of lawn, sidewalks and treed areas.

Living room features brick fireplace with ceramic tile covered hearth and Heatilator. Large bay window. View is from inside front door, to the right of the fireplace is the formal dining room.

Large formal dining room. Photo taken from entrance to living room, and to the right is the other entrance to the kitchen. Large picture window looks out on gently sloping grounds and mature forests.

Double ovens just inside kitchen from the formal dining room. Large double sink below huge windows looking out on your private acreage. Cabinets are gorgeous and have never been touched with water. Only hand-waxed since they were new.

Separate cooktop enhances large kitchen with over-abundant cupboard space.

Kitchen eating area looks out on forested acres in the tailored backyard, and is separated by a beautiful wood railing from the large family room.

Family room as viewed from top of stairs in kitchen eating area. There is a wood stove pad to the left of this photo, with raised brick bottom, and entire corner of the room next to the sliding doors are bricked about ten feet high.

Wet bar as viewed from family room couch. Door on the right is a large walk-in pantry. Stairs go up to the kitchen and eating area level. To the left of the wet bar is the hallway, with the powder room on the right and the large laundry room on left.

Main bathroom (upstairs) is again filled with luxurious cabinetry, tile counters and an over-sized tile shower with glass doors. Ornate fixtures add an elegant touch.

Master bedroom as viewed from the dressing area, and bathroom and master closet which is set apart from the bedroom by a short set of stairs, to add to the elegance of the room.

Separate sinks in the dressing area and the master bathroom add to the luxury of the master suite. Opposite the master bathroom, and to the rear of where this photo was taken is the dressing area, with double walk-in closets on each side.

The second bedroom is also very large and sits next to the main upstairs bathroom. Beautiful, private views are also afforded from this room. Third bedroom is right next door.

Extra-large linen closets line the wall on the left, and the cabinetry is the same beautiful craftsmanship as found throughout the home. Italian tile awaits at the bottom of the stairs and covers the entire foyer.

Fabulous redwood deck off family room, with exits to the yard. Manicured grounds surround the deck, and you can relax with complete privacy.

One of the many walkways leading up to the house along the entrance driveway. Side garage door is visible on the left, and the other door leads into the laundry room.

Newman United Methodist Church - Grants Pass, Oregon

One of our final, and surprisingly one of the most historic stops on the Josephine County Historical Society's "Passport To History" program was the Newman United Methodist Church in downtown Grants Pass.

We were met by Darrell and Margaret Stafford, aka "Thomas and Hannah Croxton."  These folks were so thoughtful, that to make our visit memorable, they dressed in period clothing.  It was like we were actually meeting the Croxtons.

The Croxtons emigrated to St. Louis, Missouri from Staffordshire, England with their two children in 1842. Before arriving in Josephine County, the Croxton's had five more children.

Thomas Croxton became a "49er" when he arrived in El Dorado, California to seek his fortune, and after returning home he was anxious to relocate his family to the West.

Thomas and Hannah arrived in Josephine County in 1857, two years before Oregon became a state.  Thomas' sister Margaret had already settled here with her husband James Vannoy (also of important historic interest to the county). 

After arriving, Thomas Croxton started the congregation, which would become the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The first Methodist Episcopal Church was erected in 1887 on land donated by the Croxtons.  They had also donated land for a school and a cemetery.

This is a photo of the Reverend Thomas Croxton taken by Peter Britt, a Jacksonville pioneer, and namesake of the "Britt Festival."

Hannah Croxton died in 1867, and Thomas passed in 1868.  They were first interred at Croxton Pioneer Cemetery, but were exhumed and moved to Grants Pass Masonic Cemetery in the early 1900's.  Reverend Croxton was a Mason.

Thomas Lewis (better known as TL) Jones, a previous minister was brought back to Grants Pass in 1888 to organize the building of a new church.

The old church was relocated, and given to another local congregation.  The new Methodist Church was built and paid for within two years.

TL Jones was originally a gold miner, and was converted to Christianity in Grants Pass in 1865.

Shortly after his conversion, he married Mary Evelyn Baird,

a young woman whose father had been killed by a grizzly bear only 15 months earlier.

Before returning to Grants Pass, Reverend Jones had been a circuit-rider preacher for many years.

