2/28/2010

This Was Sunday Morning. About 10:00 a.m. I had been up to the Sunday Service. Stayed for the First Segment and then left. I'am not very compfortable around that big Crowd of People. It was a Nice sunny day out side. I wanted to go Hiking for a few Hours that Morning. Once agine I'am in Jacksonville. In this Picture I'am sitting on the Bench there at the Visitor Center Behind the old Train Depot and Post-Office In this Picture I'am looking at my old Childhood House there across the Creek at the End of West D Street. Beyond the House is the Cemetery on the Hill. The Skate-Board Park on the Hill is somewhat visible to the left of the Picture. Today I'am going to walk the Old Horse-Trails. Now known as the Woodland Trails behind the Britt Propertie. We got a lot to see on this Hike. Lets get started..
Looking East now. We see the the Small Train-Depot. The Tracks were all removed many Years before I was Born when the streets were Black-Toped. Some of the Tracks are still Visible farther to the East around the old-County-Courthouse. In 1969 when we moved here to the West D Street House. The Post office you see to the Right and the Big Electric Building on the corner of California & Oregon Street were NOT there. Nothing but a Big Empty Over grown field was here. And the Little run down falling apart Train-Depot sitting where You see it now. NO sidewalks Nothing. The Post-Office was at the East side of Town Next to what was then the Jubilee Club Resturant and Saloon
Looking the Other way now. (west) And in the next 3 Pictures. We see what is Now one of the Britt parking lots And Jacksonville Library to the Left of the Picture. You see the the line of Cars Including mine on the end. The Creek divides up the Parking lots. This area too was nothing but a big Unused Field for many Years. At least two Mine shafts were in this Area. And I think a 3rd was discovered during the Building of the Library a few Years ago.
I'am now just about to go up the little hill that will lead from the Parking area to the Cross-Walk over Hwy 238. The signs You might say make no Sence.? "Enter--Do Not Enter." You are saying. WHAT? The Fact is I'am standing so close to the signs that You can not see the big Picture. It does make lot Sence once You Step Back and see the Whole area. I just Thought that was Funny.
We have Crossed Hwy 238 And are now Looking at The Entrance to the Britt Gardens. On the Way back down from the Hike I will take a few Pictures here that I should have taken at this time. We will get to that later.
I have walked up the Stone walk-Way about 200 Feet. That is Where The Britt Gardens were at once apone a time. The Foundation of The Peter Britt House is Close by But I Guess I Neglected to take a Picture of that. Here is the Tree Peter Britt Planted. There is a Stone plaque set in the Ground as well telling about this Gigantic Beautifull Tree.
Just a few feet away from The "Sequoiadendron Giganteum" is this nice View of Medford, RoxyAnn, And Mt McLoughlin.. The Horse-Trails start right here.
I Guess it was 1969 When us Kids discovered the Horse-Trails. That is what they were called back then. In Reality The Horse-Trails are The Ditch-Trail that was used to bring water from up Jackson Creek to the town of Jacksonville. The Pipe that runs the entire distance of the Trail is still buried there in the Ground. These Trails are now called the Woodland Trails. And Have been widened a little as well. In the the Third Picture here we see the Original Trail that led from Hwy 238 to the Top Trail. Now Blocked off and no longer in use.
After walking about 1500 feet up the Trail you will Notice across the Hwy. (238) That the side of the Hill has been all dug out. I'am not really sure what that was all about.? We are about a Quarter of a Mile out of J'ville now. And we are getting close to the Place Where I took Pictures of Kelly on Her first Gold-Panning-Adventure back in 1986. There is a Cave down there at the Creek Level. How ever its near impossible to get to from this side of the Creek. Need to get to it from the Hwy side. We now continue walking on another 500 Feet. And now we are about to the Half way point in the Trail.
