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By Belinda Klimek Vos

I grew up in the Talent area, but I graduated from Phoenix High School. So, why didn’t I graduate from Talent High School? There have been various schools in the Talent area from the times the first pioneers made permanent settlements here, and a few high school subjects were taught in the old school building which is now the Historic Town Hall. In 1911, construction was competed on an imposing three-story brick building that stood where the round building at the current elementary school is today. A two year high school was established in 1915, and two years later, a four year high school came into being. In 1919, the first student, Maude Rice, graduated from Talent High School. Through the years, graduating classes gradually grew, and the Talent High School Bulldogs were an important school in Jackson County. Grades 1 -12 were all housed in the building.

As transportation options improved and school busses started to roam the countryside, school districts all across southern Oregon began to consolidate. Schools in the Talent and Phoenix areas were no exception, and as time went on energy began to grow to consolidate the two school districts; Talent #22 and Phoenix #4. The first merger rumblings occurred

Consolidation Woes - Talent’s Lost High School

Volume 23 Issue 4 December 2017

in November and December of 1947 when the two school boards met in joint session to consider consolidation. At a community meeting in Talent on January 23, 1948, proposals were discussed as to what to do about the overcrowded condition of the schools and ways to solve the problem. Frank Duncan, chairman of the school board, said that, “ the board was not taking a particular stand, but sought only to get the facts before the people of the district.” The 1948 Talent High School annual mentions the possible merger as if it was a done deal; alluding to the fact that it would probably be the last THS annual. However, their prediction was quite premature. In fact, as the Talent school district continued to be faced with overcrowding, they decided to build a new grade school building in 1949 which housed grades 1 -3. Grades 4 - 12 remained in the brick schoolhouse. But as enrollment continued to increase, the need for a separate modern high school became critical. Classrooms were inadequate and badly over crowded; halls were congested and almost impassable and some teachers were without classrooms to call their own. Despite the ongoing issue of consolidation with Phoenix, Talent District No. 22 voted a bond issue of almost $160,000 for the purchase of land, construction of a building and furnishing. The building of the new high school, located at 102 Christian Ave. (currently Talent Middle School), is chronicled in the 1955 high school annual the D’Anjou. Construction began in September 1954 with students proclaiming, ”It seemed almost

prophetic, that first day of school, when

we heard the hum of the bulldozers

starting the initial excavation for the

high school. Somehow, a new building

had never seemed real; we’d been in

the old too long. Oh yes, we’d had

dreams about a modern, new structure,

but they had never materialized.” The construction continued through the Fall of 1954 and by the beginning of 1955 students were ready to move in!! “Words can’t express the feeling of

space which was instantly ours - long,

spacious halls with no crowding or

shoving at the lockers to beat the tardy

bell. There was room to breathe, to

grow, and to even relax. Though modern in every detail, from the roomy

administrative office suite, to the two,

large, built-in trophy cases, it was the

use of color which caught our eye.

Such fanciful tones as flamingo,

driftwood, canyon rose sandlewood,

chartreuse, glenwood grey, and melody

green were featured throughout, colors

which might have come direct from

nature’s flower garden.”

Obviously, the students were in awe of their wonderful new school

The HistoracleThe HistoracleThe HistoracleThe Historacle

The Official Newsletter of the Talent Historical Society

Cont’d on page 4

Talent Alma Mater

Beneath the grand ol’ hills of Talent Where the flowers thrive and grow, Stands our dear old Alma Mater Of the fame we all should know; In our sports and in our studies Comes the honors far and wide; Of her feats we proudly rally

Of her deeds we sing our pride. When the sun’s last rays have faded And her men have come to rule, Long, long we’ll honor her Old Talent High School!

Original Talent High School

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TalentTalentTalentTalent HistoricalHistoricalHistoricalHistorical SocietySocietySocietySociety

The Talent Historical Society researches and preserves the history of the Talent area in Southern Oregon. We offer a collection of historical archives to help local residents and visitors become better acquainted with our area’s rich history. We are members of the Jackson County Heritage Association; a group of heritage nonprofits dedicated to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of Southern Oregon’s cultural history.

We operate a museum and meeting place located at:

105 North Market Street Talent, Oregon

The museum is open Saturday and Sunday and holiday Mondays from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

General Business Address: P.O. Box 582

Talent, OR 97540

Phone Number: (541) 512-8838

Email: info@talenthistory.org

Web Page: www.talenthistory.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/talenthistory/

The Historacle is published quarterly.

Editor/layout: Belinda Klimek Vos

President’s Message - by Ron Medinger

Once again we are in the holiday season and once again Talent Historical Soci-ety is hosting our Holiday Open House, this year on December 19th at 6:30 p.m.

