The block on North Main Street between Laurel and Manzanita streets has been associated with education in Ashland for 150 years, since the Rev. Skidmore first started a college called “The Academy” in 1872. Briscoe Elementary was dedicated in 1949 and closed in 2004. The school is now owned by the city and leased to the Oregon Child Development Coalition.
At the end of May, faced with the challenges of the pandemic and staffing shortages, Standing Stone served its last Oak Street Amber and closed its doors for good. Floyd and Margaret Whittle would probably be surprised their little leased garage building became a beloved restaurant.
Originally called “Ashland Mills,” Ashland was founded around Abel Helman’s water-powered sawmill on Ashland Creek, later transformed into a flour mill. The Ashland Woolen Mill, on Helman Street, was one of the city’s major employers in the 19th century. As late as the 1950s, Ashland still boasted half a dozen lumber mills.
Ashland boosters in the early 1920s would have none of building a hotel the same size as those of rival towns; they would build the tallest building between San Francisco and Portland!
Lithia Park is often called Ashland’s “crown jewel.” Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, it was among the first public parks in southern Oregon — but, if not for a group of persistent women, things would be much different.
What’s now a treasured-yet-crumbling Ashland landmark started as an attraction at an international exposition in San Francisco more than a century ago.
Asante stymied unionizing campaigns by both physicians and nurses at Asante Ashland Community Hospital in 2025, according to a hospital employee. Asante announced Dec. 3 the Ashland hospital would close its birth center and other inpatient services in the spring.
The Ashland Tudor Guild will present “Fabric of the Festival: A Shakespearean Costume Fashion Show” Sunday, Jan. 25, at the Bellview Grange. Proceeds will benefit the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The event will feature costumes from OSF productions, live narration, and a VIP wine reception before the show.
Review: “Spotlight on Aretha” is two hours of raw funk, great singing, down and dirty R&B, jazz and genuine soul. The singers seamlessly appear to magically blend with the band and the whole thing is just an amazing retrospective that moves, grooves and takes you to places you may not have been in a long time.
The Ashland Family YMCA pool opened Tuesday, Jan. 20, after being closed since mid-November for repairs.
A divided Ashland City Council approved a new rail crossing on North Mountain Avenue Tuesday after Mayor Tonya Graham cast the deciding vote. Proponents contend the upgrade is necessary before a large repaving project, while opponents are cautious, citing uncertainty about the freight rail line’s future and potential impacts from a proposed civic center nearby.
Denise Krause, a retired health executive and Rogue Valley Transportation District board member, officially announced Tuesday, Jan. 20, that she is running for the Oregon State Senate seat currently held by Democrat Jeff Golden.
(It’s free)
