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The Infamous Black Bird Southern Oregon History, Revised


Weeks Notes

Weeks Bros. and Weeks & Orr were early orchardists and furniture manufacturers.

    A. J. Weeks, of Phoenix, who purchased P. W. Olwell's upper mill site, has the machinery in place to carry on an extensive box factory next summer.
"Here and There," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, January 16, 1890, page 3


    Weeks Bros. are keeping their furniture factory in constant operation at Phoenix, and will doubtless build up a fine business.
"Here and There," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, April 17, 1891, page 3


    Weeks & Co. of Phoenix were engaged during the week in putting in place the furniture manufactured at Phoenix, with which they propose to stock their business house in this place. The finishing touches will be put on by experienced workmen here.
"Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, May 22, 1891, page 2


    Weeks Bros. are putting up a two-story frame building at Medford for a furniture store.
"Pressed Bricks," Valley Record, Ashland, Oregon, December 14, 1893, page 1


     Weeks Bros. brought to Medford from their factory at Phoenix, Tuesday, a full wagonload of furniture. These people have engaged the services of W. H. McGowan, son-in-law of one of the firm, as their Medford salesman, and the gentleman expects to commence housekeeping in the city as soon as Mrs. McGowan shall have recovered her usual good health. The lady has been very ill but is now able to be about the house and improving rapidly.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, January 26, 1894, page 3