To show you the dedication of these early Methodist circuit-riders; at one point, Reverend Jones did not have enough money to continue his travels to carry God's word to the outlying reaches, so he sold his gun to get enough money to continue.  In those days, a gun was necessary for survival, to put food on the table, and realizing what a hardship this would be for them, Mrs Jones asked God for help.  Her prayers were answered when someone gave Mrs. Jones two dead sheep, which she proceeded to sheer, spun the wool, which she then knitted into socks.  She then repurchased the rifle her husband had sold by selling the socks. 

You have to admire the sacrifices our pioneer ministers made to bring the word of God to the settlements.  This magnificent church is a fitting tribute to such brave people.

In a short two years, after Reverend Jones returned to Grants Pass, the new church went from "plan to realization," and was dedicated in 1890 by

Bishop John Phillip Newman, therefore it was named the Newman Methodist Episcopal Church.

Bishop Newman was well known for his eloquent and striking preaching style.  He served three terms as Chaplain of the United States Senate, and was a good friend of President and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant.

The Newman United Methodist Church, as it is known today, is the only example of "high Victorian Gothic" wood construction in all of Josephine County, and is one of the few remaining examples in Oregon.

The architectural plans for the church were provided by the Methodist Church, but there were no plans for finishing the interior.

It was up to Hammond Kinney, a church member and architect at the Sugar Pine Door and Lumber Company to design the interior.

This lovely church still has the original, huge, curved ceiling beams and wainscoting made from sugar pine.  The moldings, rosettes, and railing posts are manzanita and laurel wood.

Local historian Percy T. Booth once wrote, "Many faithful Methodists worked in the Sugar Pine Sash and Door Factory.  It was no mere incident that the beautiful, lofty and exposed beams, the sweeping arches, the cleaving wainscot and royal dress foils that dignified the belfry, along with the charm of Lancet windows, were fashioned by loving hands with pride and honor."

Oliver Templeton Beals, a carpenter for the Sugar Pine Door Company, erected the elegant bell tower and 125 foot steeple, constructed from 4' X 5's that are each 48 feet long.

The bell from the original church building was retained, and placed in the new church's bell tower.  (If you heard bells ringing at around 2:30pm last Tuesday in Grants Pass, it was us -- Darrell Stafford was so kind to let us give it a try.)

This lovely piece of stained glass was given to the church by Oliver Beals' family.

What a magnificent steeple!  Can you imagine being the steeple climber that has to check this one out?

Looking South from the bell tower.

Looking West, across Sixth Street.

This view is looking North.

And at last, looking to the East.

Shirley Holzinger is the organist for the Newman United Methodist Church, and has been for over 45 years.  This photo shows Shirley at the Reuter Pipe Organ, which she graciously played for us.   As the uplifting music flowed throughout the church, we realized how very lucky the congregation is to have such a talented organist, who devotes so much of her time for the love of her faith. 

The organ was donated to the church in 1939.  It has been expanded twice, once in 1981 and again in 2000.  It is the largest pipe organ in Grants Pass. 

These pipes are contained in a room behind the sanctuary.

There are more pipes behind the pulpit, and the vertical partitions will open when needed to bring forth more of the sound from the pipes behind.

The Hinners Tracker Pipe Organ is the second largest pipe organ in Grants Pass, and it was built in 1912.  It is considered a "Victorian Pipe Organ," and only the blower is electric, eliminating the need for small boys to "pump the bellows," which in emergency power outages can still be manually pumped.  This organ sits in the parlor, which can be closed off entirely from the sanctuary.

This is an Epworth Pump Organ, built sometime around 1890.  All three of these organs were donated to the Newman United Methodist Church.

In 1977, the Newman United Methodist Church was added to the National Registry of Historic Places, the third building in Josephine County to receive this recognition.

The Newman United Methodist Church building is now 120 years old, and in my humble opinion, is the loveliest church I have seen.

Many thanks to Shirley Holzinger for spending the time with us, and sharing her wonderful music ability. 

Darrell and Margaret Stafford, thank you so much for bringing Grants Pass and Josephine County history alive for us.  We appreciate the time you were able to spend with us, and the stories you shared.

Please visit the Josephine County Historical Society's website for more information on the Passport To History program.

