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: 42 Geneva-Minnesota Historic District, Medford, OR
In 1914 the subject property was purchased from C.A. Knight by Nellie S. and Burdette L. Dodge,
the parents of the property's original tenants. 117
...When we were married Burdette's parents had bought a home on Geneva
Avenue and Father Dodge had intended to come out...and he and Mother
Dodge were going to live in the valley. They furnished [the house] beautifully
... with the latest furniture. Father Dodge was a furniture dealer in Akron,
Ohio, and only dealt in the best quality... Well, the war was coming on ... and
so [they] never came out to live here... So we lived in their house, and I was
always aware it was their house, but finally after fifteen years....they just gave it
us. 118
Burdette Dodge, Jr. and his wife Sibyl, were active in the orchard industry and owned a number of
properties in the Medford area. They lived in the house until 1933-4 at which time they moved to
the family ranch. The family sold the house in the early 1940s to J. W. and Mamie Bernard. 1 19
Still an important visual element of the Geneva-Minnesota District, the primary elevation of the
Dodge House has been unfortunately altered by a latticework enclosure of the front porch and the
installation of brick veneer below the window sills. In mass and overall appearance, while
compromised, the structure continues to relate its basic historic character and adds to the nature of
the area.
ID No: 037
Historic Name: G.L. and Florence Buhrman House Year Built: 1914
Address: 15 Geneva Legal: 37S-1W-30AB, Tax Lot 16400
Humphrey-Knight Addn, Block 2, Lot(s) s. 40* lot 10, n. 10' lot 11
Architect: Builder(s):
Style: Craftsman Primary Contributing
The last of the structures along the east-facing side of Geneva Street to be built, the G.L. Burhman
House was under construction in 1914 when tax rolls show an assessment for the property at $80.00
with the notation, "Foundation only." 120 A two-story wood frame structure, the Buhrman House is
similar in exterior appearance to the Edward and Margaret Davis House (Site 31) although its
detailing and surface treatment are far more elaborate. Exterior siding is deco-cut wood shingles
laid in a staggered arrangement with delicate sawnwork at the gable ends creating a design in what
117 Certificate of Title #1812, 2-July-1914.
118 Sibyl Fish Dodge, Oral History Interview, OH-113. Southern Oregon Historical Society Collection.
119 Certificate of Title #5810, 26-January-1943.
120 Jackson County Assessor, Fieldbook 1914., 278-279, Southern Oregon Archives Collection.