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HISTORIC I.O.O.F. EASTWOOD CEMETERY NEWS
Medford History Comes Alive
In 1854, 18-year-old Frederick Barneburg left Missouri tour of the historic I.O.O.F. Eastwood Cemetery.
for the Rogue Valley in search of gold. Just a year later, Led by volunteer guide Steven Corelis, the free two-
he planted the area’s first Bartlett pear trees—a modest hour walk winds through the 20-acre cemetery, sharing
start that grew to 1,685 acres by 1860. fascinating stories, local history, and bits of trivia along
The first 15 acres of that land, purchased for $1.25 an the way.
acre and known as Barneburg Hill, later became the The next tour will be held on Jan. 14 from 10 a.m. to
site of the Rogue Valley Manor. 12 p.m. Participants should meet at the Mausoleum,
Today, Barneburg’s story—and those of other notable located at 1581 Siskiyou Blvd. To register, visit
Medford figures—come to life during a monthly guided playmedford.com.
Preserving the Past Adopt-A-Block
In mid-October, a series of historic monuments at The City’s Eastwood Cemetery Adopt-A-Block Program
Eastwood Cemetery were repaired as part of the City’s offers volunteers a way to help maintain the historic
ongoing preservation efforts. burial ground.
Many markers, dating back to the late 1800s, had Volunteers are asked for a one-year commitment to
shifted or loosened over time. Crews from Chase care for a roughly 24’ x 30’ block with 12 to 16 graves
Memorials lifted and stabilized the monuments with an for 30 minutes a month.
excavator and straps, reinforced bases with gravel, and Maintenance includes pulling weeds, raking and bagging
reattached headstones with adhesive. debris, pruning bushes, and cleaning headstones,
A $4,325 Oregon Historic Cemeteries Program grant, along with submitting before and after photos.
matched by the cemetery, funded the $8,650 project. For more information, visit medfordoregon.gov/volunteer.
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