Rogue River Valley, Oregon - Southern Oregon is divided into three main river basins; the Umpqua River, the Rogue River, and the Klamath Basin. The Umpqua meets the Pacific at Reedsport, the Rogue mouth is near Gold Beach, and the Klamath empties at the Redwoods National Park in Northern California. All three rivers have their headwaters in the Cascade Mountains on the slopes of Crater Lake, Oregon's only national park. The Rogue River is a designated National Scenic River, and formed much of the backdrop for the Meryl Streep movie "The River Wild." Jet boat trips and white water rafting are very popular.

Rogue River Valley

Rogue River Valley, Oregon - A beautiful place to visit, a wonderful place to live. Come and find a place to call your own. Southern Oregon is a great place to own a home and grow your family.

Rogue River Valley

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Rogue River Valley - Oregon Travel Guide

Articles from the Historical Society in Josephine County Oregon


Touchdown Willie Heston
Grants Pass, Oregon
"WILLIAM MARTIN HESTON 1878-1963"
by Michael Oaks Josephine County Historical Society

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Willie Heston of Grants Pass, Oregon was hailed by the University of Michigan to be the greatest football player to ever play for the Wolverines in the first 50 years of this century.

He was twice "All American", while romping on the gridiron for the University of Michigan Wolverines (1901-1904), and set the all time scoring record of 72 touchdowns that still stand to this day. Willie Heston always claimed Grants Pass, Oregon as his hometown.

The most positive things in his life began right here. His father and mother lived and died in Grants Pass along with his brother Alfred and his family.

Click image for larger view


THE BEGINNING

His father, John William Heston, was a tenant farmer near Galesburg, Illinois at the time of William's birth.

At the age of four, Martin, as his parents called him, moved with his parents, brother Alfred and his three sisters to Rippey, Iowa. Martin's father rented a river bottom farm where the family lived for five years. It was while at Rippey, that Martin contracted "Whooping cough" followed by "Pneumonia". He was seven years old and almost died. He had another close call, almost drowning in the Raccoon River. Fortunately his sister Grace pulled him out.

When Martin was nine, his father moved his family to a ranch in southwestern Kansas owned by his brother-in-law, Clark Gray. Martin was given the job of herding cattle on the range nine months of the year. During December, January and February, Martin was permitted to go to a little ... Continued - Part 2

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Rogue River Valley, Oregon - The Siskiyou Mountains stretch between the Cascade Mountains and the Coast Range at the California border. The entire area is more vertical than most other parts of the state, which leads to numerous waterfalls, lots of whitewater rapids, and some spectacular scenery. Rogue River Valley is outside the main population centers of the state and the area has a very rural flavor. Major industries are tourism, wood products and agriculture. The climate is generally milder and more Mediterranean than North Western Oregon. Average rainfallis about 20 % lower and the temperatures are a bit higher.