National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet

NFS Form 10-900-A 0MB Approval No. 1024-0018 (8-86)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section Number: _7_ Page: _1_ Geneva-Minnesota Historic District, Medford, OR
The Geneva-Minnesota Historic District is a compact residential area located to the east of the
downtown Medford, Oregon business district. Developed in two primary phases, the first in
1911-1914 and the second in 1922-1924, the area's residences represent a homogenous collection
of the "Bungalow," "Craftsman," and "Period Revival" styles that were dominate locally during
each of these periods. The two streets share common developers and many of the houses, first
built on speculation were constructed by the same individuals from common or similar plans.
Remaining substantially intact, the thirty-eight separate tax lots that comprise the Geneva-
Minnesota District contain only four non-contributing. The vast majority of the remaining
properties, visually linked by the locally unique roadbed of Geneva Street and the raised concrete
retaining walls of both streets, collectively represent one of southern Oregon's most intact early
20th century residential areas.
SETTING:
The Geneva-Minnesota District is an 8.13 acre area formed by the entire plats of the Humphrery-
Knight and Humphrey-Andrews Additions to the City of Medford. The two rectangular parcels
are located at right angles to each other, forming the "L-shaped," district that lines Geneva Street
from East Main to an alleyway just south of Sherman, and the entire length of Minnesota Street
between Geneva and Crater Lake Avenue. Five district properties (Sites 14 through 18) face
Crater Lake Avenue on either side of its intersection with Minnesota. Two properties, (Sites 1
and 38) face East Main Street at the Geneva Street intersection.
Located in what was historically referred to as "the Eastside," the Geneva-Minnesota area is in
that portion of the city of Medford east of Bear Creek. The District, located approximately .5
miles from the downtown Medford business core is situated upon the predominately flat plain that
forms the floor the Rogue River Valley, particularly that portion bisected by Bear Creek, a
tributary. Long a popular residential area, as East Main Street evolved into an arterial serving
the growing residential districts that now stretch toward the foothills east of Medford, increased
commercial activity located in the Geneva-Minnesota District vicinity. East Main Street now is
one of predominately commercial and professional uses while the original residential buildings
along Crater Lake are increasingly being converted to office space and other non-dwelling
purposes. 1 To the immediate west of the district, Genesse Street is also faced with a growing
A controversial late 1980s street widening of Crater Lake Avenue between Jackson and East Main Streets