This year is a special one for THS with a revitalized environment at the museum. Come join us for an evening of friendship and sharing and see our new flooring with fresh paint on the walls. A few dedicated volunteers have been hard at work over the past couple of months and the improvements are showing!

There will be a very brief annual meeting and then an evening celebrating Talent and the holiday season with some very special moments planned. One of those attending will be taking home a $100 Grand Signature Gift Basket donated by Harry & David.

I’m even transporting my family’s collection of Santa Clauses down to the muse-um to display for the evening. I truly hope to see you there!

Honorary Lifetime Memberships

Bob Casebeer Jan Wright Susan Moulder Katherine Harris

Memberships since Last Issue

New Members: Charles Noble & Louise Downing Christine Bate

Mike & Julie Ono

New Lifetime Members: Lunette Gleason-Fleming

Renewals: Ruby Garmon Frances Hayman

John & Kittie Harrison Maureen Flanagan Battistella

Shirley Sullivan Hewitt Elizabeth Stark

Thomas Doty Gene & RoseMary Woida

Mike & Tammy Dalton Ed Colson & Jennifer Laughlin

Dick Phillips Linda Cooley

Philip Lee Gladys Fortmiller David & Renee Heath Gerlinde Smith & Mark Smith-Poelz Pat Bentley

Renewing Business Sponsorships: Medicap Pharmacy Harry & David

Mountain View Estates

Lifetime Memberships: Marla Cates & Jan Ritter Margay Garrity

Bud & MaryLouise Gleim Al Nijenhuis Edwin McManus & Family Michael Mills George Kramer Jack Latvala

Matt & Antoinette Lichtenstein Wanda Perdue

Additional Donation: Elizabeth Stark Dick Phillips Katherine Harris Gladys Fortmiller

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Talent’s annual Harvest Festival was held on Saturday, October 7th. Thanks to everyone who came out and saw us in the parade and visited us in our booth and at the museum. We enjoyed talking to everyone and hope you had a good time. It was great to see so many visitors in the museum and our raffle was a big success. See you next year!!

Tuesday Evening at the Museum

The Talent Historical Society continues it series of presentations held on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. On Tuesday, September 26, Stephanie Craig gave a wonderful talk on local Native American culture, traditional weaving and tools. After the presentation, we had great fun making duck decoys out of tule. Once again, a special thanks to Cherokee Construction LLC for sponsoring this event. Talent resident and author Leslie Compton discussed her interesting book entitled “Dearest Minnie” on Oct. 24th. On Nov. 28th THS board member Emmalisa Whalley gave a wonderful talk on “Birds of Talent.” An accomplished photographer she had her 2018 calendar featuring her bird photographs for sale at the meeting. Calendars are still available for purchase at the museum. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to THS. Dec. 19th is our Annual Meeting and Holiday Social. Please note that it will be held on the third Tuesday of the month instead of the usual fourth Tuesday because of the holiday. After a short business meeting, we will be entertained by a winter solstice story told by Native American storyteller Thomas Doty, a special reading of a famous Christmas tale and a few other surprises as well. There will also be a chance to enter a FREE raffle for a Grand Signature gift basket worth $100 donated by Harry & David. You must be present to win. Please bring a plate of cookies or dessert to share. Beverages will be provided. While you’re there, you can check out the new paint and floor in the Museum as well!! “Winter Telling: Native Stories of Our Homeland” will be presented by THS Board Member Thomas Doty on Jan. 23rd. Thomas is a wonderful storyteller and will be sure to enlighten a dark winter’s night. The Feb. 27th program will be announced at a later date. All talks are held at our museum at 105 North Market Street, Talent, unless otherwise noted. The meetings are free and open to the public, and you need not be a member to attend.

Harvest Festival

The following items have been do-nated to us and have been added to the Museum collection:

Various photographs and certifi-cates featuring teachers Cecile Fifield and Mable Moore. Donated by Colista Bailey.

Photo of Ottis Marshall Garret, 1917 donated by Willow McCloud.

Talent High School Letter sweater and annuals donated by Shirley Sullivan Hewitt.

Thanks to all of these folks for thinking of us. We appreciate your donations.

Accessions

Talent Poker Tour

Thanks to everyone who came out to our last tournament on September 30th, and congratulations to winner Ruth St. John. Our next tournament will take place on Saturday, December 30th starting at 1:00 pm at the Museum. The tournament is open to THS mem-bers only, with a membership level of Family or above. The No-Limit Texas Hold’em tour-nament will feature a buy-in of $30.00 with all entry money paid back out as cash prizes. Refreshments and snacks will be available for a modest cost. This is a no alcohol/no smoking event. Contact info@talenthistory.org or call the museum at 541.512.8838 for additional information.