Below are the links to my earlier Josephine County Historical Society's Passport To History blogs.

Introduction      Caveman      Schmidt House

Blind George's Newsstand        Grants Pass Historic Homes Tour

Historic District Tour      Grants Pass Pharmacy      Rogue Theatre

Hugo Community Church      Haines Apple Tree      Ament Dam

Grants Pass Cemeteries      Pottsville      Sportsman Park

Griffin Park      Lake Selmac      Granite Hill Cemetery

Pleasant Valley Cemetery        Josephine County Bridges

Grants Pass Fire Department    Reinhart Volunteer Park   Wolf Creek Inn

Applegate Trail Interpretive Center        Golden Townsite

Grave Creek Covered Bridge        Robertson Bridge

Wilderville Store and Post Office        Wilderville Cemetery

Granite Tombstone Quarry        Merlin Park - Veterans Walk of Honor

Gotcher Cemetery      Provolt Store      Missouri Flat Cemetery

Siskiyou Smokejumper Base      Rough & Ready Botanical Wayside

Rough & Ready Lumber Co.      Pacifica, A Garden In The Siskiyous

Riverside Park      Daily Courier      Daily Courier "Boss" Voorhies

Barnstormers Theatre    Ghosts In Southern Oregon National Monument

The Chateau at Oregon Caves National Monument

Oregon Caves National Monument        Hugo Ladies Club

Kerbyville Museum   Stith-Naucke House   Bigfoot Cavern Bar and Grill

Croxton Pioneer Memorial Park

Sterling Mine Ditch Trail - Jacksonville, Oregon

When James Sterling and Aaron Davies found gold in 1854, within two years a town was booming.

Sterlingville had boarding houses, general stores, saloons, a barber shop, casino, dance-hall, and a lot of houses.  With a population of 1,500 it had its' own school district.

In 1877, the Sterling Mining Company built a ditch 26 miles long from the Little Applegate River to support their hydraulic mining operations.

The Sterling Mine Ditch was completed in a little less than a year by about 400 Chinese laborers.

In our quest for discovering early Oregon history, we set out to find this amazing ditch, since the town of Sterlingville was destroyed after the mining operations ceased.

There is a well-marked trail with parking across the dirt road, sufficent for several vehicles.

Starting out, it was a very pleasant day, and since we have been taking many mountain climbing trips this year, we felt this would be an easy hike, as the last several we had ended up at the 6,300 foot level. 

This hike gradually climbed, but it certainly wasn't strenuous.

One thing we forgot however, is that at the lower elevations, as these foothills are, a 96 degree day on a hot, dirt trail is flat out miserable!

Climbing up and over these smaller mountains,

we had the most incredible views of the beautiful mountains surrounding this entire area.

We are headed toward the top, and over this one.

In the center of the picture, we at last see a sign of the Sterling Mine Ditch.  Even though it appears to be lower on the right, it is an optical illusion.  The water flows from right to left.

The ditch started up in the hills, about center picture.

This is where we finally intersect the ditch after our long climb upward.  We approached this sign from behind, having come up the Tunnel Ridge Trail.   We are headed for the Bear Gulch Trailhead, which is another 3 miles away, but on the way down, we made an interesting discovery.  We found a tunnel, and after entering the tunnel, realized it had come from the other side.  So before proceeding toward Bear Gulch, turn left on the Little Applegate Trailhead, and travel about 50 yards, and then you'll discover the ditch coming down on your left, and you will find the beginning of the tunnel.

This is the ditch as it approaches the tunnel.

This is the tunnel that the miners dug by hand, to channel the water through the hill as it was too much effort to excavate the mountain it goes through.  Imagine this being dug with picks and shovels.  This tunnel is probably a good 150 feet long.

It was like a furnace outside the tunnel, but inside it was beautifully air-conditioned.  Our dogs crawled in, and didn't want to leave.

Passing by the sign again, and heading for Bear Gulch Trailhead, we find the other end of the tunnel.

It's not high enough to walk through, but a bear could do it.

The Sterling Mine Ditch continues.

The walking path runs along the side of the ditch for the next two miles.

Magnificent trees grow the entire length of the Sterling Mine Ditch.

This is one of the rock walls that the ditch builders had to make in order to keep the slope of the channel at the proper grade.