     Weeks Bros. are having a front put into their new store building, on West Seventh Street, that is truly a beauty. All the crooks, turns and funny businesses were turned out at their factory in Phoenix as well as all doors, sash and trimmings. Contractor Lyon is doing the carpenter work on this building, which will be completed now pretty soon.
"All the Local News," Medford Mail, February 16, 1894, page 3
    Messrs. Weeks & Orr shipped a carload of dried prunes--last year's crop--to Topeka, Kansas, last week .They expect to realize a fairly good price, particularly because of the fact that the fruit is not only first-class but the entire carload runs very even as to grade. These people still have about ten tons of last year's crop, which they expect to ship soon. Their crops this year, while not as large as last, is some better in quality.
"News of the City," Medford Mail, September 14, 1894, page 3
CELEBRATED THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING.
    Mr. and Mrs. John Weeks of Phoenix, the Happy Couple--Half a Century of Wedded Life--Friends Assist in Commemorating the Event.
    A fiftieth wedding anniversary is an occasion which few people hope or expect to celebrate. It is because that these occasions are rare that attaches to them the importance which commemorates the event. An half century of life is in itself almost the allotted period, and many people are a long ways on the downward grade when they have reached that age, but when one thinks of fifty years of wedded life, the thought appears to us as almost too marvelous to be true, and in this particular instance, where both the bride and groom of fifty years ago are as sprightly, almost, and as clear of mind as are any of their children, the fact seems even more marvelous. 
    It was upon Tuesday evening of this week, July 8, 1902, at the pleasant home of Dr. and Mrs. H. P. Hargrave, in Phoenix that Mr. and Mrs. John Weeks celebrated their fiftieth anniversary of blissful, wedded life. There were fully sixty-five relatives and invited friends present upon this occasion, many of them with silvered or whitened locks--relatives and dear friends of this good, honorable and upright couple. All had assembled to do honor to their aged, but very happy neighbors, and the glad expressions of good cheer which were so illuminously portrayed upon the faces of all told plainer and more forceful than words of the joy they felt. It was an evening of glad rejoicing and the congratulatory words spoken to and of this aged couple will be pleasant memories to those upon whose ears they felt. 
    Members of the family were very ably assisted in entertaining the guests by Mrs. Vawter, who sang several well-chosen and appropriate songs, Miss Webber with piano solos and the Misses Florence and Gracie Weeks, granddaughters of the host and hostess, gave two recitations each, all of which were listened to with much interest and pleasure, especially one by Miss Gracie, which was very appropriate and had been selected because of its being so fitting. 
    Later in the evening the guests were invited to the lawn, where beneath bows of pine and oak there was spread one of the finest feasts ever prepared by the deft hands of Southern Oregon women. The scene was well lighted with Japanese lanterns and a picture of plenty and grandeur was presented. When the guests had taken their assigned positions alongside this heavily laden table, divine blessing was pronounced by Rev. Clyde. After all had partaken of the hospitality of their host and hostess Rev. Clyde read a few well and carefully selected lines, which he had prepared, touching upon the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Weeks, as he had seen them from his ministerial vantage grounds. Rev. C. H. Hoxie pronounced the benediction, and the guests again assembled indoors and an hour or more of very agreeable interchange of pleasantries and "shop talk" followed and between twelve and one o'clock the guests began taking their departure, expressing as they did so the congratulations and good fellowship which they felt for their host and hostess of the evening. 
    Mr. and Mrs. Weeks were the recipients of many beautiful and valuable presents in gold, silver, cut glass and hand-painted china. 
    The home of Mr. Hargrave was beautifully draped in old gold silk, with decorations of roses and nasturtiums. The souvenirs of the occasion were old gold ribbons, pinned in a bow with gold headed pins, and upon the ribbons were printed the years, "1852" and "1902."
