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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Inner Peace: It's not easy to keep peaceful in a political season ... Clad for a cause ... Local chef wins Iron Chef title ... Inner Peace: It's not easy to keep peaceful in a political season ... Clad for a cause ... Local chef wins Iron Chef title ... AS IT WAS As It Was: Gen. Amos Fries of Central Point promoted lethal chemicals Comment By Alice Mullaly Southern Oregon Historical Society DailyTidings.com By Alice Mullaly Southern Oregon Historical Society Posted Aug. 17, 2016 at 4:03 PM By Alice Mullaly Southern Oregon Historical Society Posted Aug. 17, 2016 at 4:03 PM » RELATED CONTENT • As It Was: Teacher in bloomers shocks supervisor • As It Was: Cemetery visit focuses on Ann Hasseltine Russell • Mary Ann Harris repels an Indian attack • As It Was: Crushed granite muffles Chautauqua echo » Social News In 1927 the new high school planted a maple tree honoring Gen. Amos A. Fries as a “Central Point Oregon boy made good” for his work with lethal and other chemicals. Born in Wisconsin, Fries’ parents moved to Oregon, where the future general attended the Central Point School and graduated from Medford High School in 1893. While waiting for an appointment to West Point, Fries taught school in Central Point and Butte Falls. Fries graduated from the military academy in 1898 and served in the Army Corps of Engineers building a canal on the Columbia River, designing Los Angeles Harbor, and building roads in Yellowstone Park. In World War I, Fries was commander of the first Chemical Warfare Division, and at war’s end became the first peacetime head of the Chemical Warfare Service. He advocated the use of chemicals that included rodent control, tear gas and the gas chamber. After being honored in Central Point and retiring from the army in 1929, Fries became a zealous anti-communist and anti-socialist. He published a book titled “Communism Unmasked” that, among other things, accused national women’s organizations and their leaders, including the mainstream Parent Teachers Association, or PTA, of being dangers to America. Sources: Medford Mail Tribune, April 27, 1937, and Feb. 3, 1964; Foster, Carrie A., "The Women and the Warriors," Syracuse University Press, 1995, p. 47. As It Was is a co-production of Jefferson Public Radio and the Southern Oregon Historical Society. As It Was stories are broadcast weekdays on Jefferson Public Radio and are available online at asitwas.org . By Alice Mullaly Southern Oregon Historical Society DailyTidings.com By Alice Mullaly Southern Oregon Historical Society Posted Aug. 17, 2016 at 4:03 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501