National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet

NPS Form 10-900-A OMB Approval No. 1024-0018 (8-86)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section Number: 8 Page: 6 Geneva-Minnesota Historic District, Medford, OR
Knight who, in partnership with the Humphreys, filed the Humphrey-Knight addition and was the
original developer of the western half of Geneva Street. Clarence Knight who, like both the
Humphreys and Andrews, listed his occupation as "Real Estate Agent" in the 1910 Census, was
an early proponent of orchard development in the Rogue Valley. In partnership with Dr.
Frederick Page, a prominent local investor, and H.C. McFarland, a wealthy banker from Vermont,
Knight owned and operated a number of orchards including the Alta Vista, Ringwood, and Ala
Vista Orchards, all near Eagle Point. Although not documented Knight, who had worked in the
banking industry in Vermont prior to moving to Medford, likely knew McFarland through that
connection. Mrs. Knight, Cora, whose maiden name was Page, was probably the sister of
Frederick Page. Knight opened the Alta Vista Packing plant in Medford and sold his pears under
the Crater Lake Brand label and claimed to have shipped the first full carload of wrapped and
packed pears from the Medford area in 1906. 11 While McFarland's involvement appears solely
financial, as he held the mortgages on many of the properties lining Geneva Street, Knight lived
within the district at 801 East Main (Site 38). Clarence A. Knight remained active in the local real
estate and orchard industries until his death at age 82 in 1938. 12
SITE DEVELOPMENT:
Following the formal platting of the two subject additions, streets and public utilities serving the
Geneva-Minnesota District had to be laid out and installed. This process occurred during a period
of substantial paving activity in Medford. At the turn of the century Medford had literally no
paved roads whatsoever yet by the end of 1910 the city boasted over eighteen miles of pavement,
a total which inspired the city's leaders to promote Medford as one of the best paved cities of its
size on the west coast. "The improvement of which Medford is most proud is the water system
being installed. This is a thirty-mile pipe, 16 inches in diameter, which by gravity system brings
[in] the pure, crystal waters from the melting snows and springs Mount McLoughlin for
Medford's use." 13 Medford utilized a street and sewer pipe assessment program to finance the
extension of paving and utilities to the many new additions to the city. Property owners were
charged in proportion to the frontage of the lots. In early 1911 three separate city ordinances
required the payment of fees for the laying of sewer lines, water main, and finally, paving, for both
11 KayAtwood, Blossoms and Branches, (Medford, 1980), 228.
12 "Last Summons to C.A. Knight, Long Resident of City," Medford Mail Tribune, 19-September-1938, 3:5.
13 Medford Commercial Club, Medford, Oregon and the Rogue River Valley, (Medford, 1909), 21.