Smokejumper museum group awaits JoCo pact
Former dispatch office would be part of the museum project at I.V. Airport. (Photo by I.V. News)
Proponents of a proposed smokejumper museum at Illinois Valley Airport aren’t yet leaping with joy at word that a long-term lease contract with the county will be ready soon.
While indicating relief that the pact is nearing completion, based on previous meetings with county officials, principal Gary Buck wants to review it before diving into a statement of approval.
Buck, who served at the former Siskiyou Smokejumper Base, is chairman of the Siskiyou Smokejumper Base Museum Project. The nonprofit organization wants to be granted responsibility to manage the six original buildings at the site, including maintenance of buildings and grounds.
Some issues, he feels, need to be resolved, and the project members are looking forward to seeing the contract. It is to be ready no later than the second week in September, said Marie Hill, chief operating officer for Josephine County.
She touched on the matter during a meeting of the county board of commissioners in Grants Pass on Wednesday morning, Aug. 22. Late last week she added that, “I think we’re nearly there with getting the majority of the issues resolved.”
She noted that the county is anxious to move ahead on the proposal with the project leaders.
“We’re looking at a lease that would expire on Sept. 30, 2012,” said Hill. She told the county board that she is pleased that matters involving I.V. Airport “that have been languishing in past months are moving forward.”
Buck stated on Friday, Aug. 24 that he believes Hill and Commissioners Dave Toler and Dwight Ellis “are sincere in their efforts to help us reach agreement.”
Among major points that apparently need to be worked out: parking spaces, and credit for building and maintenance work. In connection with the latter, Buck said that the county has not taken the best care of the buildings.
The project leaders want to remedy that, and not only present and preserve a genuine historical site, but improve the valley economy and its recognition.
The historical nature of the site, just off Hwy. 199 between Cave Junction and O’Brien, make it a logical location to attract visitors, Buck noted. He and a number of others who served at the base, across from Rough & Ready Lumber Co., live in the valley.
The base began in 1939 when a dirt strip was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. There was a tent camp there in ‘43. The runway was paved in ‘51, with buildings constructed by smokejumpers in the late ‘40s and early ‘50s.
Smokejumping flights were conducted from the facility until 1981, when the U.S. Forest Service closed it. Some years later, the site was turned over to Josephine County.
Besides the historic buildings, including the parachute loft that might be the oldest such structure in the United States, the project wants to replant a Moon Tree. The original plant died more than 20 years ago.
It stemmed from a seedling carried by astronaut Stuart Roosa, who worked at the base in 1953. He was command pilot for the Apollo 14 moon mission, and from that circumstance came the Moon Tree.
Hill expressed optimism for a cooperative working relationship with the project.
Buck said he wants to see how the county will handle the parking concern that he and others have.
“Overflow parking was taken out a while back,” he said, “and two months ago the county took out 45 spaces. That leaves only 10 spots, which we don’t think is enough for the museum and the I.V. Lions Club.” The latter uses one of the buildings as its clubhouse.
“Three of the buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places,” said Buck. “We want to make this project happen, and hope that the county’s proposal will be favorable and acceptable.”
The project includes plans for a small museum in the former dispatch office, self-guided tours using wayside displays for visitors; and a small deli and gift shop in the former mess hall. Buck said that having a small selection of food and beverages available would work to attract more fly-ins by individuals and groups.
The portion of the former base that has a park-like setting would be used for gatherings including picnics and family reunions.
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