Medford Audio Tour: Stages, Statues & Stories of the City Center

Look for a grand, cream-colored brick building on the corner with tall white columns and wide stone steps leading up to wooden double doors right beside the street-now that’s your Elks Lodge! Now, let’s step into the past for a moment. Imagine you’re in Medford in 1915-the whole town buzzing with excitement because a brand-new building is going up on North Central Avenue. Not just any building, but one designed by the famous Frank Chamberlain Clark in the elegant Beaux Arts style. Back then, if you wanted to rub elbows with the city’s movers and shakers or attend a glittering ball, this is exactly where you’d want to be. You can almost hear the echo of laughter and jazz drifting from those big windows, with the rattle of billiard balls and the clink of glasses as the Elks held their meetings and mixers. For nearly a century, this lodge was Medford’s social heartbeat-a place packed with stories, secrets, and a whole lot of fun (and maybe the occasional secret handshake). After its heyday, things got a bit mysterious-the lodge closed its doors in 2014, and by 2017, the Elks had sold it off. Now, it sits quietly holding its secrets, having been named one of Oregon’s Most Endangered Places. Will it make a comeback? Only time-and maybe a clever Elks joke-will tell!

Right in front of you, you’ll spot a long building with a red-tiled roof, big windows, and green vines creeping up its brick walls-look for the old-fashioned clock tower and bright red doors. Imagine it’s the late 1800s and dusty steam engines are rolling into what was then a brand new town-this was the spot! The very first station here, built in 1883, was just a pit stop for trains hoping to conquer Siskiyou Pass, but it didn’t stay put for long-it actually got loaded up on three huge flatcars and trundled off to Talent one summer in 1900. Who says buildings can’t travel? The Medford station kept getting upgrades until, in 1910, Southern Pacific unveiled this “modern marvel” you see before you, just two blocks north of the old one. You can almost hear the buzz of passengers eager to see the West or send off loved ones, folks bustling around and porters racing to haul heavy trunks. Eventually, by 1955, passenger trains stopped pulling in and Medford had to say goodbye to its rail travelers. But this station refused to fade away-and in 1996, history lovers made it official, securing its spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Not just any old depot, this place is a survivor with stories in every brick!

To spot the Barnum Hotel, look for a large, pale-brick building with four stories and rows of windows on each floor standing proudly on the street corner right ahead. You’re standing in front of a building that feels like it’s humming with stories! Imagine the year is 1915: fancy hats, steam engines, and the distant rumble of trains fill the air. Right here, William S. Barnum, the ambitious railway magnate, decided to build a hotel-so travelers arriving on the Rogue River Valley Railway would have a place to rest their heads (and maybe their feet too, after lugging around all those suitcases). This sturdy four-story building, designed by the famous architect Frank Chamberlain Clark, promised modest comfort for railroad guests and locals alike - at a whopping $75,000! The name switched to Hotel Grand in 1927, changing hands faster than you can say “Do Not Disturb,” and picking up new owners and stories from every era-imagine the hotel clerks trying to remember who actually owned the place each year. By 1980, business had dried up, so the grand old hotel fell silent-until rebirth as apartments for people needing an affordable place to live. The Housing Authority gave it new life in 2009, and today, residents fill its halls once again. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Barnum Hotel-now Grand Apartments-is like an old friend with countless tales to whisper if the walls could talk.

Right in front of you is a grand, three-story brick building with a bright vertical neon sign on the left that spells "HOLLY"-you can’t miss that bold black-and-white marquee stretching over the entrance! Imagine stepping back to 1930; the spicy scent of fresh paint is in the air, and workmen are scrambling to finish building Medford’s newest sensation, the Holly Theatre. Would you believe construction started in 1929 and then hit a brick wall-thanks, Great Depression!-leaving everyone on the edge of their seats until work finally resumed the following spring? But Frank Chamberlain Clark, the local architectural whiz, made sure this place would shine, and shine it did. The Holly could squeeze in 1,200 people-one-tenth of the town!-all eager to see glamorous vaudeville and marvel at the magic of moving pictures. If you close your eyes for a moment, you might just hear tap shoes of vaudeville stars shuffling across the stage or a gasp rippling through the full house as the first glittering movie rolled on the big screen. This was the beating heart of downtown Medford up to the 1970s, until the giant Holly struggled to compete with those snazzy new, smaller theaters. By 1986, the curtain fell for good, and the lights went dim. But cue the triumphant music! After sitting quietly for decades and landing on the National Register of Historic Places, the Holly was rescued in 2010 by the JPR Foundation. The roof was leaking, the trusses were failing, but the dreams were bigger than ever. They restored her dazzling façade, installed a jaw-dropping 347-light marquee with enough neon to light up half the block, and one night in 2012, the “grand relighting” turned darkness to dazzle again! Even actor Jim Belushi pitched in-no joke-helping gather donors while falling in love with this local gem. Today, after years of hard work, the Holly bursts back to life, restored and ready to host generations of applause to come. What a comeback story-sometimes all you need is a little hope, a whole lot of neon, and maybe a Hollywood star or two!

