 There's history here. And here. There's history there. History is everywhere. Welcome to the Southern Oregon History Show. Our show features historical museums and societies from throughout Jackson County. I'm Amy Drake, exhibition curator at the Southern Oregon Historical Society, and your host for today's show. With me is Helen Walgama from the Eagle Point Museum and Sherry Lawson from the Guardians of the Eagle Point Museum. Thank you for being on the show and welcome. Thank you. Thank you. So, it sounds like we have two people here from different institutions, the Eagle Point Museum and then the Guardians of the Eagle Point Museum, but that you represent different things. What's going on here? First, the Eagle Point Museum is, I think, one of the only ones in Jackson County of the museums that is owned by the City of Eagle Point. They own the land, the building, and everything in the museum. And I'm here to represent the City of Eagle Point at the Eagle Point Museum. Okay. And then the Guardians. And the Guardians were formed to help maintain the museum and help the city do other projects that they're not able to do. And we do that from fundraising and we have been given non-profit status so we can apply for grants and just to help the museum out. Okay. So, again, two different entities, city and non-profit support, essentially. When was the Guardians formed? We formed in 2012. Helen actually was spearheading that because of the Historical Society disbanded. She wanted to get another one up and running and so she was our first president. And we got non-profit status in 2013 and got a JCC grant to create a website. And so we have a website now. We'll come back to that a little bit. I want to talk more about the history of the Eagle Point Museum first. So, when was the museum founded? We opened our doors in 1978 and the idea was presented to the city in about 1978, 1975. And the community thought that was a good idea so they helped promote that. The school district, we started our museum with the One Room Schoolhouse. It was called the Long Mountain Schoolhouse and they moved it over to the school in 1947 and used it as a classroom and then it became a storage facility for them. And the group of Eagle Point decided that they wanted to have a building to put their old stuff. So the school, so the fellow people that owned the land, Eddie DeHack, donated the land and they moved the schoolhouse from the school to the present on it over there by the Buchrich Mill and it's noted as the historical district. And then the people got together and we opened our doors in 1978. So we've been the second museum in Jackson County other than the Southern Oregon Historical Society. But we didn't start getting any funding from the group until 1987 when they wanted to bring the Covered Bridge to Eagle Point, the Antelope Bridge, for Walkway and Winniger that was the head of that group. He decided, well there must be some funding. So they went to the Southern Oregon Historical Society. And then we disappointed ourselves with baked food sales and yard sales and Gay Nail Crabbill wrote a history book and she used the proceeds and donated all the proceeds to the Eagle Point Museum. That time it was the society. And then in 1987 they decided we needed a roof on the old schoolhouse. So we said well we don't have the money so that's when we asked them to get our fundings and that's how we began to. To make clear that funding came from the county. County. Because there was a heritage district. Because there was a heritage district and they used that money to help put the roof on it. From then on we hired a creator and we developed our museum. Okay. Do you have anything to add to the history of the museum? Helen knows the exact date that the two editions were put on. I think she mentioned. Okay. So the Eagle Point Museum obviously represents the history of Eagle Point. Can you talk a little bit about the history of the town? The town was, well it was named Eagle Point they say in 1853. They saw some eagles that nested on the bluff above and somebody said well what should we call this and they said well their eagles nested up on that point so why don't we call it Eagle Point. That's the story you know there's probably other ones out there but that's the story we get. And then we became a city and it was incorporated in 1911. Why the time gap? Well it was a community until then and then they got the city that became big enough that they did inside the corporate. You know a lot of little cities around here in Phoenix and Talbot they did the corporate it and near the same time. So that's when they incorporated just like White City they're not incorporated but they're still White City. So what drew people to Eagle Point? Like I know your family has a long history in Eagle Point. What are you there? My family came to this area in 1853 and they homesteaded up at Roxanne. But my mother and their family didn't move to Eagle Point until 1908. But my dad's family came in around the 1900s and they ran a livery