The trees all along the ditch obviously outgrew their neighbors in this arid region of Southern Oregon.

Magnificent Madrone trees, the size of which we have never seen, dominate the area along the trail.

At times, the slope where the ditch had to run would intersect a gully, and the skillful engineers built trestles to create flumes to continue the flow of the water across the gushing, torrents of water that seasonally plunged down the sides of the steep slopes.

After crossing over Bear Gulch, we had a choice, we could continue along the Sterling Mine Ditch, run out of water, and die on the trail, or take the route that we did, which winds down through the gulch, and back around to the other side, and takes you back to the road.  Coming out at this point, we then had to walk on the dirt road for half a mile back to where we had parked.  I was really glad that we have two miniature schnauzers, as the older one finally decided he'd had enough exercise, and Daddy had to carry him the last mile.

This is the roof of one of the operating mines in the area, as viewed from the mountain.  There are many people living along the Little Applegate River, and making a good living bringing home the gold.

Bolan Mountain - History and Hiking in Josephine County, Oregon

Would you pay pure gold to bowl in the wilderness?  Well, the Oregon gold miners did, and they paid plenty!

In 1853, Oregon's gold rush was in full swing, and there were, as always, those who would find ways to obtain gold without having to break their backs to get it!

Bolan Mountain takes its' name from Bolan Creek, which was originally named "Bowling Creek" because of the bowling alley which was built at the confluence of "Sucker Creek" and "Bowling Creek."  (I'll save the naming of "Sucker Creek" for another day.)

This area was some of the "richest land on earth," and some enterprising men decided to get rich on the "entertainment-starved" miners. 

This area is so remote that we drove seventy miles southwest of Grants Pass, Oregon to find it!

The last leg of our journey was on a forestry road that winds in and out of Oregon and California as it travels through the mountains on the border.

In the early mining days, even a trip"out" for supplies would take days of effort, so people freighting in supplies by pack animals were well paid, as the miners dared not leave their claims.

A bowling alley in a place where there wasn't a town, or even a road, was incredible to conceive, but they built it, and it prospered!  That is, until the Indians burned it to the ground!

Then, in 1857 they rebuilt the bowling alley.  Men carried 30 balls and 20 bowling pins on their backs through this rugged country.

We didn't research how long that bowling alley remained, as we were more interested in the hike to the top of now-named Bolan Mountain.

There is a lookout building atop Bolan Mountain, and you can rent the facility when it is not being used for fire spotting.  When you rent it, you get a key for the gate, and can drive up the dirt road to the top.

You are allowed to park below and walk the road up the mountain, or you may continue further down to the incredibly beautiful Bolan Lake,

which is the "hidden gem" of the Oregon/California border.

From this beautiful lake, we took the trail around the other side of the mountain to experience the most amazing views you can imagine.

Mountain ranges go on and on to the horizon, and one experiences a breathtaking panorama of views and shadows that professional photographers would find overwhelming.

Granite and rock cliffs hover overhead,

and every year the water in the cliff cracks freezes and expands, shearing huge slabs off,

to plunge down the steep slopes.

This trail winds through rotting trees,

giant mushrooms,

and many astoundingly beautiful mountain meadows filled with millions of blooming flowers.

This was such an experience, that once we reached the summit, we retraced our way back along the same trail rather than take a boring road down.

The views from the 6300+ peak are rewarding beyond description.

The Pacific Ocean can be seen just above the distant ridgeline.  The photo doesn't do justice to this scene due to the lack of enough quality lens magnification, heat waves, and shaky amateur photographer.  Hey, what do you expect from a Realtor®?

There was a nice couple from California renting the lookout, but they invited us up for the view.

Everywhere you look on Bolan Mountain, there are such incredible scenes unfolding before ones' eyes, that it's impossible to take everything in.

Just over the nearby forested ridge you can see the beautiful Illinois Valley, which was our beginning point when we left Cave Junction.

The fish were beginning to hit the water as we made it back down.  We wanted to search for the remains of the old bowling alley, but I'm certain that any signs of it were long ago reclaimed by Bolan Mountain.

If you're interested in the outdoors, and you want to hike somewhere new each week for years to come, Southern Oregon should be your destination!

Tannen Lakes, Josephine County, Oregon