Seen here besides my Walking stick there leaning aginst the Post in the Ground. Is a Huge Slide area that happend sometime in the Late 70's One of My Freinds walked through it just after it happend. Lost His Shoe in the Deep Mud. Probably still Buried in there I Guess. In the Next Picture I'am looking down in the Creek at The Big Cement Block that was used a 100 Years ago to bring water from the creek for the Trains in Jacksonville. The Next two Pictures are the Plaques that are posted near by telling about the Structure in the Creek. I'am sorry I know its very hard to Read here. And in the last Picture we see a good clear shot of the Cement Block in Creek.
I have now walked on More then a 1000 feet continuing up the Original Trail. In this Picture. A few 100 Feet back the Original Trail was Abandoned a few years ago Because it was so close to The Creek and being eroded away. One part of it has allready been reclaimed by The Creek. The New trail has been cut up Higher and it should be Pretty clear to see when walking the Trail what has happend.. In this Picture we see the First of Two Bridges across the Creek. Originally the Trail on this side of the Creek would have come to a End just about here. (where I'am standing) And then crossed over the Creek. No Bridge was avalible back then. You had to Wade it. Or walk across an old tree laying across the creek close by.
Now I have reached the Bridge area. And I'am now looking up the Hill. You could not see this in the last Picture. We have two Trails going up the Hill Now. The Lower Trial to the Left of the Picture was Cut a few Years back by the Woodland Trail People. The upper Trail. Is acctually a Road Built sometime about a 100 years ago or so. It was Evendently Part of everything that was going on up here way back then. This Entire area here and across the Hwy was very heavely over grown. Very Dence forrest. And covered in all sorts of Brush and fallen trees. Black-Berrys. You name it. This Place I'am standing at here in the picture. Was very well Hidden from Me and others back then. I first discovered this old Road sometime in the very late 70's Probably when I was going up the Creek back then looking for a New Place to Gold-Pan.
Still standing in the same place I took the last Picture. I'am looking at the Bridge and the Trail I came up just a few Minutes ago. I'am standing next to a Bench Put here by the Woodlands People. And then this Funny looking Guy insisted that I Take His Picture.. And then We see the Newly cut Trail that replaced the Trail to close to the Creek bank. We see a close up of the Bridge and the Bench. Lets continue walking across the Bridge now another 500 Feet to our Next Interesting thing to look at.
Ok. Our Next interesting thing to look at is Directly Linked up with The Big Cement Block down the trail in the Creek. Also the Buried Pipe along the Trail. And The Road we just looked at going up the side of the Hill. I'am not sure just how it all worked togather. But I know somehow it did. Remember that was back in the late 1800's untill 1920's time. What you are looking at here is the Pump House Evidently. I think there is another Building somewhere up to the South-West that housed the Pump? I dont know where that is at. I'am a bit confused on that. This little Building You see here is very Near the tiny little parking area Provided by the Woodlands Trail People. Just across the Hwy from the Old Jacksonville Reservoir Road. In the 70's that little area now a Parking lot was just a old Junk-Yard. I Remember several old Cars were down there too.
Once agine that Funny looking Guy stoped by to have His Picture Taken.
Here is the Plaque that is exsplaining what the Building is doing there and some other stuff. And in the last Picture here. I'am standing in the little Parking area looking out at Hwy 238. Directly across the Hwy is The Jacksonville Reservoir road. You can acctually go all the way to Grants-Pass from this Little Dirt Road. I dont Advise doing that. Not a good Road.
From where the Previous Picture was taken. I simply have Turned to the left about a Quarter of a Turn and now I'am facing the Trail-Head that will continue Us on our Woodlands Trails Adventure. The Horse-Trails. Or Ditch-Trail ended at the Last Bridge we crossed. All The Trails we will be on now. Untill we get to the Top of the Hill are New. Created by the Woodlands-Trail-folks. Now You see a Rock-Plaque on the Ground with the Name "Larry Smith." He is one if not the only Person Responsible for Creating the Woodland-Trails. Mr Smith as He was Known to all of Us Kids in J'ville. Was a Teacher at Jacksonville Elementry School 5th Grade I do beleve. He is not in any of my School Pictures because I never Had Him as a Home-Room-Teacher. Just beyond this Plaque is the Second Bridge. And You can see the trail beginning the Long switch back Pattern it will take to get us to the top of the Mountain. We dont follow the Creek any farther. that is now Private Properie. Lets begine the Trek up the Hill Now.
