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

7/11

After graduation in 1901, Martin went back to Grants Pass to see his family and find employment. He found work-teaching summer school in Wolf Creek. Martin had a bicycle, which he rode from Grants Pass to Wolf Creek staying all week and riding his bicycle the 25 miles to Grants Pass every weekend. Martin would push his bicycle up Smith Hill, and up Sexton Mountain and ride down both. The roads were so steep at times, that Martin would cut a small fir tree with his hand axe, tie the cord with tree attached to the frame and drag the tree behind as a brake down Smith Hill and Sexton.

During the summer of 1901, Martin received a letter from coach Yost informing him that Yost had been east and had just signed a three year contract with the University of Michigan and wanted Martin to further his education at the University. Martin agreed to meet Yost in San Francisco after summer school closed in Wolf Creek. They met and parted with the understanding that Michigan was out of the question for Martin for at least a year. Martin immediately got a job with a whole sale fruit distributing company at the unheard of wage of ten dollars a day.

The teamsters were on strike so if you were non-union and worked, you were regarded as a "scab". Martin soon discovered that an angry mob could put your life in jepardy. Police escorted Martin on the days the strikers became unruly. Sometimes they would tamper with the wagon causing him to dump his load of fruit in the street. This often caused delays in making his deliveries. Bottles were thrown at him also. Martin held on the best he could for three weeks then quit when his friend was nearly killed going home by strikers.

Then Martin had something happen that made him aware that he was destined to go to the University of Michigan and fulfill his mission as a football player and scholar. With his job finished, he had decided to return to Grants Pass and try for another teaching position. He counted his money he had earned teaching school, as a teamster, and as a ship unloader. It totaled $315.00. Martin packed his belongings in a pasteboard suitcase and started for the ferry to buy his transportation ... Continued - Page 8

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.