Downtown Medford
Business Directory
Business Directory
J.C. Penny Company (SOHS) - 1948
106 N. Central Ave. Medford, OR 97501phone:
fax:
James Cash Penney virtually invented the chain department store in America and Medford has long enjoyed one of the company's branches. The company first opened in Medford in 1927, at the southeast corner of 6th and Central, when it bought out the Oregon-based "Golden Rule" a 52-store chain with headquarters just up the road in Grants Pass. After WWII, Penneys arranged the purchase of this corner lot and demolished the old "Groceteria" that had stood there for years. They opened their spacious new building in 1948, designed in what was called the "California-style." "The new building is constructed of stucco and has been especially designed to dramatize the corner entrance... [with] a spacious terrazzo tile floor." Penneys remained a downtown fixture until 1986 when they moved to the new Rogue Valley Mall. Three years later, with partial help from Penneys itself, the building was purchased by the Southern Oregon Historical Society. Under the direction of WeGroup Architects of Eugene, it was transformed into today's History Center. WeGroup and SOHS were recognized by both the Portland Chapter of the AIA and the Historic Preservation League of Oregon for their sensitivity to the original Modern design in the rehabilitation effort. Photo courtesy of Southern Oregon Historical Society (SOHS).