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Seventy:-nine Years Ago ____ t:~~ SOUTHERN 1111 HISIORICAL OREGON ~~~~SOCIETY -~lt«.'l; 1 9~ t\ Board of Trustees President Dr. Gary H . Wheeler, Medford First Vice President: Mary Foster, Medford Second Vice President: Vern Arnold, Medford Secretary: Jean Smith, Central Point Treasurer: Thomas W. Pickering, Jacksonville William Bagley, Medford Mark Dennett, Jacksonville Only the skeleton of the Ganiard Opera House remained following one of Ashland's most Edmund Dews, Ashland devastating downtown fires in 1912. SOHS #5720 Cindy Faubion, Gold Hill Robert Isaacs, Medford The landmark 1889 Ganiard Opera House, one of Ashland's early brick Jolie Johnson, Ashland buildings, was gutted by flames of unknown origin early in the morning of James Kuntz, Medford August 6, 1912. Jessie McGraw, Eagle Point A handful of adventuresome campers leaving town at 4:15 a.m. discov­ Marjorie Nichols, Ashland ered smoke and flames pouring out of the upper windows and sounded an Janie Stewart, Thlent alarm. By the time the fire department arrived, the fire was already out of control. Heat from the blaze drove back the small crowd gathered on Main Administrative Staff Street to witness the demise of several of the town's commercial and cul­ tural attractions, which were housed in the building. The upstairs hall, Executive Director: which had hosted countless concerts, theatrical performances, graduation Samuel J. Wegner ceremonies and basketball games, was completely destroyed, as was Harri­ Deputy Director: son Brothers' motion picture equipment and Dr. Songer's medical offices. Brad Linder On the ground floor, Ideal Cash Grocery lost nearly all its stock, as did J. Development Director: P. Sayle & Son's cigar and confectionery. The Oregon Hotel's sample rooms Ted E. Lawson in the rear of the Ganiard building also were destroyed. Finance Director: G. W. Stephenson, owner of the building, estimated $15,000 damage to Maureen Smith the structure, which was insured for only $4,000. He promptly put the Coordinator of Photography • : ·~ property up for sale. and Publications: What looked like a dismal future for the Ganiard block turned brighter, Natalie Brown however. The former three-story building on the corner of Pioneer and East Membership Coordinator: Main was rebuilt as a single-story structure. Today, the light stucco building Susan Cox houses the Bank of America, a coffee house and numerous specialty stores. The Table Rock Sentinel is published bimonthly by the Southern Ore­ CONTRIBUTIONS: Address all editorial communications to Table gon Historical Society. Administrative and membership offices are Rock Sentinel, 106 N. Central Avenue, Medford, OR 97501-5926. We at the History Center, 106 N. Central Avenue, Medford, OR 97501- are happy to consider queries and contributions. All material must 5926. Subscription is free with membership. Single copies and back be identified with the sender's name and address, and will be returned issues are available for $2.50 each. if sent with sufficient postage. Care is taken with contributions, but POSTMASTER: Please send Change of Address (form 3579) to we are not responsible for damage or loss. The Society disclaims Southern Oregon Historical Society, 106 N. Central Avenue, Med­ responsibility for facts or opinions expressed in signed contributions. ford, OR 97501-5926. Editorial Production and Design: Natalie Brown, Susan Ray; Typog­ Copyright © 1991 by Southern Oregon Historical Society. ISSN raphy: ProType; Printing: Ram Offset Lithographers. #0732-0523. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be ,.;.·· reprinted without written permission from the Society. ______TABLE ROCK _________, VOLUME 11, NUMBER 3 ENTINEL MAY/JUNE 1991 p. 2 Features 2 Drive-along History by Marjorie O,Harra Most southern Oregonians traverse the state quickly, if wearily, along Interstate 5, the modern freeway constructed during the past quarter-century paralleling routes of previous single-lane roads and older immigrant trails. In fact, driving north from the Oregon­ California border along I-5 is like following the footsteps of pioneers as they explored and settled the Oregon Territory. These stories from the statehood era will give voyagers a new vision of a land frequently passed through. 21 Myths of the National Register by George Kramer Contrary to popular thought, the National Register of Historic Places is not a listing of ornate Victorian residences or immaculately restored roadhouses. Can you name some National Register places? A quick review of local listed properties reveals some surprises- and some absences. Departments Seventy-nine Years Ago (inside front cover) 31 Welcome Members 20 Then and Now 30 From the Collections Front cover: In the pre-dawn hours on August 6, Back cover: An unidentified man 1912, a small crowd of sleepy Ashland residents tinkers with his roadster on a trip to gathered to watch flames consume the Ganiard Opera Crater Lake. SOHS #13455. House on the corner of Pioneer and East Main Street. SOHS #13213 There's more along 1-5 than meets the eye! Part one of a two-part series finds tantilizing historic tidbits along the interstate highway from the Oregon­ California border to Eugene. by Marjorie O'Harra 2 May/June 1991 TABLE ROCK SENTINEL ~~.:. .. ;j.:"\:...r-.r:J .