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Grants Pass, OR Real Estate News

Graveyard Tour - Presented by the Josephine County Historical Society & Living History Players  Joining the Josephine County Historical Society & Living History Players at our annual Graveyard Tour.   This is "Tin Lizzie" Opal Gentner as played by Lyn Snell.  "Tin Lizzie" was the first woman to drive a car in Grants Pass, and also the first person to receive a speeding ticket in Grants Pass.  She fell in love with the owner of the local bicycle shop when she was a young teenager.  Her parents could not figure out why her bicycle kept breaking down, as she was spending most of her time at the bicycle shop.  Eventually they found out when she ended up marrying the man who was twice her age.  She went through numerous automobiles, as her exploits in the world of driving continued to overwh...
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By Gary Swanson
(Century 21 Harris & Taylor)
Applegate Wagon Trail Reenactment - Sunny Valley, Oregon Since 1846, the Applegate Trail has brought people from the eastern areas of Oregon, around the southern end of the state and northward to the Willamette Valley. This route was created early on to enable the settling of the coastal valleys by avoiding the route along the Columbia River. There was an impending threat that the British would attempt to claim the Oregon Territory for themselves.  In order for the United States to establish a firm foothold in the territory and to not be subject to search and seizure by the British dominated northern part of what is now the state of Oregon, it was necessary to create another route. Today, the historic Sunny Valley's Applegate Wagon Trail Interpretive Center hosted a full slate of activi...
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By Gary Swanson
(Century 21 Harris & Taylor)
Art Along the Rogue - Grants Pass, Oregon If you didn't make it to the eighth annual Art Along the Rogue art and music festival, you missed out on a great time. The artists used pastel chalk to create their huge masterpieces.  The local featured artist this year was 19 year old Larissa Ezell. The weather was perfect for the festival; mid 80's  on Saturday, and mid 70's on Sunday.  Eight different bands provided some terrific music. This year's theme for Art Along the Rogue was dedicated to animals. Father and son team, Jon and Ian Peterman of Grants Pass were hard at work on this beautiful Toucan when we strolled by. This adorable kitten is the work of Rick Hazen of Medford. Del Hearn, one of Grants Pass's most talented artists is hard at work.  Wouldn't this mural look great on a wall?...
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By Gary Swanson
(Century 21 Harris & Taylor)
Josephine County Historical Society - Passport To History MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!! Josephine County Historical Society's Passport To History program wrapped up with our get-together at the Bear Hotel on Saturday, October 2nd.  I'm certain that the entire membership of the Josephine County Historical Society and all of the 50 businesses and groups who hosted all of the visitors so courteously, will join in honoring Jean Boling who put the program together for the benefit of our county. Jean worked tirelessly, and was always available for help and guidance. We wish to thank all of the wonderful people who belong to the Josephine County Historical Society who were involved in this interesting study of our history. The Josephine County Historical Society was founded in 1960.  I remember 1960...
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By Gary Swanson
(Century 21 Harris & Taylor)
September 2010 Homes For Sale in Grants Pass, Oregon The following results for the month of September 2010 for Grants Pass were compiled from records of single-family residential homes listed with the Southern Oregon Multiple Listing Service. This inventory may be misleading when you consider all of those people who have either withdrawn their homes temporarily from the market and/or all those who are waiting until the market gets stronger before they attempt to list their Home For Sale. Number of Homes Actively on the MLS: 663 64 Are Short Sales 64 Are Foreclosures   *The Number of Homes that are Actively on the MLS are Located in the Following Areas: West Hills 46 North Valley 53 Jones Creek 15 Colonial Valley 29 NW Grants Pass 67 NE Grants Pass 50 SW Grants Pass 54 SE Grants Pass 33 ...
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There's Still Gold In Them Thar' Hills - Josephine County Historical Society's Passport To History The Josephine County Historical Society's Passport To History program would not be complete without talking about GOLD! Exploring Southern Oregon is really fun!  Oregon's recorded history is quite short, and Southern Oregon's is even shorter. It wasn't all that long ago that students in New York would be looking at a map of North America, and our area was "unexplored." That's what makes it even more interesting, because our history is still being discovered in many areas. As for instance, the year 1876 when General George Armstrong Custer and the famed 7th Calvary were defeated at the Little Big Horn;  That same year, James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok was killed in Saloon Number 10 in Deadw...
