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Since 1908

I n 1908, when the school bell was rung, all the children of Jacksonville were expected to be in their seats, quiet and ready for instruction. Ringing from the Bell Tower atop of the School House, the sound could be heard throughout the town. Going to school was a privilege and students were eager to attend. The alternative was staying at home,  working the farms, tending to livestock or supporting their parent’s vocation.

The School House was heated by a large boiler in the basement.  Misbehaving boys were sentenced to arrive at school early to stoke the boiler and heat the classrooms.  This provided a cheap source of labor for the School District and gave teachers a means of discipline.

By today’s standards, the Student Body was not very diversified. Jacksonville had two places of worship, a Catholic Church and a Presbyterian Church. Overwhelmingly the population was European, with Germans as the dominant group. The German language was heard on the streets, and there is evidence that some of the early classes were taught in German.

Event Center Ballroom
School House
Office Space
Tap Room
Annex Classrooms
Pickleball Court
Historic Engine
Restaurant

I n the early 20th Century, American Public-School systems were the envy of the world. Jacksonville’s School House was the pride of the town, serving the community as a central place to gather and exchange ideas. Teachers were admired and respected and held in high esteem.

Ever heard of a sock hop?  Do you know what Sadie Hawkins’s Day is?  Did you know that a “Pride Parade” was the School’s marching band and student body parading through the streets to support their football team? Much of 20th Century life has been captured in the wonderful collection of yearbooks  produced by students from 1939-1955.

Beer making and beer drinking were an important part of Jacksonville’s early life. The town boasted four breweries and the children attending the School House enjoyed a pint at lunch, which no doubt helped with the required afternoon naps.  After prohibition hit, the school children are said to have dumped their beer into Daisy Creek.

Engine #1 is back! The Tea Kettle, as she was affectionately known in the 1800’s, is sitting on the exact spot where she once ran the rails from Jacksonville to Medford. She pulled passengers headed to town to shop and conduct business The grade to Medford proved too much for her (like the little Engine that couldn’t). The railroad played an important part in the development of the Rogue Valley, and ultimately had a negative impact on the economics of Jacksonville.

Playing with fire?  I guess we will never know how the first two schoolhouse buildings on the Knoll burned to the ground.  Maybe it was a student who didn’t like the grade his teacher gave him, or maybe a chemistry experiment gone bad? Jacksonville was plagued by early fires, destroying the main street building more than once.  This led the City Council to require all buildings be made of brick.  Like the Little Pig’s house built with a strong foundations, these brick buildings have survived for over a century!

Listen to the sound of the train: