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The Infamous Black Bird Southern Oregon History, Revised

Intercity Rivalry

Coming This Way

The town of Medford seems to be growing northward and may, perhaps, soon be rated as a growing suburb of Central Point. The Tribune, in a recent issue, says: "H. Snook, the contractor, has commenced the construction of the new school house on the lot purchased by the school board from B. F. Adkins. Some criticism has been indulged in about the acquiring of this lot, not at the price, $700, but some of our citizens think that the new school building will be too near the new Central Point institution of a similar character."
Central Point Herald, August 16, 1906, page 1

GOT HIS WIRES CROSSED.

    The Medford Tribune, which is published four miles south of Central Point, "wised up" last Thursday by reading the real news as published in the Herald of that date, and as a result was immediately able to announce to an expectant public that "Central Point is affected with railroadphobia." Railroadphobia is a bigger word than busy Central Point people can take time to pronounce or define, so we will assume the Tribune means that we are suffering from an acute attack of the same disease that, in a chronic form, has so long and so persistently been gnawing at the vitals of our neighboring village. Continuing, the Tribune facetiously remarks:
    "A telephone message from editor Pattison of the Herald states that the purpose of the survey is the location of a new hell, and he should know."
    Now there is where the Tribune man got his wires crossed. The telephone story is a mistake, as well as a fake, for be it known now and forever that Central Point has no desire to run any counterattraction in a line which has so long been monopolized by Medford. Our good neighbors can take all the hell they ever raised up there and welcome. Central Point will take the railroad and a dozen or so factories to add to its present second edition of Paradise and call it square.
Central Point Herald, May 9, 1907, page 2

Medford Wins a Game.

Medford won a [baseball] game last Sunday from Ashland, and by dint of having three of Central Point's players to help them. Nash, Sanderson and Ross went up and helped our near neighbors to stand off the "Chawtawquans," and the stunt was accomplished without much trouble. The three Pointers each packed in a good tally or two, and it is whispered around that Sanderson played a mean trick on Ashland's pitcher when he stole home from third while the curve artist was "winding up" and actually beat the ball to home plate.
Central Point Herald, June 18, 1908, page 4

Medford Mossback Saddened by Progress of C.P.

    A Medford mossback, who evidently had not learned that there is a railroad connecting the two towns, walked over to Central Point the other day and looked around for some of his kind, but failed to find them. This made him feel sort of grouchy, and the fact that he reports having rubbed the skin off his heel on the homeward trek is pretty good evidence that he felt justified in exercising the prerogative of every true mossback by registering a vigorous kick. In a column article in the Mail Tribune he thus tells of his harrrowing experiences:
    "I reached the city limits about 10:00 a.m. and found the whole Central Point district apparently dotted with small, clean family residences and outbuildings and I says to myself, 'if this town was only about two miles nearer to Medford.' . . . (Oh, you kiddo) . . . 'No longer can there be seen a vestige of the old landmarks of moss-covered roofs, shacks and rail fences, and but few of the original business men left. . . . This great change made me feel sad. I saw no city officers of any description, no one smoking, no one with flushed face and red nose, . . . no one screaming hot hominy and sauerkraut and cheap beef--as is to be seen daily in metropolitan Medford, . . . and also astonished to not see any ladies on the streets. . . . So far I had not met a friend or stranger to give me a welcome smile or a warm handshake."
    If the Medford mossback is pained by seeing evidence of growth at Central Point he should wear blinders when he comes this way. If he is chagrined because of the disappearance of mossy roofs, shacks and rail fences he should go to the Willamette Valley. If he yearns for the sight of pretty women and failed to see them in Central Point he should rub the dust from his eyes before he comes out again, but if he is really looking for some of his old-time mossback friends he should wear a booster button and a pair of sprinters' shoes next time he comes down. The button will bring out the mossbacks--if there are any left--and the visitor will soon learn why he needs the shoes.
Central Point Herald, February 3, 1910, page 1

The Medford Way.
(Jacksonville Post.)

