Originally ran in the Dec. 16, 1971 edition of the Illinois Valley News
Jim and Lena Payne had a birthday dinner for their son Dick of Grants Pass. His wife and daughter Holley were present also. In the afternoon their granddaughter Sonnie, husband, their children, and John and Gladys England came to visit.
The Wednesday Bridge Club met at the WWI Barracks. Edna Kornblum won 1st place, Bert Billeg 2nd, Josephine Peters 3rd, and Sophia Bunch won the booby prize. Sunday, the club had its Christmas party with 2 turkeys and all the trimmings. The families of members were also invited, and there were 25 present. There was a tree and gifts, and the evening was spent playing bridge and bingo.
On the 7th of December, Joy Kellert slipped on icy steps and was taken to Josephine General Hospital by Wheeless Ambulance. The last report I heard, she was still in the hiospital.
Bill Wilhelms of Roseburg brought his family to visit his parents, Cecil and Fran Wilhelms of Old Stage Road over the weekend.
Jessie Leonard entered Josephine General Hospital, and at this writing is still recovering from surgery. Jessie lives in Grants Pass, but for many years was a resident of the valley, and active in civic clubs.
Randall and Jennie Palmer recently had a visit from their son Randall Jr. and his wife Shirley who live in Arleta, California.
Mrs. Elsie Barlow returned a few days ago from a Hawaiian vacation. She was accompanied on the trip by her little son Jonathon and her sister Kathy Franca. They went on the Islander Flight and stayed at a hotel near Waikiki Beach. They spent the two weeks sightseeing and visiting friends. Elsie’s most outstanding memory of her vacation was not of the Islands, but as they neared San Francisco, she looked back, and there blazing in the western sky was the most beautiful sunset she had ever seen.
Have you ever wondered how the area east of Cave Junction about 7 miles became known as Holland? Did you know there was a large general store there, as well as a post office, telephone exchange, and a large hotel? In searching for some record of this little community, I found this interesting information.
The town was named for Ed Holland, who came to the Illinois Valley in 1860 with his parents James E. and Maria Holland when he was only four months old. They left New York City by ship and crossed the Isthmus of Panama by train. Holland was born in Hanover, Michigan. He grew up on his parents’ ranch near Holland. The post office, known as Althouse, was first kept at Browntown which was three or four miles above Holland, and that is when the town got its name.
Ed Holland married Elizabeth Lewis and they continued to live in Holland until 1929 when they moved to Bridgeview. The married names of their daughters are: Mrs. Edith Hays, Mrs. Ethel Sowell, Mrs. Pearl Houck, Mrs. Edna Anderson, and Mrs. Vera Archibold. Their grandchildren are listed as : Linden, Alton, Mildred, Edward, and Jack Sowell; Jay and Evelyn Hays; Hazel Houck, and Lawrence and Jerry Anderson.
Jack Smock owned and operated the Holland Store and was postmaster for many years. His wife Saidee operated the hotel, cooked the meals, and raised all the vegetables for the many people who ate there. Later, the store was operated by the Smock’s daughter Lucille and her husband Harry Floyd, until a few years ago when they retired. The hotel burned down several years ago, so another busy mining town is now just a name.