Historical Merlin
Merlin is an unincorporated community in Josephine County, Oregon, United States. The area is known for sport fishing and whitewater rafting on the Rogue River Merlin's ZIP code is 97532.
A new railroad station in this location in 1883 was called "Jump Off Joe" for a local stream. The station was renamed Merlin in October 1886. The name came from a railroad civil engineer who named it for the Merlins he saw in the area. "McAllister" post office was established about a mile north of Merlin in 1885, then moved to the vicinity of the railroad station and renamed Merlin in 1891.[1]
A new railroad station in this location in 1883 was called "Jump Off Joe" for a local stream. The station was renamed Merlin in October 1886. The name came from a railroad civil engineer who named it for the Merlins he saw in the area. "McAllister" post office was established about a mile north of Merlin in 1885, then moved to the vicinity of the railroad station and renamed Merlin in 1891.[1]
Take a Look into the History of Merlin! |
On the original application for a post office on October 11, 1885, the name "McAllister" is crossed out and Brandt is used. The name was changed back to McAllister on November 23, 1885. The name was later changed to Merlin--after the Pigeon Hawks in the area--on March 21, 1891.
The founder of Merlin was postmaster John C. Lanterman in 1885; the first post office was established on November 23, 1885. The first Merlin townsite was platted by Sarah E. Lanterman and registered in the courthouse on March 31, 1888, as the town of Azalia. Also stated on the platt, "Streets and alleys donated" (lot owners usually had to pay for streets and alleys, as well as, maintain them). In 1905 the Merlin township was founded by A.B. Cousins and the Merlin Land Development Company. This platt enlarged the original townsite of Azalia considerably. J.W. Mitchell, pioneer merchant, purchased property in the center of the Azalia subdivision in 1888 and constructed a large mercantile store and was the leading merchant until the main part of the town burned in October of 1915, thus ending 27 years as Merlin's leading merchant. The Southern Pacific Railroad established the Jump-Off Joe Station in the early 1880's. The name Merlin came from a railroad employee named David Loring after seeing the area inhabited by pigeon hawks also known as merlins. Mr. Loring's imagination is also responsible for naming several other towns as well, including the city of Medford. Postmaster Lanterman changed the name of the post office to Merlin on March 21, 1891. Following Lanterman as postmaster were George A. Guild, followed by his daughter, Mattie. Ruth Lendberg was postmaster from 1930 to 1967, serving seven presidents. Mrs. Lendberg's little green house served as the post office and it still stands with flagpole on Pleasant Valley Road, just down the street from the present day post office. Merlin had two school districts in 1886: the Jump Off Joe School District had 54 children educated at a cost of $77.00; the Louse Creek School District had 26 pupils with a cost of $63.00. These two districts combined to form Merlin School District #24 in May of 1894. There was a brick school house built in 1912 on the spot where the present day elementary school sits. A bell from an older school was placed in the brick building and when it was demolished in 1963, it was given to the Merlin Community Baptist Church where it hangs today. Merlin expanded rapidly after the townsite was platted in 1905. There was a grocery store, a three-story hotel, daily train stops, and even a hanging dentist sign guaranteeing no pain. But once again tragedy struck when on the morning of October 24, 1915 a fire destroyed a block of buildings including the post office and the train depot. There is an interesting letter addressed to Debbie Lard who has done much on preserving the history of Merlin. This letter tells how it was in 1911 traveling to Grants Pass. Long time resident Ted Stiewig tells of a trip to see the Barnum and Bailey Circus in Grants Pass. At that time, Mr. Stiewig was about four years old and lived in Rand, just past Galice. He describes taking Massie's stagecoach at 6:30 in the morning, stopping at Indian Mary's ranch at about 12 noon to change horses, then arriving at the train depot in Merlin at about 2:00 in the afternoon. Since the train didn't arrive until 6:30 p.m., they would stay and have lunch and dinner at Massie's Hotel in Merlin before departing for Grants Pass. Mr. Stiewig also describes going to Grants Pass with his friends while living in Merlin. After taking the train to Grants Pass and finding entertainment playing the pool halls, they would make sure they had at least 25 cents for train fare left between them so they could "ride the blinds;" that is, they would jump between the cars unseen. One friend would pay so the train would be sure to stop in Merlin on the way back so they all could jump off.
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Merlin Oregon,
Gateway To The Wild & Scenic Rogue River
The little hamlet of Merlin is located northwest of Grants Pass and is the home base for many outfitters and fishing guides. This and the fact that Merlin is close to the 84-mile segment of the Rogue River set aside by Congress under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, is why Merlin is known as the "Gateway To The Wild & Scenic Rogue River."
Located nearby is the famous Hellgate Canyon (on Galice Hwy.) where Rooster Cogburn with John Wayne and many other Westerns were filmed. Above Merlin is Grave Creek, the starting point for the 32 mile "wild" section of the Rogue River.
Great Fishing and rafting on the white waters are but some of the activities available in the Merlin area. One of the best hiking trails around is the famous Rogue River Wild and Scenic Trail which starts at Grave Creek above Merlin and runs downstream 40 miles through the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River to Foster Bar.
Gateway To The Wild & Scenic Rogue River
The little hamlet of Merlin is located northwest of Grants Pass and is the home base for many outfitters and fishing guides. This and the fact that Merlin is close to the 84-mile segment of the Rogue River set aside by Congress under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, is why Merlin is known as the "Gateway To The Wild & Scenic Rogue River."