Museum Hours:

Saturday, Sunday &

Holiday Mondays

1:00 pm to

5:00 pm

Ruth St. John

Winner of Talent Poker Tour XXXV

THS Board Member Emmalisa Whalley

wowed the crowd as Miss Talent Tomato.

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which boasted a teacher’s room, never before seen at Talent High, and “other up-to-date features including a public

phone booth.” There was a student body store, assembly area, a breeze-

way between the main building and shop and new athletic fields. The annual proclaims, “We watched it

Grow, Stick by Stick … Stone by Stone,

With Eager Anticipation.”

The school year began on Sept. 10, 1954 in the old brick school house with classes from 8:40 am to 3:40 pm. It was noted that after moving the “Curriculum enlarged with the

inclusion of Latin and Journalism.

Thirty-three different classes were

offered, giving a wide selection in

practically any field. Whether college

bound, career conscious, or marriage

minded, each student found subjects to

help him prepare for his future.”

The new school consisted of 11 teachers plus Superintendent R. B. Parr along with 27 seniors, 23 juniors, 41 sophomores (the biggest THS class ever), and 34 freshman for a total of

125 students. This left the Talent School District with three school buildings: one that housed grades 1 -3, the original brick building with grades 4 -8, and the new high school for grades 9 - 12. Everything looked good, right? They should be set for quite a while. Except that in 1957, a statewide measure titled “School District Reorganization” went into the law books as O. R. S. 330.505 to 330.780. According to my research, this bill had as its chief purpose “the unification of all school districts in the State of Oregon into administrative school districts which would provide education from grades one through twelve and the reorganization of small high school districts into efficient, sound, educational units.” The law, which was semi - permissive type legislation, specified a period of five years, or until June 30, 1962, for the necessary action under this bill to have taken place; but in any case, reorganization was limited to final approval at local level.”

The law also called for establishing

Continued from page 1 a District Boundary and School District Reorganization Board in each county. Its duties: “The district boundary board shall enter an order directing a school district to be merged with an adjoining school district designated by the board if it finds that continuation of the district is not required because of geographic factors affecting transportation or because of sparsity of population.”

The board apparently had wide authority and proceeded to call for elections and oversaw the merger of many school districts in Jackson County. Medford merged with five other schools to become 549C The intent in the reorganization law was to provide a better quality of education by forming larger high schools that would then be able to offer a wider selection of classes. But what were the ramifications?

The boundary between the Talent and Phoenix communities has always been rather fluid dating back to pioneer times when alliances were formed through business and marriage. Before Talent area residents had a post office, they got their mail in Phoenix (then Gassburg). The South Wagner Creek School District, #56 which was formed in 1872, actually merged with Phoenix #4 in 1951, not Talent, even though Talent was much closer. As neither Phoenix or Talent had come to any agreement on a merger, the Board came up with their own plan. Their recommendation was to annex the north part of the Phoenix district with Medford and the south part of the Phoenix district, Talent #22 and the Wagner Creek portion of the Phoenix District with the Ashland school district. Public hearings had been scheduled but at the last second the board reversed its decision and recommended that a vote be held to merge Talent and Phoenix together. Jack Hoffbuhr, a member of the committee, requested the vote after attending a Phoenix school board meeting at which Phoenix and Wagner Creek residents objected to the board’s action. The Talent and Phoenix school boards, at a joint meeting, signed letters requesting the reorganization committee consider petitions from the districts asking for a vote on consolidation rather than going ahead with the Boundary board’s decision. A letter had been sent to Governor Mark Hattfield by Talent’s Mae Lowe

“Look at the Office …. What a Change.” Early arrivals on moving day enthusiastically

eye new administrative area. B. Jennings, R. Peterson, J. (Jack) Walker, D. Schmelzer,

E. McGarity, C. Weinecke, B. Reichstein inside general office. 1955 THS Annual

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Excerpts from the “History of Talent High School” + From THE BULLDOG + 1948 Annual