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By Gary Swanson
(Century 21 Harris & Taylor)
July 2010 Homes For Sale in Grants Pass, Oregon The following results for the month of July 2010 for Grants Pass were compiled from records of single-family residential homes listed with the Southern Oregon Multiple Listing Service. This inventory may be misleading when you consider all of those people who have either withdrawn their homes temporarily from the market and/or all those who are waiting until the market gets stronger before they attempt to list their Home For Sale. Number of Homes Actively on the MLS: 657 66 Are Short Sales 54 Are Foreclosures   *The Number of Homes that are Actively on the MLS are Located in the Following Areas: West Hills 50 North Valley 55 Jones Creek 15 Colonial Valley 25 NW Grants Pass 71 NE Grants Pass 45 SW Grants Pass 49 SE Grants Pass 32 UGB Redwoo...
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Josephine County Historical Society's "Passport To History" - Barnstormers Theatre - Grants Pass, Oregon The Josephine County Historical Society's "Passport To History" program led us to the Barnstormers Theatre in Grants Pass. Susan Russell, the Managing Director, conducted our introduction to Grants Pass live theater. Barnstormers Theatre was started in 1952 by Mike Spooner.  The name Barnstormer was chosen because in the beginning, the group performed wherever they could. Note:  In the 1920's "Barnstorming" was a popular form of entertainment where stunt pilots would perform tricks with airplanes. In 1961 the Barnstormers were able to purchase a church building, and thus, the Barnstormers Theatre  was born.  Charles Vannice is the only remaining founding member. The Barnstormers Thea...
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Josephine County Historical Society's "Passport To History" - Daily Courier - Grants Pass, Oregon The Josephine County Historical Society's "Passport To History" program continues; The Daily Courier story is so fascinating that is deserves a follow up:  That's why they called him "Boss!"  Amos Earle "Boss" Voorhies arrived in Portland, Oregon in 1891 to apprentice in the printing business.  Walking five miles to work at 4:00 p.m. and walking five miles home when he got off at 2:00 a.m. Voorhies came to Grants Pass as foreman for the Oregon Observer in August of 1895. He returned to Michigan to marry in July of 1896.  His bride was the daughter of the newspaper publisher where he had served as an apprentice. Times were tough when he returned to Grants Pass, and he lost his job at the Obs...
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Josephine County Historical Society's “Passport To History” - Daily Courier – Grants Pass, Oregon   Today is another, and a very important stop in the Josephine County Historical Society's "Passport To History" program.  The Daily Courier is an exceptional, locally owned newspaper, and the source of most information on the areas' history. The first edition was published on April 3, 1885.  A mere 26 years after Oregon received statehood, but the area was a long way from being tamed. Started by J.A. Stine, at first it was called the Grant's Pass Courier, a weekly.  Back then Grants Pass had an apostrophe in its' name. In 1886, the name was changed to the Rogue River Courier, as the new owner W.J. Wimer felt it gave it the status of a larger encompassing circulation. September 18, 1910, A....
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By Gary Swanson
(Century 21 Harris & Taylor)
It's The "Fishing" Climate - Grants Pass, Oregon    Zane Grey and Clark Gable were right! The fish caught  in the "Wild and Scenic" Rogue River do taste better! A lot of fishing enjoyment of course is in the catching! Just being out on the breathtaking, "Wild and Scenic" Rogue River is enjoyment enough; but catching a fish that looks as big as a tuna when it hits; indescribable! Thanks for the reminder Todd! It's The Climate!
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By Gary Swanson
(Century 21 Harris & Taylor)
Relocate Your Business To Josephine County, Oregon Businesses are coming to Josephine County, Oregon. In a very forward thinking move to create jobs, Josephine County is offering businesses cash incentives to relocate here. Using funds allocated from the Oregon lottery to Josephine County, this is the place to move your business to, or begin a new venture.   The climate is great, and the people will welcome all newcomers!
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By Gary Swanson
(Century 21 Harris & Taylor)
"It's The Climate" - Happy 90th Birthday! - Grants Pass, Oregon The "It's The Climate" sign in Grants Pass is celebrating its' 90th birthday. First hung on July 20th, 1920, the "It's The Climate" sign is a tribute to a great place to live! We owe our "now famous" slogan, "It's The Climate", to Mr. John Hampshire, an engineer and road contractor. Arriving in Grants Pass in 1917, Mr. Hampshire started promoting the slogan he created, "It's The Climate", to all the local businesses. Mr. Hampshire received permission from the railroad (railroads owned most of the right of way in those early times), and he paid a sign company to create an "It's The Climate" sign.  John Hampshire paid the entire cost of the sign, plus shipping, and donated it to Josephine County. "It's The Climate" means hot,...