Straight ahead, just past the wide maple-shaded sidewalks, you’ll spot a stately three-story building made of red brick with tall arched windows on the first two floors, all topped with a crisp white cornice and a flag waving at the center of its flat roof. Now, as you stand before the James A. Redden Federal Courthouse, imagine yourself traveling back over a century ago, when this very spot was still just a patch of grass and scattered maple trees. It’s 1916, and Medford is a young, booming town thanks to the railroad (which, fun fact, only rolled through here because Jacksonville refused a hefty “Applegate Ridge” toll - talk about a pricey detour). The town is suddenly alive-with new people, new orchards, and a bustling sense of possibility in the air. Postal receipts have shot up from loose change to thousands of dollars a month. Residents are excited: finally, the government is building a grand post office and courthouse, right in the heart of town, a beacon of permanence and progress. Locals donated this very land for a crisp $1-talk about a real estate deal for the history books! As you look up, picture architect Oscar Wenderoth carefully designing this stately box: brick rustication (like big Lego bricks for grownups!), elegant arches and fanlights, and that proud, layered cornice at the top. The original building boasted symmetry and classic proportions, making it feel sturdy and official-no accidental crooked windows here! But don’t let that dignified front fool you: in 1940, architect Louis A. Simon stepped in with a huge extension on the north side, carefully matching the original style so no one would notice the building had, well, gained a little holiday weight. Once inside back then, you would have found the first floor alive with the clatter and shuffle of the post office: marble and terrazzo underfoot, stained wood wainscoting on the walls, and perhaps the hopeful sound of coins jingling for stamps. The air would smell of old paper and ink, with judges, postmasters, and townsfolk bustling through their daily routines. It was Medford’s nerve center: courtrooms, government offices, and post boxes for a growing city. But time never stands still; the town ballooned as the Rogue River Valley’s agriculture flourished. The courthouse-at that time the earliest one left in all southern Oregon-became more than just a post office. In 1966, as Medford outgrew its britches, the post office operation moved out, and the building was reborn as a courtroom and office hub. Its walls watched waves of remodeling-removing lobbies, adding vaults, then restoring lobbies again (sometimes, building maintenance is a bit like trying on different hats to see what fits)! Through all these changes, it even got a new name: in 1996, thanks to an act of Congress and Senator Mark Hatfield, it was dedicated to James A. Redden, a favorite local judge known for his long service. Look closely at those windows-many are the originals, carefully restored. The brick is still strong, the details crisp. Today, the courthouse stands as a symbol of Medford’s prewar optimism, quietly keeping watch over the city’s business center. And, just to keep things interesting, the government now has it listed for sale-so keep your pocket change ready in case you feel like taking home a nice souvenir (all 29,834 square feet of it). So as you peer up at those tall arched windows and imagine all the stories inside-city founders with wild railroad dreams, bustling postal workers, solemn court sessions, and the daily hum of a growing American town-remember, this building truly is a living monument to a century of Medford’s ambition, humor, and hometown pride

Look for a stately, two-story brick building with tall columns and old-fashioned lamps at the top of a broad staircase, peeking out through the trees on your left. Alright, fellow explorer, welcome to the Medford Carnegie Library-where if these brick walls could talk, they’d probably quote a book! Picture it: the year is 1911, Andrew Carnegie, the real-life superhero for libraries, gifts Medford this grand building. Fast forward a year and this two-story palace of pages stands proudly, its doors wide open to book lovers and curious minds. For decades, locals filled their arms with stories and dreams inside these columns. But in 2004, the books packed up and rolled down the street to a shiny new library. Was this the end for our historic friend? Not quite! In 2009, imagine the children’s book section turning into temporary headquarters for City Hall; I like to think the city workers got extra creative sitting where Dr. Seuss once ruled the stacks. The walls got a facelift: seismic upgrades, insulation, and shiny new windows-all while the ghost of overdue fines probably watched from the rafters. Over the years, nearly a million dollars poured in to keep this classic beauty standing tall, with grants and stimulus funds helping swap out the old windows and blast some modern air-conditioning. Through the decades, the Medford Carnegie Library has been many things, but one truth remains: it’s stood the test of time, and hopefully, not a single shushed giggle has been lost along the way!