Another activity which was very popular for a few years was the county track meet which was held at Talent. Competitors from all over the county would be at Talent for this field day. There were hot dog and lemonade stands just like the old time county fairs and everyone had just as much fun. In 1917 Talent was outstanding, having won two cups in track. These meets were discontinued at Talent about 1926, a few years after a track field was established at the Fair Grounds near Medford. The first Talent Annual was started in 1938. It was called the LOOKOUT. The next year the name of the annual was changed to THE TALENT and last year it was again changed by an amendment to the constitution. This time it was called THE BULL-DOG. There have been many changes and improvements from time to time until the annual has become one of the most important features of the school year. The school gymnasium was started in 1929 by the student body and was finished later by the district. In the last few years there have been many improvements to the gym including enlarged seating capacity, rest rooms, a storage room and a music room. Talent High was the first “B” school in Jackson County to start school carnivals. Since then others have followed the lead, but in our opinion anyway, we think we have had the most successful ones. The net proceeds from the annual carnivals have gone into the student body funds and have helped buy many of the things which have improved Talent High from year to year. In 1939 six-man football was started as a competitive sport. Here also Talent was first and had a good following of all the other “B” class schools in Jackson County. We have had our share of defeats and victories, ranging from a very poor team to winning the county football championships in 1943, 1944 and 1945. Football has been a favorite sport with many of the students and towns-people and the competition between the schools has been sharp and educating in sportsmanship. Talent was the only “B” school in Oregon to have a lighted football field up until last year; now there is one other located near Portland. This field was build and paid for by the student body out of funds raised by the students through contributions and school activities. The fence around the field was also built and paid for by the students. Here, also we would like to say something about Talent Yell Leaders. They have been many and of varied types, but always they have done their best to give the ball teams the much needed boost in moral. In 1939 Talent High had many innovations… among these were the organization of a school band and orchestra, and girl’s drill team with majorettes, girls’ and boys’ glee clubs, and the production of Talent’s first operetta. Up until this time class plays had been given each year… then however, they were changed to “all-school” productions. Another thing Talent has of which to be proud is the record of its girls. Besides winning the County Basketball Championship in 1925, Talent girls were for years acclaimed to be the best groomed and nicest looking girls in the surrounding territory. Talent also prides itself in being able to place its girls in the business world, thoroughly trained and fully capable of holding responsible positions. There have also been many certificates and awards won in our commercial department, and in 1947 we won national honors in the International Commercial Contests. Graduates from Talent High have attended universities and colleges all up and down the coast. Most of them are successful businessmen or farmers, with a few in the lumber and fruit industries. Talent High can always be proud of the men and women who have passed through her portals. They are good substantial citizens who would do credit to any educational institution. Those people who have attended Talent High will, we know, always have a “warm spot” in their hearts for her, and it is not without regret that we merge with Phoenix, although we know it is probably educationally sound. It was then known as District #4.

and Alice Burnette protesting the reorganization committee’s ignoring their petitions calling for consolidation of the Phoenix and Talent districts. On April 18, 1959, 18 women from the Phoenix and Talent districts met with Alf B. Mekvold, Jackson County School Superintendent and opposed the reorganization committee's proposal. I can only imagine what was said in that meeting. You don’t mess with mad mothers!! Although a Mail Tribune article says the vote would be held on May 20, 1959, it wasn’t actually held until Sept. 16, 1959. If the consolidation was defeated in either district, the school district reorganization committee’s previous recommendation would stand. The measure passed by a 436 to 323 margin in Phoenix and by a 3 to 1 margin in

Talent. The election results were approved by the Jackson County District Boundary Board on September 25, 1959. Phoenix School District No. 4 theretofore composed of the former School District No. 4 Phoenix and the former School District No. 22 Talent was now a duly established consolidated school district. After much discussion, it was decided to keep the Talent and Phoenix grade schools with 1 - 6 grades, turn the Talent High School into a Junior High for 7 and 8 grades and have a four year high school in Phoenix beginning with the 1960-61 school year. Talent High School would be no more. Commencement exercises for the last class to graduate from Talent High School were held on a Wednesday evening, June 1, 1960, at 8:00 pm. in

the school gymnasium and included 28 young men and women. LaVonne Willock spoke on “Individual Gateways to Life”, and Dolores Meyer gave the valedictory speech, “Road to a Golden Triumph.” There was no mention at all of the merger in the high school’s annual that year. Nothing at all. Perhaps it was too painful, and they wanted to keep the Talent High School identity intact for their final year. An interesting side story to the Phoenix-Talent merger occurred when a proposal was put forth to merge Medford 549C and the Phoenix-Talent #4 into one huge consolidated school district. There had been ongoing disputes over the northern boundary between the Phoenix and Medford school districts for years. Lands north of Phoenix that had been

Continued on page 8

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Follow our Facebook page for the latest news and updates from the Talent Historical Society. As always, we share the posts of Welborn Beeson’s diary from 150 years ago (1867). As summer fades, big changes are coming to the Beeson household! Welborn and his wife, Kate’s, lives are about to change forever. On Sept. 6, 2017 we here in the Rogue Valley were inundated with dense smoke. It was interesting to note that Welborn made several references to smoke in the valley back in 1867. Fires from lightning strikes burned for months during that era until the autumn rains finally put them out. Some things don’t change. Sept 6th, Friday. I have been helping Katie paper the walls, and

chore around the house It is cool

weather now and very smoky. ...

