|
 Beekman Bank Well - Jacksonville, Oregon Posted by:  ddtfamily
N 42° 18.860 W 122° 58.064
10T E 502659 N 4684677
Marker noting the historic well site near the old Beekman's Bank building
Waymark Code: WMG807
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 01/26/2013
Views: 6
This marker describes the history of water supply issues in Jacksonville, near the historic Beekman's Express & Bank Building in downtown Jacksonville. Adjacent to the marker is an old hand-operated pump. The marker reads:
Beekman Bank Well
At the turn of the century, the Beekman Bank Well was a refreshing stop for two seasonal creeks, Jacksonville suffered from an inadequate domestic water supply for 60 years following the 1852 gold rush. This old well is one of several wells dug in downtown Jacksonville to supplement creek water. Early photographs and insurance maps show this 30-foot well and its twin located across the street, next to Redman Hall, in use by the early 1870s. Both wells provided drinking water for downtown shops, and stock animals. These to brick-lines wells were "rediscovered" when California Street was rebuilt in 2004.
A 16-foot square brick-lined cistern was built in the middle of California Street, between the two wells, to ensure an adequate water supply for the town's hand-drawn fire pumper. The fire cistern and the two wells fell into disuse after the town built a 35,000,000-gallon open reservoir at the headwaters of Jackson Creek in 1912. Within 15 years Jacksonville's new reservoir, "fed by clear mountain spring water," was leaking at an alarming rate. In 1953 the town was connected to Medford's Big Butte Spring - and "clear mountain spring water" once again flowed to Jacksonville's residents.
In 1900 this once tree-shaded oasis provided a refreshing stop for a young boy out romping on a hot Southern Oregon day with his "best friend." |
Click a photo to enlarge
Historic Topic: Pioneer
Group Responsible for placement: City Government
Marker Type: City
Region: Southern Oregon
County: Jackson
State of Oregon Historical Marker "Beaver Board": Not listed
Web link to additional information: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Include your thoughts and observations pertaining to this location and your visit. Provide any additional history that you are aware of that pertains to this location. If the marker commemorates a historic building tell us what it is used for now or share with us the circumstances of an earlier visit to bring this locations history to life.
Please upload a favorite photograph you took of the waymark. Although visiting this waymark in person is the only thing required of you to receive credit for your visit, taking the time to add this information is greatly appreciated.
Be creative.
|