Only the trees hold the secrets of Josephine County's violent beginnings.
Lewis Haines planted this apple tree around 1855 with his wife Amilda and their five children in anticipation of a lifetime of eating pleasure.
Unfortunately, a massacre of American Indians by riotous gold miners and opportunists from Jacksonville, Oregon triggered reprisals in the entire region.
The faithful tree remained, and bore fruit for 120 years before a descendant of Lewis Haines erected a commemorative marker near the tree in 1923.
The homestead and all signs of the family disappeared, and finally about 1973 the Josephine County commissioners held a ceremony at the tree, and the Josephine County Historical Society erected a sign at the site.
Then, immediately afterward, the tree stopped producing fruit! Perhaps it too was in mourning for its' only family. Everyone thought it was dead, but after three years it started growing fruit again. In 2009, the tree was pruned and fertilized, and it came alive like a new puppy!
With roots as big as a man's chest, this memorial to a brave pioneer family lives to honor them.
Then, immediately afterward, the tree stopped producing fruit! Perhaps it too was in mourning for its' only family. Everyone thought it was dead, but after three years it started growing fruit again. In 2009, the tree was pruned and fertilized, and it came alive like a new puppy!
With roots as big as a man's chest, this memorial to a brave pioneer family lives to honor them.