Thirteen Months have now passed into

oblivion since Katie and I were

married. how the months fly by. It is

such happiness that I hate to have It

pass away so fast. Dear Katie, I wish

we could always stay just as we are, all

in all to each other, and never be

sepperated at all.

Welborn and Kate’s marriage is revealed to us as they write about their relationship. Sept. 15th, Sunday. Fathers 64th birth day, and He seem’s

as young and active, as he did nearly

30 years ago Kate and I have been at

home all day. Kate is not well, and I am

cross with her. I am afraid she is not

happy to night as I would like her to be.

Dear Kate I love you but I wante to

read a little some times. It is cold to

night. Dear Kate please dont tell Father

about me betting any more. He will

lecture me like everything. Dear

Welborn please forgive me this time I

did not think when I spoke and oh I am

very sorry if I have hurt youre feelings

please forgive me.

The Beeson’s welcome their first child. It’s interesting to note that while Welborn has been very open about so many personal aspects of his life, he never directly mentions in his diary that Kate is pregnant although he says she is “unwell” many times. Sept 18th Wednesday. Logan and I went into the

big feild and commenced to sow wheat.

I, came home at noon and found Dear

Kate complaining of sickness and

pains; after dinner she laid down, and I

made up some bread. about 1 oclock

Katie became convinced it was (labor

pains) and she laid down and I set by her and aided her as much as possible

untill about four oclock old Mrs

Morrison came in, as she was passing

home from old Johny’s and she was so

surprised to think that I had not gone to

call in some help. Kate asked her to

stay and help me to deliver her at ten

minutes past five oclock. Kate was

delivered of a fine boy weighing ten lbs.

I cut the navel cord with my razar, and

Mrs Morrison dressed the baby. Kate

did not suffer at all in comparison to the

most of women at such time. The after

birth being tardy about coming away at

Eleven oclock I went over to Furry’s

after old Grandma Barnaberg, she

came and soon Kate was relieved of the

after birth and all went well. the old

laidies laid down and I went to bed with

Katie and my boy. He sleeping sound

with out making any trouble Father and

Logan hardly knew that he was born.

Sept 19th Thursday. I sent Logan

home with Mrs Morrison, and then up

after Mrs Howell. after noon took old

Grand Ma home, and then Logan took

Mrs Howell home, and left me alone

with my dear little family. Father

appears to be proud of his grand Son;

and Logan is highly pleased. Kate is

doing so well and the baby hardly any

trouble.

Sept 25th Wednesday. during the

past week I have been busy taking

charge of my Dear wife and baby.

Father is of across the creeck Logan at

school, I have been broiling a chicken

and Dear Kate was able to sit up and

eat it with me by the fire place on the

From Our Facebook Page

To read all the THS posts and information, “like” us on Facebook Find us at: https:www.facebook.com/talenthistory/ Or go to www.facebook.com and type Talent Historical in the search bar at the top of the page. Then from the options shown, choose Talent Historical Society In a daily post, we are following pioneer Welborn Beeson’s diary entry from 150 years ago. ( currently 1867)

Thanks to these businesses for

supporting the Talent Historical Society at a Sponsorship level.

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stand. It is so pleasant, the baby is so

well. the navel string has come of so nice.

We think some of naming the little fellow

Emmet, If we do not think of a prettier

name. Naming a child is of great

importance that we do not give it a name

that will make it ashamed when it is

grown up but Robert Emmet was a worthy

Irish Patriot, and then Dear Kate has a

brother Emmet, and with all I think It a

very pretty sounding name, not easily

nicknamed, although I can not say that it

is a favorite name of mine.

Welborn’s complicated relationship with his Father is sometimes subtly revealed in his comments. Oct 5th, Saturdy. … to night our family are all

here at home alone, Father, Logan, Dear

Kate and myself and our own Dear little

good boy that is no trouble at all. he lays

in his cradle or box as contented as can

be. I have put legs to Logan’s old wagon

box and It makes a real comfortable crib

for the babe. we still have not named him,

but we talk some of calling him Ira Emmet

Beeson, I.E.B. I.E.B. but we will see I

know Father wants me to name him John

but I do not like the name.