    Those of the relatives present from a distance were Mrs. McKay, sister of Mrs. Weeks, and daughter, Miss Ida, of Canada; Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Weeks and son, Henry, of Oakland, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Weeks and children, Misses Florence and Gracie and Master Stewart, of Oakland, Calif.; Mr. and Mrs. Hargrave, of Winnipeg, Canada.
    Those present from home and nearby points were: Ashland--Rev. and Mrs. Clyde, Mr. and Mrs. Mathes, Miss Jessie Mathes. Medford--Rev. and Mrs. Hoxie, Hon. and Mrs. Stewart, Mr. and Mrs. Vawter, Mr. and Mrs. Whitman, Mr. and Mrs. Bliton, Mr. and Mrs. Webb, Dr. and Mrs. Pickel, Mr. and Mrs. McGowan, Mrs. Orr, Bertie Orr, Miss Webber, Miss Critchlow, Alfred Weeks, Mark Baker. Phoenix--Mr. and Mrs. John Weeks, Mr. and Mrs. Coleman, Mr. and Mrs. Furry, Mr. and Mrs. Lehner, Mr. and Mrs. Epps, Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood, Mr. and Mrs. Foudray, Mrs. Culver, Mrs. Furry, Miss Gertrude Weeks, Mr. Fred Weeks.
    A bit of history regarding these people will not be out of place here. Mr. John Weeks was born in England in 1828. In early manhood he took passage in a sailing vessel for Canada, where he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business at Woodstock. On July 8, 1852, he was married to Miss Sarah Lateman. The wedding took place in Woodstock, where the happy couple began housekeeping and where they resided until eleven years ago, when, with their children, they moved to Phoenix, Oregon, where Mr. Weeks re-engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, which business he still follows. Mrs. Weeks was born in Oxford County, Canada, in 1832. Ten children were born to them. Three of these died in infancy; the remaining seven are Arthur Weeks, of Oakland, Calif.; Alfred Weeks, Mrs. Eugene Orr and Mrs. W. H. McGowan, of Medford, Mrs. H. P. Hargrave, Miss Gertrude and Mr. Fred, of Phoenix. 
Medford Mail, July 11, 1902, page 2


    ALFRED WEEKS. Among the successful fruit-grower and businessmen of Medford may be mentioned Alfred Weeks, whose public-spirited efforts have contributed not a little to the upbuilding of Jackson County. When he came here in 1887 Mr. Weeks had the advantage of several years of experience as a furniture dealer and manufacturer in Woodstock, Canada, where he was born September 15, 1856. His father was an ambitious and successful man who had gained a competence as a merchant, furniture manufacturer and farmer, and the son naturally followed in his footsteps, especially as he had been placed to work in the manufactory at an early age. The enterprise of this Canadian father seems to have been handed down to his sons, for one of them came to Oregon at an early day and started the first fruit ranch of any size in the Rogue River Valley. He was successful in his new home, and, being convinced that the country offered unlimited inducements to the industrious and painstaking, wrote home glowing accounts of the soil, people and climate. In 1887 the northern home was further depleted by the starting for the West of Alfred Weeks, who, with his brother-in-law, Eugene Orr, made the long trip successfully, and entered into partnership with their already well-established relative. The three men had every reason to rejoice over their prospects, for they had one hundred and forty acres of orchard, including peaches, prunes, apples and pears, and they found a ready market for their fruit, which was the best possible to be found in this state. In 1897 a new orchard of one hundred acres was set out, but by this time Alfred Weeks had succeeded to the principal management of the orchards, for in 1890 his brother and brother-in-law had opened a furniture factory in Phoenix, and devoted much of their attention to the mercantile venture. In 1901 Mr. Lewis purchased the interest of the brother and brother-in-law, since which time Alfred Weeks has been sole manager of the orchards. Mr. Orr died in August, 1901, but the furniture business, conducted under the firm name of Weeks Brothers, is still catering to a flourishing trade.
    Alfred Weeks is a Republican in politics, and is fraternally connected with the Knights of Pythias. He has done much to elevate the standard of fruit growing in this county, and has given the subject that absorbing study into which all true agricultural enthusiasts are irresistibly led. He is a man of honor, intelligence and broad-mindedness, and commands the respect of all who are fortunate enough to know him.
Portrait and Biographical Record of Western Oregon, Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904, page 727