    Early Monday morning Mayor Shaw received a communication from the Commercial Club of Eugene stating that a delegation of business men would arrive in their own car at this place Tuesday morning at 11:30 and would remain in the city until 2:30 p.m.
    The letter further stated that the object of the visit was to get acquainted with the business men and representative men of this city and asked as a special favor that our mayor would see that the party was properly introduced, etc.
    The mayor in all good faith called upon most of the business men in the city, arranging that they go in a body to the depot and meet the train upon which the party was expected to arrive, but lo and behold! Instead of the special car of the excursionists coming according to schedule, some of the so-called boosters of Medford, afraid that if the party was allowed to come here as planned they might get some ideas and impressions of the valley and country not in consonance with those which the Commercial Club of Medford is noted for promulgating, induced the managers of the party to leave their car at Medford, and a few of the excursionists were loaded into autos and in company with some of the metropolitan boosters were driven to this city, where an informal reception, presided over by a Medford man, was tendered the visitors.
    After remaining here 25 minutes the party returned to Medford, where the visitors would be allowed to see things as Medford sees them.
    It is stated that during the stay in this place the visitors were vigilantly guarded by the Medford bunch and not allowed to converse much or come in contact with the "brush" men of this city.
Ashland Tidings, February 22, 1912, page 2

BATTLING STUDENTS SAY IT WITH EGGS
OMELET RIOTS STAGED IN MEDFORD AND ASHLAND.
School and County Authorities Seek to Curb Rowdyism
As Athletic Season Ends.

    MEDFORD, Or., Feb. 21.--(Special.)--Because of the bitter rivalry which is all "hangover" from football and basketball games of past years, with the hoodlumism this year declared the worst in history, the egg riots between school students that have marked athletic contests between the Ashland and Medford high schools for several years will be curbed before the final games of the basketball championship series, through the action of the two school boards and the county authorities.
    Saturday night in Ashland after the basketball game rowdyism broke loose and an egg fight occurred in front of the Methodist Church, that edifice being splattered. Another group of the two towns clashed near the Southern Pacific overhead crossing on the Pacific Highway, and a general free-for-all fight was narrowly averted. Passing automobiles were bombarded with eggs.
    The trouble started last Friday night in this city during the final minutes of the basketball game. A grammar school youth's nose was broken and other students were beaten. Medford students went to Ashland Saturday night loaded with eggs, and their foes were ready for them. After the game the rival groups started looking for trouble and both found it.

Oregonian, February 22, 1928, page 1

Parker Says Medford Up to Old Trick

Hey there, Medford, you big palooka, how come you trying to grab my sawmill here in Central Point? Since when does the city limits of your TOWN join the city limits of OUR CITY? Listen you, I live in Central Point. And my south property line is about 60 feet more or less from this new sawmill's property line, and I am a heck of a ways from Medford. Someday Medford may be part of Central Point, but Central Point will never be part of Medford.
Now Medford, I like you a heck of a lot, honest I do, but when you try to grab for your glory every good thing that comes to the Rogue River Valley it kinder gets into my English, Irish, French, Pennsylvania Dutch and Algerian blood, and I don't mind telling you so. You've got everything in Medford from soup to nuts, so give someone else a chance to have something for a change. What you say? Come on, Medford, and let us have just a teensy-weensy sawmill. Be a good sport about it. If you don't, why, we will just take the mill anyway. So What.--Archie Parker.
Central Point American, March 25, 1937, page 1

Twenty Years from Now
APRIL 4, 1967

    The people of Central Point with sorrow today observed the tenth anniversary of the terrible disaster that happened to our neighboring city to the south, just ten years ago today. The horror of that disaster. The devastating power of that fragment of an atomic bomb. The chaos in this valley that resulted. All are indelibly engraved in the minds of everyone who lived in Central Point at the time.
    Plans are under way to construct a huge new civic stadium, north of Central Point. This stadium will be owned by the city, but will be leased to the local baseball club. Plans call for a seating capacity of 50,000. The local team finished second in the coast league last year, and the crowds could not be contained in the old ball grounds west of town.
    The state hospital at Camp White is no longer adequate and will have to be enlarged inside of the next year. This was the report of the state senate committee that investigated the hospital last week.
    A new car is reported to be on the market this year that will rise straight up in the air. If this car does what the manufacturer claims, all of the modern highways in the world will become obsolete in a few years. As yet none of these cars have been seen in Central Point.
Central Point American, April 3, 1947, page 2

Last revised October 28, 2009