Oct 27th Sunday. foggy and drizzly

Morning. I took a bath, and then rode up

to Ashland to Collect the pay for my

wheat. McCall could only pay me the

three hundred dollars for Father. I came

home, and Father prepared to go away

from home once again on a foolish and

dangerous trip to the States. I do believe

he is crazzy. He wanted I should let him

take the patten for our land with him

and I had to positively denie him for he

might lose, it and have it stolen from

him. He got very vexed and angry with

both Dear Kate and I; he would not bid

either of us good by. he kissed the poor

little baby and said that I would be sorry

for refusing him the pattent and that my

little boy would treat me in the same

coin and manner, but I feel as if I had

treated him as kind as I could and have

done my duty towards him, and Kate

says she thinks I have not done

anything, wrong but I feel so bad. Over

eleven years ago He started off in some

thing the same way, only he did not

seem so vexed at me, then. oh! I wish he

would stay at home comfortable and

happy, but he seems to think I am

cheating him all the time. I have him the

three hundred dollar’s which takes all

the proffits of our year’s labor, but still

he thinks, I have swindle[d] and

misused him and, all such talk. when he

left 11, years ago, no one was with me

to talk to and comfort me but Just

Dearest Mother and, I. we two where all

in all to each other now, Dear Mother is

gone to her long home, and I am left,

with my own sweet wife and little baby,

and Logan, we constitute the whole of

the Beeson family now left, and Dear Kate

is my comfort and Joy in the place of

Dear Mother. I am older and better able

to fight the world[s] battles than I was

then; but still I feel bad.

A tragedy is narrowly avoided. Oct 29th, Teusday. beutiful day ... Kate and I hitched up Jessie to the buggy and started

to go to Ashland. Just has we got to the

Eagle Mills, Jessie got frightened at the

camp of the Telegraph repairer’s and Run

and commenced kicking broke the fills of

the buggy out, and then finaly up Set the

buggy and thew Dear Kate with the baby

out on the rocks and me on top the buggy

coming on top of me, but owing to our

Coolness and presence of mind, we were

saved from much injury save, being

frightened some.

Nov 5th, Teusday ….Kate and Emmet are well, and Emmet grows so fast. we

have decided to call him Emmet, and will

leave it until he is old enough to decide

for himself whether he will adopt the

name of Ira, or not Our poor old game

hen is dead. the poor old rooster seem’s

lonesom. he has several full blooded son’s

and daughter’s, handsom fowls.

The records show that he indeed became Ira Emmett Beeson. A new life had begun for the Welborn Beeson family. John Beeson had once again left the farm, but now Welborn had a wife and newborn son to share his life.

8

open fields when the lines were originally drawn had been developed and were now actually in the city limits of Medford. Conflict was in the air. Phoenix #4 had, in fact, relinquished to Medford 549c all of the area north of Barnett Road on September 3, 1959 just before the Phoenix and Talent consolidation vote on Sept. 16, 1959. But that wasn’t the end of it. An attempt was made in July 1960, to annex areas south of Barnett Rd. to the Medford school district, but it was denied by the Boundary Board. Another attempt was made in May 1961 to take a even larger area, but it was also denied. In November 1962, the Board denied yet another attempt. So rather than keep trying to just take some of Phoenix’s land, in 1963 they decided to try and annex the entire Phoenix #4 school district with Medford 549c. The Phoenix school Board was adamantly opposed and wrote a stirring paper in defense of keeping the districts separate. The vote was held on Feb. 11, 1963 and was defeated by a 4 to 1 margin in the Phoenix District and a 3 to 1 margin in Medford. And that was the end of that! While Phoenix retained its high school, merging the schools wasn’t popular there either; practical, financially responsible, but not popular. I’m guessing that many who voted for the passage of the ballot measure didn't “like” losing their own school district any more than Talent did, it was just the best alternative. Dividing the district and going with Medford and Ashland would have been even worse. But old resentments don’t die easily. Decades later Jack Walker, who graduated from Talent High School in 1956, spearheaded a reunion of Talent High School alumni including anyone who ever attended, taught or worked at the school which was documented in a Mail Tribune article. The article starts off by saying “ TALENT - The merger was a hostile one - at least in the eyes of Talent

Just a reminder: Our Holiday Open House and Annual Meeting will be held on December 19th from 6:30 pm until 8:00 pm at the Museum. Bring a plate of cookies or dessert to share. Beverages will be provided. Come join us for good cheer and holiday merriment and a chance to enter a FREE raffle for a Grand Signature gift basket worth $100 donated by Harry & David!!

High School’s small but proud

population. When Talent High closed in

1960 and joined with its arch-rival

Phoenix, it was not exactly a cause for

celebration in this neck of the woods.”

Walker went on to say, “It’s just being forgotten. Some of the older people in

Talent were really up in arms when they

consolidated with Phoenix and took the

high school away.” He decided to hold the reunion at Phoenix Park as after scouting around he felt it was the best place for a reunion. The newspaper article goes on to explain, “Now get this straight. Nobody’s talking about

starting up a Talent-vs-Phoenix rumble

this week, like in the old days when

scrimmages between the two schools

turned into brawls.”

