As It Was: Teacher in bloomers shocks supervisor
The school at Climax, Oregon, on Antelope Creek north of Grizzly Peak, had been unable to keep a teacher for a full term for several years. One woman reported the sticky mud was so bad on the trail to...
View ArticleAs It Was: Gen. Amos Fries of Central Point promoted lethal chemicals
In 1927 the new high school planted a maple tree honoring Gen. Amos A. Fries as a “Central Point Oregon boy made good” for his work with lethal and other chemicals.Born in Wisconsin, Fries’ parents...
View ArticleLumber baron started anew in Green Springs
Starting out at age 17 as a horse trader, James Everett Henry spent a lifetime building a lumber empire, buying forests in his native New Hampshire, building lumber and paper mills and power stations...
View ArticleAs It Was: Mrs. Wah Chung's life in Ashland
The everyday lives of Chinese residents in the State of Jefferson in the late 19th century is not well known. But Mabel Roach Dunlop's remembrance of Mrs. Wah Chung's life in Ashland gives some clues....
View ArticleEarly initiatives advocate favored self-government
As Oregonians vote in this year’s presidential elections, they might ponder the work of William Simon U’Ren, an early advocate of Oregon election reform. U’Ren, born in Wisconsin, settled in Milwaukie,...
View ArticleAs It Was: First Southern Oregon elections were in Ashland
As November voters drop their ballots into mailboxes, they are exercising a civic duty dating back to 1853 in Southern Oregon. White settlers first arrived in the Upper Bear Creek Valley in 1851. By...
View ArticleAs It Was: Southern Oregonians favored pro-slavery presidential candidate
Presidential elections in Oregon date back to 1860, when Abraham Lincoln’s victory foreshadowed the Civil War. A year earlier Oregonians had rejected slavery and entered the Union as a free state, but...
View ArticleAs It Was: Plants filled the J'ville Post Office
Imagine a picture of the Jacksonville Post Office in 1903, with varnished and polished woodwork, oil paintings, engravings, deer antlers on the walls, and spotless linoleum floors. Envision many...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Fourth of July parade memories
The truth is that before I moved into a house on the parade route, I’d never even attended Ashland’s July 4th festivities. Instead, I usually spent my holiday pouring coffee or flipping eggs at my...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Vision and voice of the people
My final year on the Ashland City Council is a time for reflection. I’ve learned a great deal from you, the citizens of Ashland, over these seven-plus years. Many of you have written, phoned and...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Witness to a historic day
Be forewarned: I'm writing this strictly from memory and my experience of the event is totally subjective. For that reason I invite readers who were also present to send me your versions of what...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Should Ashland be carbon-neutral by 2047?
No single issue carries greater long-term significance than the condition of our environment, and climate change is a factor in an increasing number of policy decisions made by the City...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Stopping the cycle of discrimination
A few weeks back I was interviewed by a TV news reporter regarding the ugly incident in which a member of our community was threatened during a racist tirade by another local resident. During the...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Hopes and dreams for Ashland
I believe I have seen more people of color in our community.I hope it is so.I have heard from college students who face less housing discrimination.I hope it is so.I am committed to the fight for...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Reflections from under the bus
In my five-plus years on the council, the last couple councils have been really good and this has been one of the best, serving the citizens of Ashland. Some trying times for sure, but we work very...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Grow monument for flora, fauna, people
We all know we live in a special place. Sometimes it takes an act of good government to help us realize the truly unusual nature of our landscape.In June 2000, with the authority Congress gave...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: The '10 X 20' ballot initiative
During the last two months, over 2,000 Ashlanders signed a petition in favor of bringing a renewable energy initiative to the November ballot. The measure will require Ashland to produce at least 10...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Community can create the future
Editor's note: We are continuing to publish Council Corner columns by the mayor and City Council members while some are campaigning for re-election. We invite challengers to submit columns of their own...
View ArticleUsing meals tax to fix streets is a no-brainer
General election ballots contain fascinating decisions, but the most immediately impactful choice Ashland voters will make this November doesn't involve candidates — it pertains to the future condition...
View ArticleCouncil Corner: Poverty simulation illuminates struggle
We all see it. All of us know people that live with it every day, but not all of us have experienced what it is like to be in poverty. Despite that fact, we support programs and give to causes that...
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