Downtown Medford
Business Directory
Business Directory
Jackson County
10 S. Oakdale Medford, OR 97501phone: 541.774.1200
fax:
Website:
http://www.co.jackson.or.us
For years Medford quietly seethed that tiny Jacksonville enjoyed the distinction as Jackson County's seat. Finally, after repeated attempts, a general election in 1926 moved county government to its largest and most prosperous city. (It probably helped that Medford had more voters than the rest of the county combined.) Medford offered the County free use of its newly completed city hall but architect John G. Link was soon selected to design a new Jackson County Courthouse. No sooner had the new building opened in 1932 than Jackson County became embroiled in one of the worst political fights in Oregon's history. The "Good Government Congress," a populist "rebellion", succeeded in electing Earl Fehl (pronounced "Fail") as County Judge, Jackson County's chief elected official. Shortly after the election hundreds of ballots were stolen from the Courthouse and dumped into the Rogue River to avoid a proposed recount. Fehl and others held huge rallies on the Courthouse steps, pledging to "fight to the death" to maintain their positions and ferret out opponents. Jackson County received dubious national notice as tempers rose on both sides of the issue, and armed thugs patrolled the streets. Public safety was complicated by the fact that the County Sheriff had also been elected by the followers of the Good Government Congress. Found to be involved in the ballot theft, (only fair since he let the thieves into the courthouse) Judge Fehl was arrested during a hearing in his own courtroom, by the Oregon State Police. Llewellyn Banks, another leader, was later convicted of the murder of Medford constable George Prescott. For its valiant reporting of what is often called the "Jackson County Rebellion," the Medford Mail Tribune was awarded the 1933 Pulitzer Prize for "meritorious public service," one of the highest honors a newspaper can achieve.