stable downtown a business. And first it was a freighting business and then they decided to do the livery stable. So that's kind of how it was the connection to Eagle Point. My family has always been involved in Eagle Point. My father was on the school board, my brother was on the school board, my husband was on the school board, my husband was a teacher so I'm really connected to Eagle Point. Yeah, it sounds like a really strong bond. And in the museum I have a lot of artifacts that pertain, you know. When they started it, that's what they wanted to do is take some of it. So people could understand what our pioneers struggled for our freedom we have today. And I always have to add the veterans in there because if it wasn't for them, we wouldn't even be here. They're very important to me. So speaking of the objects in the museum and just the stories that they tell, I'm going to get this question to Sherry just to switch it up a little bit. But do you have a favorite piece at the museum? I do. I like that Eureka stove, that portable stove. You describe the stove? Yes. It was built in 1934. I gull gull did. It has little burners on the outside. And then when you push them up and latch them, then it heats up the oven that's on the inside. It's adorable. You could use it in these days. I don't know why they stopped making them, but it is my favorite piece. Can you think of a piece that particularly represents Eagle Point's history? Oh my. I'd have to really think about that. Sorry. It's okay. I mean, I see the John Matthews picture on the wall. Who's John Matthews? He was one of the original pioneers and he was the one that did name Eagle Point. Okay. But every time I turn in the corner, he has this kind of scowling feature to him. And we have that concrete thing as you walk up the door, his name, and his features outlined in copper, I think it is. A monument. Okay. Helen, do you have a favorite piece? Well, I think everybody goes in there and has a favorite piece. So what is your favorite piece? Well, probably my favorite piece is the story of Oli Boltman. We have a doll there that represents her. She was in 1851. She was captured by the Indians. They massacred her family. And she lived with the Indians for a number of years in the Yuma, Arizona area. And when they found her, there was old ones that lived here in Phoenix, Oregon. And so when they were returned to the area, the old ones went and picked them up and brought them to Phoenix, Oregon. And they lived with my ancestors for a year and taught her to read, write, and sew. And this lady that last year donated a doll that was made, especially, and they tattooed it under the Indian to make sure that branding or that they were their property. It's quite a story and it belonged to this whole area of, to me, that's kind of life. There's other things. They're all favorites, but that one kind of stands out to me, the history behind that. Well, you're wearing a shirt that represents the Eagle Point Museum. Can you stand up and show us the shirt? Talk about it? Just turn around. I don't know what's on the back of it. You do? Jerry, can you talk about the back of Helen's shirt? Yes. It has a wonderful eagle in the middle. It has our covered bridge, the Antelope Covered Bridge, the Butte Creek Mill, the Harnish Wayside, which is a fairly new park, and the avenue of the flags of which Helen is very instrumental in keeping going. Thank you. And that's it. Is it available to buy at the museum or is it special? When it was a society, we ordered these t-shirts, but we haven't ordered any new ones. We still have about eight or nine still in there for sale. They're like this. We just thought it would be nice to be able to share it and wear t-shirts that showed that. Yes, they are for sale. The point's a Eagle Point. So it's a part of the institution's history, basically. So the Eagle Point Museum has gone through a number of transitions. You mentioned the society, and now the Eagle Point Museum is run by the city, and there are the guardians to do fundraising. To talk more about the city. So when did the city take ownership? Just what year? It was about 1908. I mean, 208. 208. Okay. And here it is. What changes occurred when the city took ownership? We were able to pay somebody to sit there longer hours. So you have paid staff. That's great. That's really great. Sherry, Julie, and you, and Marcy. When I work every other week, and they, when I'm off, each of them take turns sitting at the museum. And I was there when they opened in 1978, so I've been there for like 37 years. So yes, we went through a lot of changes. And did your hours increase? We were, before the city took over, we only were there on Saturdays from 11 until 3. And since they took over where they're on the summer hours from 10 to 5, in the winter time we're there from 11 to 4. But multiple days of the week now, right? Right. