Publisher Description

Nestled in the foothills of the Siskiyou Mountains of Southern Oregon, Historic Jacksonville's naturally occurring urban forests provides a dramatic, scenic backdrop for the town's well-preserved cluster of Victorian brick buildings, some even dating back to the days of the Gold Rush. The native oak and pine forests that surround our National Historic Landmark town have been designated as The Jacksonville Woodlands Historic Natural Park and Tail System.The discovery of gold at Rich Gulch, located at the southern edge of town, triggered one of the largest gold rushes in the history of the West. It was the Rich Gulch gold rush that founded Jacksonville. Jacksonville's Emerald Necklace, from Goldmines to Woodlands Trails, traces the mining history of Jacksonville and shares the story of how early Jacksonville miners carved out the gulches and water ducts that we see today, and, as the gold played out, the miners' inevitable transition to farmers and tradesmen. Even though it has been over 150 years since the hills of Jacksonville were "whitened with the tents of thousands of eager hunters," the earthen scars and transitional forests are still evident among our 16-mile network of hiking trails. Telling the history Jacksonville's famous goldrush would not be complete without sharing the story of how the Jacksonville Woodlands Association, working in cooperation with the City of Jacksonville, the Bureau of Land Management, the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy, the National Park Service, the Trust for Public Land, Oregon State Parks, and the citizens of Jacksonville, has been able to conserve over 300 acres of Rich Gulch as a publicly owned natural historical park. Larry Smith shares the story of why, in the mid 1980s, Jacksonville was surrounded with several hundred acres of open space and how this historic mine-scared landscape has been preserved for all to enjoy - making this project the most successful, small-town, all volunteer, land preservation project in the state of Oregon.

Author Biography

Larry Smith and his twin brother Lloyd were born in Los Angles where they lived for the first 6 years of their lives. Their father soon tired of life in southern California and relocated his family to a small farm in Phoenix, Oregon. The brothers spent all 12 years of their public school education at Phoenix Schools. Larry attended both Southern Oregon College (SOU) and LeTourneau College (LetU) graduating with three degrees in Engineering and Elementary Education. While attending college, Larry began working as a seasonal park ranger at Crater Lake National Park in 1961, where he completed 23 seasons working for the National Park Service. Larry taught 5th grade at Jacksonville School for 33 years, and field classes for both S.O.U. Antioch University and Elder Hostel. He has been awarded four national teaching awards recognizing his support of environmental education. In 1989 Larry helped found the Jacksonville Woodlands Association and is currently serving as Executive Director. During the past 30 years the Woodlands Association has preserved 21 parcels of woodlands totaling 320 acres surrounding Historic Jacksonville, Oregon. Larry retired in 2000, but he still teaches part-time for the Medford School District and conducts Crater Lake and Jacksonville field trips for school classes, tour busses, and community groups. Plus, he serves on several boards and community committees, including the board of the Crater Lake Institute and on H.A.N.D. (Helping Assist Nepal's Disabled) and on Jacksonville's Budget Committee. Larry has been appointed by the City Council as Jacksonville's official town historian and Town Crier.

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