Located nearby is the famous Hellgate Canyon (on Galice Hwy.) where Rooster Cogburn with John Wayne and many other Westerns were filmed. Above Merlin is Grave Creek, the starting point for the 32 mile "wild" section of the Rogue River.
Great Fishing and rafting on the white waters are but some of the activities available in the Merlin area. One of the best hiking trails around is the famous Rogue River Wild and Scenic Trail which starts at Grave Creek above Merlin and runs downstream 40 miles through the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue River to Foster Bar.
Haines Family Apple Tree
Located in Merlin Oregon, this tree is Oregon's 2nd oldest apple tree. It was planted by the Haines family in the either 1852 or 1854 (accounts vary), the tree stood throughout the Indian wars. The fighting began in 1855 when white vigilantes attacked a group of peaceful Indians-mostly women, children and elderly men-(at present day Eagle Point). Under the direction of a man who titled himself Major James A. Lupton, a group of " hair brained enthusiast and professed ruffians" butchered the Indians, according to A.G. Walling's story "A History Of Southern Oregon," published in 1884.
The Indians in the area struck back, working their way down the Rogue River and attacking white homesteads. Their thirst for vengeance had not been quenched by the time they reached Merlin, according to the recently published "An Arrow In The Earth": General Joe Palmer and the Indians of Oregon."
Although Haines tried to fight off the Indians, they were one family against a band of angry warriors. When volunteers arrived to help, according to contemporary accounts, they found Mr. Haines and his young son murdered at the home site. The Indians took Mrs. Haines and her daughter captive, presumed to have been thrown into Hellgate Canyon on the Rogue River. Taking in account that white accounts of Indian atrocities were nearly always exaggerated.
The tree was reported to have died in August, 1973, a few months after Josephine County Commissioners held a ceremony celebrating its antiquity. But three years later, branches of the old three were still alive, and the State Forestry Department declared it a historic site.
A special thanks to Marilyn Luttrell, who over the years has looked after and help raise money to protect this historical tree and site." We thank you Marilyn"
The Indians in the area struck back, working their way down the Rogue River and attacking white homesteads. Their thirst for vengeance had not been quenched by the time they reached Merlin, according to the recently published "An Arrow In The Earth": General Joe Palmer and the Indians of Oregon."
Although Haines tried to fight off the Indians, they were one family against a band of angry warriors. When volunteers arrived to help, according to contemporary accounts, they found Mr. Haines and his young son murdered at the home site. The Indians took Mrs. Haines and her daughter captive, presumed to have been thrown into Hellgate Canyon on the Rogue River. Taking in account that white accounts of Indian atrocities were nearly always exaggerated.
The tree was reported to have died in August, 1973, a few months after Josephine County Commissioners held a ceremony celebrating its antiquity. But three years later, branches of the old three were still alive, and the State Forestry Department declared it a historic site.
A special thanks to Marilyn Luttrell, who over the years has looked after and help raise money to protect this historical tree and site." We thank you Marilyn"
Mary Peters "Indian Mary"
Mary Peters (1852–1921) was an Umpqua woman who operated a ferry across the Rogue River.
Life
Peters's father, known as Umpqua Joe, was a member of the Grave Creek band of the Umpqua people who was known for warning settlers and miners in the Grants Pass area of an impending attack from local Indians in 1855. Peters's father was reportedly allowed to stay on his land after the end of the Rogue River Wars rather than be removed to a reservation. Mary Peters, popularly known as "Indian Mary" – not to be confused with a different Native American woman also living in Oregon during the same period (Kalliah Tumulth, a Watlala Chinook) and also known as "Indian Mary"– lived on the land where her father had operated a ferry to transport miners and supplies in Southern Oregon until his death on November 13, 1886. After his death, Peters applied for a claim for the land under the Dawes Act, also known as the "Indian Homestead Act." Eight years later, she received a little more than 72 acres. Her 25-year land deed has often been described as the smallest Indian reservation in the United States. In 1958, the land was converted by Josephine County to Indian Mary Park, named after Peters.
She continued to operate her father's ferry business after his death. In 1894 she leased the ferry to William Massie and moved with her two surviving daughters to Grants Pass. She moved to Salem in 1920 to be near her daughters. Peters died in 1921 and is buried in Salem's City View Cemetery.
Life
Peters's father, known as Umpqua Joe, was a member of the Grave Creek band of the Umpqua people who was known for warning settlers and miners in the Grants Pass area of an impending attack from local Indians in 1855. Peters's father was reportedly allowed to stay on his land after the end of the Rogue River Wars rather than be removed to a reservation. Mary Peters, popularly known as "Indian Mary" – not to be confused with a different Native American woman also living in Oregon during the same period (Kalliah Tumulth, a Watlala Chinook) and also known as "Indian Mary"– lived on the land where her father had operated a ferry to transport miners and supplies in Southern Oregon until his death on November 13, 1886. After his death, Peters applied for a claim for the land under the Dawes Act, also known as the "Indian Homestead Act." Eight years later, she received a little more than 72 acres. Her 25-year land deed has often been described as the smallest Indian reservation in the United States. In 1958, the land was converted by Josephine County to Indian Mary Park, named after Peters.
She continued to operate her father's ferry business after his death. In 1894 she leased the ferry to William Massie and moved with her two surviving daughters to Grants Pass. She moved to Salem in 1920 to be near her daughters. Peters died in 1921 and is buried in Salem's City View Cemetery.