And in fact, in 1991 when the article was written, Mr. Walker lived in Phoenix himself and in the early 1980’s served as a Phoenix city council member. He said, “The county came up

with a plan to merge the police

departments of Talent and Phoenix.

Saving money for both towns. The plan

didn’t fly. We went to the city of Talent,

and they said, “You got our high school.

You’re not going to get our police

department.”

Resistance to the merger was about feelings; that sense of community that dates back to our tribal roots. Today, Talent area residents don’t think twice about sending their children to Phoenix High School and the district’s middle schoolers come to Talent. It’s not a big deal. But for some, there’s still a sense of loss; those that remember when Talent had its own high school. We seem to have such a strong visceral connection to the high school that we attended. Reunions are held years after we’ve graduated. Letter jackets, fight songs and mascots all linger in our memories well after our high school days have ended. And the name of that high school matters. A school district seems to be identified by

its high school. There may be multiple grade schools and even more than one middle school, but the name of the high school you went to is what matters. It’s where you say you’re from. In our case “Phoenix”, not the Phoenix-Talent School District. The Talent name has been lost in the shuffle. When Talent High School became the district’s junior high in 1960, the school colors of orange and black and the Bulldog mascot were retained. However, the colors were changed to blue and white when the school later became a middle school in 1990. My family has lived in the Talent area for a long time. My Father went to Talent High School and my Aunts and Uncles graduated from there. The consolidation of the Phoenix and Talent school districts was, of course, the right thing to do. There is no doubt about that. The combining of resources allowed students to have a much wider selection of classes, but it came with a cost. The cost was a loss of identity for students from the town of Talent and the surrounding area. So here’s to the orange and black; may the memories of Talent High School live on. I may have graduated from Phoenix High School and am proud to be a Pirate alumni, but I will always be a Talent girl.

From the cover of the Talent High

School 1946 Annual

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DON’T MISS OUT!!

Would you like timely email reminders about upcoming events at the Talent Histori-cal Society? If so, contact us at: info@talenthistory.org or call and leave a message at (541) 512-8838. Or just drop by the museum and leave us your information. We’ll email notices out including all the information about upcoming events.

Taken from our “Walking Tour of Historic Talent” Booklet. The booklet may be pur-

chased at the museum or at our online store: store.talenthistory.org. Purchase price

is $2.00 and includes descriptions of 20 properties of significant historic value that

are located within the city limits of Talent.

Thomas Doty - Storyteller

A Native View

Photo: Cairns at the Winter Sol-

s�ce site above Deer Creek.

Winter Sols�ce Moon

One of the native names for the Winter Solstice moon translates as Split Both Ways. While the days will lengthen, there are still lots of long, cold nights ahead. A mixed bag to be sure. It's a great time to be indoors telling stories. Above Deer Creek in southern Oregon, the sun rises over Mount McLoughlin, lined up on the solstice with ancient cairns built of columnar basalt. That night, between stories, natives gaze at the winter solstice moon with mixed emotions.

Thomas Doty is a noted Native

Storyteller and author. Since 1981,

he has traveled the countryside per-

forming and teaching traditional and

original stories. He is descended

from Shasta and Takelma people, as

well as from Irish and English

settlers. The Takelma were the first

people to live in the lands now called

Talent.

Doty is the author of several

books and his stories have been

broadcast on Public Radio. His web-

site at www.DotyCoyote.com contains

a wealth of information and other

topics in his “A Native View” series.

His captivating book “Doty Meets

Coyote,” can be purchased at our

Museum or through our online store

at http://store.talenthistory.org/.

Methodist Church

206 South First Street ca. 1912

Construction of the Methodist-Episcopal Church began in

1911 and it was formally dedicated in 1912. As originally de-

signed, the M.E. Church had a square tower rising above the

main entry at the southeast corner. In 1917 a “side room and up-

stairs classrooms were added to the church building”. The origi-

nal parsonage, apparently moved onto its lot, still stands to the

north side of the church. The church still retains substantial in-

tegrity to its original design, notably its horizontal and shingle

siding, wood sash windows, many with colored glazing, and the

wide eaves and brackets that are typical of the Bungalow idiom.

Still in use for its original purpose, the M.E. Church has seen var-

ious alterations that modify its original exterior appearance,

mostly the removal of the original bell tower.

7

10

The majorettes who led the 1943 drill team in their orange uniforms were Julia Klimek, Wanda Lou Hill, and Margie Gleim.

That year, the Talent Drill Team was trained by the principal, Mr. Roy Parr, when the regular drill team advisor, Mrs. Gooldy,

was unable to live in Talent.

