NFS Form 10-900 OMBNo 1024-0018 (Rev. 10-90) ,;;^ RECEIVED 2280 United States Department of the In erio RECEIVED Xi National Park Service Jut-21998 National Register of Hist »rlc Registration Form HAT flmwflswr01 This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and iil iplete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A). Co >propriate box or by entering the information requested. If any item does not apply to the property being d le." For functions, architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional entries and narrative items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 10-900a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all items. 1. Name of Property historic name MEDFORD DOWNTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT__________________________._ other names/site number None 2. Location ctroot o Btw.p Fourth and ijinti.Streets, Oakdale. and Riverside Avenue. street & numoer DowntownMec fora Multiple sites, see narrative)____________ r publication city or town Medford state Oregon code OR county Jackson code 029 zip code 97501 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1986, as amended, I hereby certify that this Kl nomination D request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property C3 meets D does not meet the National Register Criteria, i recommend that this property be considered significant D nationally D statewide 03 locally. (D See continuatioo^sheet for additional comments.) April 20, 1998 Signature of certifying official/Title Deputy SHPO Date Oregon State Historic Preservation Office State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property D meets D does not meet the National Register criteria. ( D See continuation sheet for additional comments.) Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 4. National Park Service Certification I, hereby certify that this property is: Signature of/Keeper Date of Action in the National Register D See continuation sheet D determined eligible for the National Register D See continuation sheet. _ D determined not eligible for the National Registei D removed from the National Register D other (explain): ____________ Medford Downtown Historic District Jackson County. Oregon Name of Property County and State 5. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property (Check as many boxes as apply) (Check only one box) (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.) a private D building(s) Contributing Noncontributing 0 public-local a district 104 59 buildings D public-State Dsite 1 31 sites 0 public-Federal D structure structures D object . objects 105 88 Total Name of related multiple property listing Number of contributing resources previously (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing.) listed in the National Register __________N/A________________ 14 6. Function or Use Historic Functions Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) (Enter categories from instructions) Commerce/Trade: Business Commerce/Trade: Business Domestic: Single Dwelling Domestic: Single Dwelling Domestic: Multiple Dwelling Domestic: Multiple Dwelling Government:_________ Government: Religion: Religious Structure Religion: Religious Structure Landscape: Park_______ Landscape: Park 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (Enter categories from instructions) (Enter categories from instructions) 19th/Earlv 20th Cent: Commercial fChicagol foundation Concrete_____ Late 19th/Earlv 20th: Revival Styles______ walls Brick Early Modern: Art Deco Concrete roof Asphalt other Wood Stucco Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current condition of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) Please see attached continuation sheets NPS Form 10-900-A OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section Number: _7__ Page: _J__ Medford Downtown Historic District, Medford, OR Since Medford's founding, the downtown commercial and residential areas that spread out from the railroad right-of-way through the Original Townsite have remained the economic, entertainment, and governmental "heart" of the community. The predominately one and two story structures that line the streets of the Medford Downtown Historic District represent a wide variety of architectural styles and use of materials. In setting, construction, and general character they effectively relate the first seventy years of Medford's history, a period which saw the community grow from a newly created "city on the valley floor" to the commercial and economic hub of southwestern Oregon. SETTING: The Medford Downtown Historic District is located on the broad flat plain of the Rogue River Valley, east of Bear Creek, a year-round tributary to the Rogue River than runs through the valley's center. Riverside Avenue, following the original stage route through the area, first evolved into the Pacific Highway and later U.S. Highway 99, remaining a portion of the primary north-south surface route in Oregon prior to the early-1960s completion of Interstate 5. The major east-west street through the District, Main Street, runs west from Bear Creek and continues to Jacksonville, approximately five miles west of Medford. The railroad right-of-way, first developed by the Oregon and California Railroad and the motive for the founding of Medford in 1883-84, bisects the entire downtown from east to west.1 Bear Creek, forming the natural eastern boundary of the Historic District, is also the location of the Medford Viaduct, a raised section of Interstate 5 that looms over the downtown but offers no direct connection to the surface streets of the original town plat. Surrounding uses include Hawthorne Park, to the east across Bear Creek, along with the mixed commercial and residential that line Main Street. Both the Geneva-Minnesota Historic District (NRHP) and the Corning Court Ensemble (NRHP) intersect East Main Street, approximately '/2 mile east of Bear Creek. To the west is the "West Medford" residential area, a large region of early 20* century residential structures with mixed professional and social/community uses. The Jackson County Courthouse (NRHP) is immediately to the west while the South Oakdale Historic District (NRHP) begins a block west of the SW corner of the district boundary.. To the north, beyond Fourth Street, an extended residential area includes a variety of late 19* century and early 20* century single and multi-family dwellings. Notable among these is the Waverly Cottage (NRHP) at the NW corner of the intersection of Fourth and Fir streets. Similar residential uses continue on the named streets south of the district, with the exception of an industrial corridor along the railroad tracks. Modern single- story commercial uses continue along all the north-south streets to the west of the railroad tracks. ARCHITECTURAL STYLES: [COMMERCIAL] As the following Statement of Significance details, the Medford Downtown Historic has with little halt, experienced continued economic success since the founding of the community in 1883. Like most late-19th century southern Oregon towns, Medford's initial commercial structures were of simple wood-frame construction, lining the major streets east of the right-of-way along what are now Front and Main streets. Early merchants soon rebuilt in more permanent brick and by the early 1890s most of the buildings along Main Street in the eastern portion of the district were standing. After 1900, these one and two story brick volumes began to expand to the west. The first known brick building on that opposite side of the railroad tracks was erected by I.W. Thomas at the SE corner of Main and Grape sometime prior to 1902. (See 67.0) As determined the Original Town Site map, streets running parallel to the railroad were lettered and streets running perpendicular to the railroad were numbered. Seventh Street was later renamed "Main" street and the letter streets were replaced by sequential orchard or plant related terms by order of the City Council in 1908 (i.e. "A" Street became "Apple," "B" became "Bartlett" and so on...) All east-west street addresses are divided by the railroad right-of-way, with north-south defined by Main Street. NPS Form 10-900-A OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section Number: _7__ Page: _2__ Medford Downtown Historic District, Medford, OR The initial phase of Medford's commercial development utilized simple brick-front vernacular forms in what is called the "Chicago Style." Typical elements include exposed brick work, often with projecting corbels and dentil bands below a prominent cornice or raised parapet. Non-symmetrical storefronts allowed for side stairway entrance to the rooms or offices of the upper floors. Historic photographs reveal a number of such structures, particularly in the 200 Block of Main Street, between Bartlett and Central. Several district resources retain high integrity to this general