In the Next Three Pictures I have began to walk up the Switch back Trail. Its not to steep. A Pretty Easy walk. There was Never a Trail here before. How ever I had been to the Top of the Hill from the other side a few times. Back in the Early 70's I was like all KIds back then. Really into Bicycles. My Self and some of My Freinds wanted to Build New Trails down from The Top of Hill to the bottom Just like you see Here. We Never did. It was so Overgrown, Thick with Brush, Bushes, Trees, It was just Impossible and we moved on pretty quick. But it was a nice thought back then
Oh I was beginning to have a lot of Trouble by this time in my Walk. I dont know why.? Out of Shape.? Tired, Had a lot of Body aches this Day. And I wore a Pair of Shoes that I had not worn for a long time. So I was Pretty Beat by the Time I got home. In this First Picture. I'am looking out over the Hills of Jacksonville. I'am not all the way to the Top of the Hill. Very Close The Trail splits off into two other Directions. We are going to Head East back to Jacksonville at the Bench. I sat there a long time. It was very hard to get going agine. And we see My Brown work Boots I was Wearing this Day. These are acctually My Lawn Mowing Shoes I wear when I Mow the Grass at Mom's House. They didnt work very good for me on this Day.
Leaving the "nice compfortable Bench." and continuing the few feet to the Top of the Hill. We Now come to The "Tree-House-Tree." Wouldnt that make a Great tree House.? Basicly we are at the Top of Hill now. "Tree-House-Hill" as Jr and I Named it. I continue to follow the Trail about another 1500 Feet and then We will Meet up with the Road. That goes from the Upper Britt Parking lot to the jacksonville Reservoir's (Two of them now.) From the Reservoir's the Road continues on way back to the Rich-Gulch Mining area. (I have not been there with my Camara Yet.) In the last Picture I'am standing where the Trail ends on the Reservoir Road. Its now time to start Heading back down the Hill to my Car and Home.
Now I Begin walking down the Reservoir Road heading back to Jacksonville. In the Next picture We will start to see some Buildings. Those are two of the Jacksonville Reservoirs. And We allso See past the Reservoirs. Roxy-Ann and Mt McLoughlin in the distance. I Manage to get a good Zoom in on them. As Tired and Worn out as I was on this Little Walk in the Jacksonville woodlands today. It seemed hard for me to beleve that I stood on the Top of Mt Mclouglin back in 1988.
Here is the First Reservoir that I'am aware of that was Built here. It may NOT be the Original Reservoir Built there. Going back about 30 Pictures ago. I was Pointing out The Old Road going up the side of the Hill. That Road will lead right to this little Reservoir we see here in the Picture. With the White looking roof. In the Next Picture We see a Much bigger Reservoir sort of Yellow in Color. That was Built about 15 Years ago.? Mabe more. Ok a little Reservoir History here. To My Knowledge. There are 4 Jacksonville Reservoirs. The First one being up the Old Jacksonville Reservoir Rd. (no longer in use) off of Hwy 283. We saw that Road a little while ago. The Second Reservoir is the Little one with the White Roof. The Third one is Way up on the Hill South-East of Jacksonville. It is somewhat Inaccessible. How ever when I do finnally get up on Rich-Gulch with my Camara. (mabe today) I think I can get a Pretty good Picture of it from on the top of the little hill there. And the Fourth Reservoir is the Big Yellow one here. That is My understanding.
The Road that Leads you from the "Peter Britt" to this Reservoir area is pretty well maintained. The Road/Trail that I just came down continues up into the Hills to the Rich-Gulch area. Agine this was all very Dence forrest back in the 70's When I first discovered this Place. Before the Big Yellow Reservoir was built here the road just came up and Turned around in a Circle. Seen here. Not used anymore. The Road that took off from here to Rich-Gulch was in really bad shape. Had not been used for Years and Years. But there had been structures up there. One Remained in the 1970's.. Hopfully I will be walking that area tomarrow with my Camara. Weather will make that decision for me.