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Josephine County Historical Society's "Passport To History" - Robertson Bridge, Grants Pass, OR This is the original Robertson Bridge.  It is the old Rogue River Bridge that originally spanned the Rogue River on Sixth Street in Grants Pass.  In 1931 it was hauled down river to replace the Booth Ferry, and it was opened for traffic in 1932. In those days, Sixth Street was the main north-south thoroughfare connecting Grants Pass with North and South Oregon, and California. It crossed the Rogue River and headed southwest to the Oregon Caves, the Oregon coast, and Crescent City, California, which was the major port supplying our area from the first gold discoveries. It now has settled into historic retirement, and makes a secure home for the Osprey to raise their young. This old steel brid...
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By Melinda (Mel) Peterson, The Savvy Broker - ABR, CRS
(Grants Pass, OR)
Rain Camp - Pearls of Wisdom in the Pearl District - Portland Oregon.  I have always enjoyed attending educational/motivational meetings.  They remind me of my cheerleading days in high school.  Lots of rah rah, a lot of excitement, and a winning enthusiasm at the end of the day.  Rain Camp Portland was no different. I started my day at 3:30am and I was able to get on the road by 4:15am, headed to Portland from Grants Pass, Oregon for Rain Camp.  Except for the speeding ticket I received in Salem, Oregon, it was a beautiful drive.  Four hours later, I was greeted by a gal who I recognized instantly from blogging on Active Rain, Kryste Adams (a great little gal who is making a name for herself in Bend Oregon).  We had never met before our meeting in the parking lot, but we instantly bond...
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By Gary Swanson
(Century 21 Harris & Taylor)
June 2010 Homes For Sale in Grants Pass, Oregon The following results for the month of June 2010 for Grants Pass were compiled from records of single-family residential homes listed with the Southern Oregon Multiple Listing Service. This inventory may be misleading when you consider all of those people who have either withdrawn their homes temporarily from the market and/or all those who are waiting until the market gets stronger before they attempt to list their Home For Sale. Number of Homes Actively on the MLS: 656 68 Are Short Sales 57 Are Foreclosures   *The Number of Homes that are Actively on the MLS are Located in the Following Areas: West Hills 50 North Valley 54 Jones Creek 12 Colonial Valley 23 NW Grants Pass 76 NE Grants Pass 49 SW Grants Pass 43 SE Grants Pass 35 UGB Redwoo...
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By Melinda (Mel) Peterson, The Savvy Broker - ABR, CRS
(Grants Pass, OR)
Shame on SmartMoney and MSN for posting an article on MSN's homepage today called "17 Real Estate Secrets Revealed - (find out what industry insiders don't want you to know)."  You Made Us Sound Like a Worthless Bunch of Hooligans!  According to SmartMoney, Real estate agents, home inspectors, home builders, contractors, landscapers, and architects are out to cheat the consumer.  Here are just a few quotes from the SmartMoney article posted on MSN's homepage today.  You can read the article yourself, but I warn you, your blood might curdle afterwards.   Real Estate Agent - I know zilch about zoning. Home Inspector - Your idea of a home inspection isn't necessarily mine. Home Builder - I'll build your house on a marshmallow. Contractor - My license is laughable. Landscaper - Don't expect...
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By Gary Swanson
(Century 21 Harris & Taylor)
Let Us Not Forget Those Who Gave Us The USA! A friend sent me the following email with an unknown author, and asked that I forward it to my friends. Reading it, I was reminded of a side trip in Maryland on my visit to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. I wound up on a guided tour that ended inside of an old schoolhouse where the "Sons of Liberty" and the Continental Congress held meetings before our "Declaration of Independence" was written. Just being in the room where George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin and the others had met so many times was awesome! I was invited to sit at one of the desks, and it was truly overwhelming to think of what honorable company I was in.  I still vividly recall the astonishing rush of patriotism that swept over me. I have met a lo...
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Josephine County Historical Society's "Passport To History" - Grants Pass Fire Department   The Josephine County Historical Society's "Passport To History" program takes us to the Park Street Station for the Grants Pass Fire Department. The most modern of our Grants Pass public service buildings, it houses our south side Fire Department and is also a Police Station annex. It's nice to see a facility like this for those who do so much for our community. This 1911 LaFrance fire engine was reportedly the first motorized fire engine in all of Oregon!  It has wooden wheels; try to fit these tires today!  The city retired this truck in the 1970s and it was purchased and restored by a California man.  Later, the city tried to purchase it back, but the price of $90,000 was too high. Years late...
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By Gary Swanson
(Century 21 Harris & Taylor)
Follow The Flag The flags of our independence were many and varied.   This was General George Washington's Headquarters flag, which was flown over wherever he quartered.  Note the 13 stars. It was said that the General favored the six pointed star and was not at all fond of the five points which came to be standard on our nation's future flags. It is also said by some that Betsy Ross showed him it was a much simpler process to produce the five-pointed stars and he gave in. Of course other studies disagree that Betsy Ross even had a hand in it. Whatever the truth, we love it!  
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