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Oh, wow. Before that, we were only just open on Saturdays, because we just, to get volunteers, and so many. So again, lots of changes. Yeah. Ups and downs. Like any organization. Exactly. It happens to all of us. So we've talked about the objects in your collection. Where do they come from? Besides from Helen, you mentioned you donated some of them. But where else do they come from? Local families donate. Objects that their families have brought over on the Oregon Trail, or from the East. And their collections. And one gentleman brought, his wife passed away, there's a wonderful purse collection, there's China collections. He didn't know what to do with all these wonderful things his wife had. He thought if he donated them, he could come back and visit them. And his children do come back and look at their mother's things. That's sweet. It is sweet. We have one item there that is kind of special, that what people do. This one lady has a family Bible, and it was, after their parents died, it was passed around and nobody knew where it was. So she said when she got the Bible in her hand, she was going to donate it to the Eagle Point Museum. That way everybody in the family knew where it was. When they wanted to look into it, they knew where to go. Because when it was passed around from cousin to cousin, nobody knew where it was. So those are the kind of things we... So it's a safe spot for family history. That's really lovely. Let's see. What knowledge will people gain about Eagle Point when visiting the museum? It's an incredible amount of history that they can come in and glean, especially if Helen's there because she's been there all her life. But we have so many pictures and we're trying to do a complete timeline. And that'll be a big project, but just, oh my gosh. It's overwhelming. Tell us more about this timeline. It sounds like a really fascinating project. It is. I mean, right now we have different subjects gathered in different places, military schools, Indian artifacts, baskets. And eventually, hopefully with the guardians help and the cities, we want to have an extension built on and then we would be able to have a timeline in history. And of course we will have to move some things around. But then it'll open up the doors for more articles because we've had so many people want to donate more and there's just not enough room. You're full? What I would say, one of the plans, what they want to do eventually is like walking through time because we have the next generation coming up so that if we had the extension you could add the next generation as it is now. So when you go in the door you can see the old and then you can walk. Exactly. So that's kind of the long term aim. I think it would be really neat to do that. And the objects that you have now would support this? Yeah. Oh, definitely. And then we could add some of the children's groups, FFA, Boy Scouts. There's a number of supportive groups in town that have helped out a lot. We could focus on them. It's their future too and it's their history also. So the beginning of the conversation, you mentioned that the guardians had received a grant to build a website. So you guys have a website now? Yes, we do. That's so exciting. It is. It really is. So you have a website? Well, right now there's a picture of the museum and there's different links to go to that involve the city and different historical societies in the area and we've gotten a lot of hits already. It was just amazing. And we want to be able to focus on different parts of the museum so if somebody can't come to the museum physically they can go on and see what we have there and showcase the different attributes of the museum. And this is the first grant that the guardians have received? Yes it is. Congratulations. Yes, thank you. So it sounds like with the website you're expanding, you have plans to build this extension someday in the future. It sounds like there's a lot of growth at the museum despite all the changes in the past but a lot of growth today. Where do you see the museum in the future? Bigger. Drawing in more people to see Eagle Point's history. Eagle Point is growing and we want to draw more people in and show them Eagle Point. Well, you know the future generations so you've got the next generation coming up because I'm probably at the last end. So you know you can see that and you get the current, like we have the old phones but now we can get in the more of the electronic part of it. That'd be fun. That'd be really fun to see. That would. So Helen you've been there since 1978. Sherry how long have you been with the Eagle Point Museum? I'd say 2009. Okay. What inspired you to get involved? Well actually Helen needed somebody else to help. Helen inspired you. Well, when we first started adding people, we had a gentleman that served with me and we worked every, and when he quit they brought people from the Harnish Information Center over to work the days that I was off every other week. So this is how they got involved. And I think it was about 2010, was it? So you just mentioned the Harnish Visitor Center. Is there a connection