To spot the Jackson County Courthouse, look ahead for a grand stone building with bold rectangular windows and strong Art Deco lines, set back behind a well-groomed lawn and a sign that says “County Offices.” Imagine yourself standing here in 1932, the world humming with jazz and the hope of something new, as construction noise fills the air. The citizens of Jackson County had only six years before voted to move their seat from the gold-rush-filled hills of Jacksonville to rapidly-growing Medford-a decision that wasn’t without its share of drama! Some folks probably grumbled into their coffee, missing the old courthouse back in Jacksonville, which, by the way, later became a museum full of Southern Oregon’s stories. But this, right here, was the future: a strong, stylish Art Deco courthouse that looked like it leapt out of a black-and-white movie. Step closer and notice the geometric lines on the facade, a real sign of the times. You can almost picture county officials in fedoras rushing up the steps, important papers in hand. This building isn’t just walls and windows-it’s a monument to Medford’s ambition, a bold leap from small-town past to city-sized dreams. So as you stand here, you’re not just looking at a courthouse; you’re standing where history changed course, with every brick whispering just a bit of that story.

You’re now standing in front of Spiegelberg Stadium, lovingly known by locals as “Spieg.” Imagine yourself here on a crisp autumn Friday night: stadium lights blazing, marching bands warming up, the buzz of nearly 10,000 fans packed into the grandstands. Take a deep breath-you can almost smell the popcorn and field turf! This place has been the heart and soul of Medford’s football spirit since it opened, though back in the day, it was simply called Medford Stadium. In 1983, it got a brand-new name, but the electric energy remained just the same. North Medford High and South Medford High both call this massive venue home-nobody gets an advantage, except maybe the team that brings more cowbells. And don’t forget the little giants of local football: St. Mary’s High School lines up here too, sneaking in games on Saturdays to make room for the big Friday night clashes. For track enthusiasts, you’ll spot the striking blue Newland Track circling the field-yes, blue! In 2004, the stadium upgraded to FieldTurf, and then in 2016, did it all over again-so you’re gazing at Cobb Field, named for its traditional alignment and fresh surface, perched at an elevation of about 1,400 feet. Good thing footballs don’t get altitude sickness. But if there’s a crown jewel event here, it has to be the Black and Blue Bowl: the epic, annual face-off between North and South Medford High. No one’s got a home field edge, so the crowd’s divided right down the middle. Over the decades, the wins have traded hands faster than hot potato-North Medford’s up by a hair, but South Medford’s never far behind. Can you hear the roar as the whistle blows and rivals collide? Some years, one side runs away with it-and sometimes, heartbreak happens right at the wire. And it gets even wilder when both teams make it to the state championship, like a local soap opera, but with more mud and fewer commercial breaks. Let’s not forget the next generation. Middle schoolers take over for the Black and Maroon Bowl, pitting Hedrick against McLoughlin. For many kids in Medford, this moment under the lights is the stuff of schoolyard legend. No matter the year or team, everyone who steps onto this field is cheered like a world champion. So next time you walk by on a game night, lean in and listen. The echoes of extraordinary games, wild rivalries, and childhood dreams still bounce around these grandstands. And remember-if someone tries to sell you a hotdog for $20, just tell them you’re here for the history, but you’re on a “stadium food” diet!

To spot the South Oakdale Historic District, look for lovely old homes with broad front porches, deep shady eaves, and plenty of colorful trim-just ahead, along a tree-lined residential street. Welcome to the South Oakdale Historic District, where each step feels like a stroll back through time! Imagine standing here in the late 1800s, when South Oakdale Avenue was just beginning its rise as one of Medford’s grandest neighborhoods. Around you, you’d catch the sound of horse-drawn carriages clopping along the street, while the city’s most prominent folks-from business tycoons to clever lawyers and even orchard kings-were busy planning the future over lemonade on these broad porches. These homes, built from 1890 to about 1940, are a storybook of styles: from stately Queen Annes to Arts and Crafts masterpieces by Frank Chamberlain Clark, the region’s star architect of the time. You might just imagine a neighbor peeking through the curtains, wondering who’s moving in next-maybe a doctor, a teacher, or someone with a piano (and hopefully talent). In the spring, the gardens exploded with color, and evenings were alight with the sounds of laughter and music. And in 1979, after decades of stories, this whole district was added to the National Register of Historic Places, meaning everyone agreed-it deserved protection as a true Medford treasure. So, as you stand here, let your imagination wander: who built that house, what big dreams were shared on these sidewalks, and who once rocked on those porches, watching the changing world roll by?