    Weeks & McGowan are engaged this week in transferring their stock of furniture to their new quarters in the building just finished by them and opened up for business Wednesday. When fully arranged this will be one of the finest furniture show rooms in this part of the state. Large plate glass windows on the front and east corner furnish ample light for the front, and windows at frequent intervals on the east side makes the whole room light. The lower floor is devoted to the display of dining room and bedroom sets, sideboards and other heavy furniture, while a gallery in the rear is filled with chairs. On the second floor are displayed the carpets, rugs, curtains, portieres, couches, etc. This floor will be partitioned into departments, each one devoted to a particular line of goods, and the rooms will be tastefully arranged to show the goods to the best advantage. In the rear, upstairs and down, are large ware rooms; these also will be galleried. The one upstairs will contain the carpet sewing machine, mattresses, springs, etc., and the lower will be used as an assembling room for furniture. Take the store, "by and large" it is about as convenient and complete [a] furniture as could well be conceived. One of the most striking features is the abundant light. There isn't any dark corners, which counts a whole lot when it comes to showing goods.
"City Happenings," Medford Mail, December 13, 1907, page 5

Furniture Store To Celebrate 67 Years in Business
    Starting Monday, Weeks and Orr Furniture store, 114 West Main St., Medford, will celebrate 67 years of business here.
    In 1892, the firm first established a small store on Front St. and, in the same year, opened a small furniture manufacturing plant in Phoenix.
    At the turn of the century, the original concern moved to West Main St. in the same location now occupied by the present store.
    In 1953 a rebuilding program was undertaken and the firm expanded into the old Rialto Theater area. Today two full floors and a large mezzanine area provide 23,000 square feet of display space for Weeks and Orr, with 14,000 additional square feet of space in a separate warehouse.
    The Medford store is associated with 65 other independent member stores in the "Westore" organization for combined volume purchasing.
    Eugene Orr, owner and general manager, has been active in the local organization since 1932 with the exception of the World War II period when he served with the armed forces.
    He has long been prominent in civic and veterans affairs, has served as chairman of the Medford Retail Merchandise Association, is a past commander of Medford Post 15, American Legion, and past commander of [the] Legion's District 13. Orr is now national rehabilitation officer for Oregon.
Medford Mail Tribune, January 11, 1959, page 12
Open House to Mark Completion of Weeks & Orr
Store Remodeling Program
Five Generations Continue Business; Store Now Modern
    Open House at Weeks and Orr Furniture store on West Main St., beginning at 9 a.m., Wednesday, August 12 through Saturday, August 15, will observe completion of a remodeling program which has been under way for the past seven months. Ben H. Todd, architect, was in charge of the program.
    Owners of the store are Albert E. Orr, who has been with the business for 47 years, and his son, Eugene Orr, with the company 21 years. Eugene Orr's son, Gregory Orr, employed there for two years, is the fifth generation of the same family connected with the furniture store.
To Give Prizes
    Free prizes will be given during the opening, and the public is invited to inspect the store. The first 3,000 women to call in person will be given gifts, the managers have announced.
    Only the outer walls remain of the original brick building which housed the furniture company at the time the remodeling was begun, Eugene Orr said last week. The first section of the brick building was erected in 1907 and stood next to a frame building which had housed the firm since the early 1900s. (The frame building was removed to the present Dean's Pontiac agency location and was not torn down until World War II.) In 1909 the brick building was completed on the same ground on which the frame building had stood.
23,000 Feet
    Total space in the store now is 23,000 square feet, about 7,000 square feet of sales room added by the remodeling. There also are about 14,000 square feet in the firm's storage space in another location.
    Until 1917 the furniture firm also included an undertaking business. This part of the business then was sold to Conger Mortuary.
    The Weeks and Orr Furniture Company, originally known as Weeks Brothers, was begun in 1892 in a store building on Front St. Much of the furniture sold was made by the firm's factory at Phoenix. The factory burned in 1905 and was not replaced.
    John and Fred Weeks, originators of the business, were Albert Orr's grandfather and uncle, respectively. Later the firm was known as Weeks McGowan and Company and was operated by Fred Weeks, W. H. McGowan and Albert Orr.
    Albert Weeks, a business associate, and Albert Orr's father, Eugene M. Orr, are credited with planting some of the first commercial pear orchards in the valley, reported to be the Klamath, Del Rio and Bear Creek orchards.
    In 1917 the firm became Weeks and Orr Furniture Company.
    Since the remodeling, the business will concentrate on furniture, rugs and carpeting sales, the owners said. No appliances, linoleums or television sales will be included, they point out.
    The store now is one of the most modern on the Pacific Coast, the managers state. Front of the building is finished in porcelain steel, said to be the third such installation in Oregon.
    Miss Sarah Hardin will be in charge of sales of baby equipment, for which a new department has been added. She also will have charge of other specialty items, including bedroom furniture and bedspreads.
    No other additions to the staff are planned for the present time.
    Some of the firm names which manufacture merchandise sold by the firm include Magnuson's, Builtwell, Simmons, Drexel, Bassett, Los Angeles Period, Doernbecker, B. P. Johns, Sterling Maple and Veal Maple, Serta, Rutherford, and Hood, Berkliner and Virtue chrome.
Medford Mail Tribune, August 11, 1953, page 5
Weeks & Orr Store Changes Hands
By ROBERT STERLING
Mail Tribune Staff Writer
    Weeks & Orr Furniture store, a downtown Medford institution for 92 years, will be sold to Winans furniture store of Ashland, owners of both stores confirmed today.
    Dick Orr, co-owner along with brother Greg Orr, said an "earnest money agreement" was reached Saturday with Winans' owners Mark Winans and Joe Pedrojetti.
    Winans and Pedrojetti, who had planned to build a new store in Ashland to replace their 12,000-square-foot store at 1801 Oregon 99, will instead liquidate their stock and move to Medford.
    Orr, who is also president of the Southern Oregon Historical Society, said the decision to sell the longtime family operation at 114 W. Main St. was not easy.
    He said that after 18 years in the furniture business, "I wanted to try something different, spend more time with the kids, have two-day weekends."
    He said he would be involved in "stocks and bonds" in Medford, but declined to be more specific.
    Greg Orr, who has been in the business for 30 years, will open a small specialty furniture shop with his son and daughter, Mike and Patty Orr. Although details have not been worked out, the store will open in an area shopping center, Greg said.
    Dick Orr said the decision to sell came after three large furniture chains had made offers to buy the 30,000-square-foot store. But he said he and his brother wanted to sell to a smaller, independent firm.
    Winans said he was "honored" that the Orr brothers agreed to sell to him and his partner. He said that the two furniture stores plan to hold a joint liquidation sale "within two weeks." He said the new store will be called Joseph Winans and will open in Medford this fall.
    He said their new store will have all-new stock and will feature "several galleries of high-quality, affordable furniture." Winans has been in Ashland nearly seven years, Winans said. He said that with the larger store, "We'll be centrally located, and we feel we'll be able to do a lot more for the valley."
    The history of Weeks & Orr goes back to 1892, when two sons of John Weeks, a furniture maker in Phoenix, opened Weeks Bros. Furniture next to the current site of Weeks & Orr. [Sources above place the 1892 store on Front Street.]
    The current brick building was built in 1909. Albert "Bert" Orr, the only son of Michael Orr--Dick and Greg's great-grandfather, who was married to a daughter of John Weeks--joined Fred Weeks and Will McGowan to run the business.
    Bert Orr bought out McGowan in 1922. His son, Gene, then bought the business from the Weeks' side of the family when Fred Weeks died in 1932.
    The business was handed down from Gene, who retired in 1980, to Dick and Greg.
    It is now the largest furniture store in the Medford area.
Medford Mail Tribune, July 25, 1984, page 2
Last revised February 17, 2010