• ~1~~:r.- -~. _;· ''.' •',. Driving along Interstate 5 through Ore­ gon is like following a thread that ties together the story of the beginnings of the state. What better place for drive-along history? This story, which is being presented in two installments, is meant to be read aloud by a passenger and, it is hoped, to be enjoyed by all as the freeway sweeps you along from the forested ridges of the Siskiyou Mountains on the south to the waters of the Columbia River on the north. For the most part, it deals with Oregon's history before statehood was granted in 1859. Just let the mileposts guide you as you read along. ({..~ -••••~~~~ TABLE ROCK SENTINEL Indian footpaths crossed the WELCOME mountain passes and cut TO through the long valleys of OREGON this beautiful Pacific North­ west country long before the explorers and fur trappers came, establishing the route now generally followed by the freeway. As you enter Oregon from California you will see Pilot Rock, the remnant of an ancient volcano thrusting up from the Siskiyou Mountain skyline just north of the border. Pilot Rock has served as a guidepost to travelers for centuries. It was near here in 1841 that Indians felled burn­ ing logs across the trail in an unsuccessful attempt to turn back the Wilkes Expedi­ tion, an exploring party sent by the government to gather geographical and scientific information that would help encourage American colonization of the Northwest. At that time the territory was jointly claimed by both Great Britain and the United States. South of the Siskiyou the dangerous northern route the Oregon Well before the con­ Mountains was Mexican territory. Trail followed along the Snake and Colum­ struction of 1-5, a tiny marker along an Many of the place names we use as we bia Rivers. It branched south from the Oregon Trail at Fort Hall in what is now unpaved road identified drive along today are reminders of stories the Oregon-California Idaho, then turned west to cross the high told and retold until they have become part border in 1923. SOHS of our written records. For some, the desert country of northern Nevada and #8224 beginnings are obscure. finally the Cascade Mountains. It entered The name Siskiyou, given to the moun­ the Bear Creek Valley at the base of Green tains that the sweeping curves of Interstate Springs Mountain where you now see Emi­ 5 now climb, is believed to come from the grant Lake. The trail turned north from Cree Indian word "siskiyawatim," which here and generally opened up the route refers to a spotted horse or pack animal. you will follow on the freeway today. The legend is that during the winter of The Applegate Trail was established in 1828, a heavy snowstorm hit the area and 1846. Many wagon trains bringing settlers overtook a party of fur trappers led by to the Oregon country would come this Archibald McLeod, a chief factor of the way. Hudson's Bay Company. McLeod, so the The Applegates-Jesse, Lindsay, Charles story goes, lost most of his animals, and their families, whose name this south including a bobtailed horse. His followers, road would make well known-came to who were familiar with the Cree language Oregon with the Great Migration of 1843. because of the good relations that existed Lindsay vowed to open a safer route than between French and Indian fur traders and what the Oregon Trail offered after his the Cree Indians, called the place Pass of son, his nephew and a friend drowned as the Siskiyous as a compliment to their they attempted to guide their raft through leader. This name eventually was extended a whirlpool in the Columbia River. The to the entire mountain range. tragedy occurred near the end of their long journey to the Willamette Valley. MILEPOST Two and one-half years later, Jesse and Continuing north on Interstate 5, Lindsay left the land they had cleared and with the Siskiyou Pass now behind planted in care of their wives and children, you, the Bear Creek Valley comes and, along with thirteen other men, set off into view and you will soon see to try to find a southern route into Ore­ Emigrant Lake. The lake was named gon, a route through a region marked in memory of the pioneer families who "unexplored" on the maps. Each man had came to Oregon· over the Applegate Trail. a pack animal and a saddle horse. Jesse The Applegate Trail, sometimes called Applegate was captain of the group. The the South Road, offered an alternative to dispute with Great Britain over the bound- 4 May/June 1991 TABLE ROCK SENTINEL ary of the Oregon Territory was not yet settled, and the men knew that in case of war military troops as well as immigrants would depend on a southern route.

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