From “Images of America - Talent” by Jan Wright of the Talent Historical Society, page 104. This book may be ordered through our online store or purchased directly at the Museum. The price is just $14.95. This must have book documents Talent’s early history through images and text and is published by Arcadia Publishing as part of its Images of America series.

December 31 deadline for contributions

to the Oregon Cultural Trust!!

A reminder that anyone who has made a donation or paid for a membership to the THS is eligible to participate in the Oregon Cultural Tax Credit. Donors who contrib-ute to Oregon cultural nonprofits, including ours, are eligible to make a matching dona-tion to the Oregon Cultural Trust and receive a 100% tax credit for their Trust donation (up to $500 for an individual, $1,000 for a couple filing jointly and $2,500 for a Class-C Corporation). Donate to a qualified nonprofit, then donate that much to the Oregon Cultural Trust and get that same amount back as a tax credit You double the impact of your gift for free, and culture thrives. Matching dona-tions to the Cultural Trust must be made by December 31. Go to their website, cultur-altrust.org, for more information and a form that can be printed out and submitted. The Oregon Cultural Trust enriches the life of all Oregonians by increasing access to cultural activities across the state – library and museum programs, concerts and dance, educational outreach, preservation projects, and more. The Trust also supports Native American and county cultural coalitions, helping them to preserve, revitalize or expand arts, heritage and humanities projects locally. The Talent Historical Society was fortunate to receive a valuable grant from the OCT this year that will enable us to make major improvements to our museum. We encourage your support of this innovative, uniquely Oregon organization.

The Talent Historical Society is a quali-

fied Oregon Nonprofit participant of the

Oregon Cultural Trust.

11

Talent Historical Society Board of Directors:

Ron Medinger President - Membership Chair Willow McCloud Vice-President - Art/Design Chair Jan Wright Secretary - Historian

Theodora Blom Treasurer Belinda Vos Newsletter Editor Emmalisa Whalley Webmaster Anthony Abshire Board Member Bob Casebeer Board Member Thomas Doty Board Member

The Talent Historical Society Membership Application

The Talent Historical Society was founded in 1994 as a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting, preserving and interpreting the history of the Talent area in Southern Oregon. By becoming a member of the Society, you provide valuable support of the Society’s ongoing work. To become a member, please select a membership level, complete the form below, and return the completed form along with your membership payment. All memberships, regardless of level, are greatly appreciated.

The Monthly Talent Historical Society Board Meeting is held on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the museum building at 105 North Market Street, Talent, Oregon

All interested persons are invited to attend.

Name_______________________________________________________Date_______________________

Mailing/Street Address___________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip __________________________________________________________________________

Phone___________________________________ e-mail_________________________________________

Member Type: [ ] New [ ] Renewing

Membership Level: [ ] Junior (12-18) - $10 [ ] Individual - $20 [ ] Lifetime Individual - $200

[ ] Business - $50 [ ] Family - $30 [ ] Lifetime Family - $300

[ ] Individual/Family Sponsorship - $100 or more [ ] Business Sponsorship - $100 or more Donation in addition to membership: $_____________________

Amount Enclosed: $_______________

Dues include our quarterly newsletter: The Historacle

[ ] Check to receive The Historacle electronically, sent by email in lieu of paper. (This saves us printing and postage costs.)

Please make checks payable to: Talent Historical Society

Send completed form along with payment to: Talent Historical Society

P.O Box 582

Talent, OR 97540

Thank you!

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Talent Historical Society P.O. Box 582

Talent, OR 97540

Upcoming Events

Dec. 12 THS Board Meeting 6:00 pm At the Museum

Dec.19 Tuesday Evening at the Museum 6:30 - 8:00 pm Annual Meeting and Holiday Open House

Dec. 30 Talent Poker Tour 1:00 pm - ? At the Museum

Jan. 9 THS Board Meeting 6:00 pm At the Museum

Jan. 23 Tuesday Evening at the Museum 6:30 - 8:00 pm Thomas Doty “Winter Telling: Native

Stories of Our Homeland”

Feb. 13 THS Board Meeting 6:00 pm At the Museum

Feb. 27 Tuesday Evening at the Museum 6:30 - 8:00 pm Program to be Announced

Something YOU can do to help! If you do any shopping on Amazon.com, use the link below to enter the Amazon website. The price doesn’t change, but the Historical Society receives a donation from each purchase. Any purchases you make will help support the Talent Histori-cal Society and its projects. Thanks!!

http://www.amazon.com/?%5Fencoding=UTF8&tag=talent-histosoc-20

Just a reminder that you can check the top, right hand corner of the address label on this issue of the Historacle to see when it’s time for you to renew! The date will tell you when your mem-bership expires.