between the Eagle Point Museum and the Visitor Center? Well that's a connection. I volunteered down there on certain days of the month and they're open seven days a week now, four days with paid employees and three days with volunteers from the community. And they are only open from ten to four Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and then the paid employees are from Thursday, Friday and Saturday from ten to six, isn't it? And is the Harnish Visitor Center also owned by the city? It is. So the city owns the Visitor Center and the museum. My folks donated the land years ago. Is that the livery stable you mentioned earlier? And so that's why the building is built like a barn. Oh, it all comes together. Speaking of the city owning the properties, how has the growth of Eagle Point changed the role of the museum, or even just played a role? Has it played a role in the museum? A lot of people come there and say, well I just moved here, they just want to find out what the history is and that's how they want to get a little more acquainted with where they're going to live or where they're moving to and they just want to find a little bit more about the weather, schools, hunting and fishing, sports. So it's grown quite a bit like two hundred when I was a kid and now it's about ten thousand. Objects? No. The population at Eagle Point, got it. So that makes it, you know, it expands into Eagle Point too. Do you have any events you'd like to talk about quickly? The Guardians the last two years in June put on two fundraising events, historical tours. The first year we focused on the brownhouses that are across the street, that they're just beautiful. We had over ninety people tour through and that was a good fundraiser and Bob Russell of the Butte Creek Mill opened his private collection at the top of the mill for people to see and they really enjoyed it and then last June we did another history tour of Down Main Street showing the older buildings and the first state bank which is closed but has been sold at auction, the new owner opened it up for us for that day so people could go in and imagine what it was like back in the day and we had thirty people come to that tour and music and ice cream and we're already planning next year's event. One of the events that we had was called the Vintage Fair which has really developed into quite a thing and when it was in the Eagle Point society, historical society, we started that in about 205 and it was our idea and we asked Bob, he had just bought the Bob Russell that owns the Butte Creek Mill and he was going to have an event and so we just combined them and then when the city took over then they couldn't participate because of public funds and so this is where the Guardian, they can participate but the city, they don't know what public funds cannot, you know, right, because you need insurance so people that are participating and we have insurance so that's what makes the, yeah, okay, so that's why the Guardians do things, do things, the city can't, you know, public people can't do so it makes it makes it work out great I think. Okay, it does. Do you have any other events that you do? Well, we just started last year having Christmas at the museum because Bob puts on a wonderful Christmas event, it is Mill, he has caroling and so we thought we'd tie in and we had a little bit of a spillover and we had it all decorated with nostalgic looking Christmas decorations and it was a lot of fun and people really enjoyed it so we're going to continue that this year. Wow, it sounds like a great event. It was fun. Time for one last question, Helen and Sherry, what is special about the Eagle Point Museum? Well we started it, for me it was, you know, to tell a history of our area for future generations we do have children tours that come through and we try to explain to them that if it weren't for these pioneers they wouldn't have the cell phones, you know, the rail cars and the transportation and so I said you've got to be very very grateful for your ancestors because you wouldn't be and for our veterans I think. They played a big part in this. I have to agree. We have a lot of fun with the kids that come in, they ask the most interesting questions. It's a great place. Well thank you. That's about it for today. I'd like to thank today's guests Helen Walgomot and Sherry Lawson and I'd like to invite all of you to stop by the Eagle Point Museum and enjoy Southern Oregon's rich history and see some truly amazing objects. Southern Oregon Historical Society's Downtown Medford Research Library is open Tuesday to Friday, it's noon to 4 p.m. and on 4 Saturdays from noon to 2 p.m. Also we have many amazing events out at Hanley Farm. With both of our websites for updated event information. The Southern Oregon History Show is sponsored by the Southern Oregon Historical Society and by Jackson County Library Services. Thanks to our sponsors, our volunteer crew and to RVTV. Join us next time for another episode of the Southern Oregon History Show. Thank you.