Sunday, 5/6/07, Bud, Gariann, Ken, Betty, Steve, Charlene, Judy and I met at the foot of Depot Street bridge and rode over to the Original Roadhouse Grill in Medford for lunch and while there Bonnie and Larry joined us. After lunch and lots of conversation we rode to the Jeremiah Nunan House in Jacksonville. The Nunan house is a Queen Ann style mansion built in 1892.
After the Nunan house we walked (my dumb idea) to the Bybee house which is a Classical Revival farmhouse built in 1857. At one time William Bybee was the largest land holder in the Rogue Valley and owned over half of Jackson County.
Next on our list was the home of Judge Frank TouVelle built in 1917. Portions of the TouVelle House are built around an earlier structure on the site. The original one and a half story cottage was built in 1866 by William Hoffman, who, along with his wife and six daughters, crossed the Oregon Trail in 1853.
From there we rode to the John Love House. A Classical Revival house built in 1867.
Then we walked to the John Orth House built in the Italian Villa style in 1880.
At every house we were greeted by people dressed in period clothing who furnished us with more interesting historical information than I want to put in print. It was a truly fun day and I'll continue to be amazed by the craftsmanship of the old pioneers knowing what crude tools they had to work with. I have a hard time sawing a straight line with a modern day saw so you know I was impressed.
We enjoyed a great time with a wonderful group and anxiously look forward to our next outing.
Ride Safe, Don Coons