National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet

NPS 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: _2_ Geneva-Minnesota Historic District, Medford, OR
office conversion pattern while to the north, Sherman Street remains residential due to its lack of
through access to either Crater Lake Avenue or Jackson Street, the next major north-south
arterial.
DEVELOPMENT PERIOD
The area that would become the Geneva-Minnesota District was long used as agricultural lands
beyond the eastern boundary of Medford. With the rapid expansion of the city's population in the
1900-1910 period, much of the area was annexed into the city proper and subdivided by real
estate speculators into residential parcels. In September 1910 a group of landowners filed the
first of the subject additions to the City of Medford. The "Humphrey-Knight" addition,
comprising those lots with frontage along Geneva Street, was filed by William H. and L. Emma
Humphrey and Clarence A. and Cora L. Knight, along with Henry and Elizabeth Humphrey
(William's parents), W.H. and Margaret Canon, Mary E. Roberts, W.R. and Olive Bullock, and
Lou D. Jones. Three months later W.H. and L. Emma Humphrey, along with Edward M. and
Caddie L. Andrews, filed the "Humphrey-Andrews" addition, containing the lots facing Minnesota
Street. Andrews, along with both the younger and elder Humphreys, was a real estate agent as
well as a resident of the area. The 1910 census shows Andrews living at what is now 35 Crater
Lake Avenue (Site 15) while the Humphrey family lived at 815 East Main (Site 1).
In response to the rapid population growth that resulted from Medford's "Orchard Boom," the
city undertook an extensive paving campaign in the 1909-1912 period. Funded by local property
owner assessments, streets, water and sewer were the initial step in the many Eastside residential
developments during this period. Following the dedication of right-of-way to the city for roads,
the various individuals involved with the two subject additions petitioned the Medford City
Council to pave and improve the Geneva-Minnesota area. In November 1910, the Medford City
Council Minutes report the "Deed of Mr. Humphrey for parcel of land for street and road
purposed was presented and read," documenting the creation of Geneva Street. 2 In May 1911,
the Minnesota right-of-way was similarly granted to the City. 3 By April 1911 new sewer and
resulted in the loss of frontage and the removal of many large trees, substantially impacting the formerly
residential character of the portion of the district that faces this roadway.
2 Medford City Council Minutes, 18-November-1910.
3 Medford City Council Minutes, 3-May-1911.