Now We are looking at the Small Reservoir. For many Years this was the only Structure here. My First Memory of this Place was when I was 6 or 7 Years old. My Family was living on South Oregon St at that time. Police-Chief Frank Carter came by the House. He & My Dad knew each other. I Remember looking at His Nice Shinny Big Police Chief Car and being very Impressed. Frank was Asking my Dad if He had heard anything about some Vandalism up at the Reservoir. I didnt know what He was talking about and Neither did My Dad. I Remember Listening to Frank Exsplain to Us about the Reservoir up on the Hill. As He was Pointing up in the Hills in this Direction. And telling us about it and what someone had just done to it. "Cut the Screen air vents and then dumped them into the Tank." I Remember thinking to my Self ( Then just 6 or7 Years old) "WOW. I cant wait to go up there and see that big Reservoir" I knew better then to ask my Dad if we could go see it.. It would be a few Years Later during the Childrens Festival Heald at the Britt Propertie that I would sneek away and Quickly Run up the fenced off road to this Place and finnaly see the Big Reservoir. I Remember it did have a Little diffrent top back then with Screen going across the top as a Air Vent. That is no longer visible in this Picture. I Remember Running all the Way back down the Hill to the Childrens festival Because I was Scared by some Noise in the Forrest. And I Was scared I would be Caught. Also in this Picture. We see the Big Granit Pit across the way up on the Hill. It can be see from all over the Valley. My Grandfather owned the Bottom Pit to the Left of the Picture untill about 1965. I Remember going up with My Dad and seeing the work going on. Oh how we wanted to Play up there. But were not alowed to. To this day there are areas I would like to see up there. But it is all Private Propertie now.
Now we are looking out over the Top of the New Big Yellow Reservoir. I was not exspecting to see the Top of Mt Thielsen or Part of the Rim of Crater-Lake. They are just Barley visible from here. I have seen them so many times from other Vantage Points around this area. And of Course My Old Freind Mt McLouglin to the East Tucked behind Roxy-Ann.. (this is my 900th Picture)(Wow)
I have continued to walk down the Reservoir Road. (now Woodlands Trail head) And I'am now standing in the "Peter Britt" Out-Door-Theater. That is of course the Stage down below.. In 1968 While living close by on South-Oregon-Street. My Self. My Older Brother John & The Neighbor Kid Cam .H. (Cameron) came up here to the Britt for the First time. John & I with out Permisson from our Parents. The Place was Very Run down at the time. A Much diffrent Stage was Where You see the Present Stage. I Remember the Old stage Well. I still have a good Picture if it in My Mind. The Stage was falling apart. Some of it had Collapsed. It was mostly White in Color. And the Grounds were unkept. Weeds. Tall Grass everywhere. John & I got Caught by My Parents. Got it Bad Trouble I'am sure. The Present Stage was Built about 1975. I got more stories to tell about the Building of the Stage back then. Will Get to that in another Picture-taking-time. In this Picture you see some Really Big Trees. 4 or 5 Trees like that have had to be removed in the last 15 or 20 years from this area. Unfortunatly.. The Next five Pictures are all taken in about the Same spot.
Now we are back to the Entrance of the Peter-Britt-Gardens I had forgoten to take this Picture in the very Beginnning of this Trip. We are now at the Area that was to My Understanding Part of a Wine-Storage-Area.? It must have Belonged to Peter Britt at that Time. You see here what looks like a Grave that Has NOT been used Yet. And a Cave. these were Hand Built of Course. For many Years this area was inaccessible. But finnally We broke into it sometime in the 70's and Found what You see in the Pictures. This Is right Next to Hwy 238. Right where the Last Cross walk goes across the street. As You are Leaving town. Lots of People Travel Hwy 238 each day. I wonder How many of them Know about all these wonderfull things that are right there.?
go to March 2010