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0 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 Ashland kindergartners on track with letters, sounds ... Phone scam triggers bank robbery alarm ... Exit 24's northbound on-ramp will open Wednesday night ... Ashland kindergartners on track with letters, sounds ... Phone scam triggers bank robbery alarm ... Exit 24's northbound on-ramp will open Wednesday night ... AS IT WAS Jacksonville celebrates Valentine's Day in 1870 Comment By Alice Mullaly Southern Oregon Historical Society DailyTidings.com By Alice Mullaly Southern Oregon Historical Society Posted Feb. 10, 2016 at 2:42 PM By Alice Mullaly Southern Oregon Historical Society Posted Feb. 10, 2016 at 2:42 PM » Social News Jacksonville, Ore., found a variety of ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day in 1870. The men went to Bybee’s track to race and trade horses. The horses of Allen and Sizemore ended up in the premier race, with Allen’s mare winning the $500 prize — an enormous amount 140 years ago (nearly $10,000 in today's dollars). A Jacksonville newspaper, the Democratic News, said Valentine’s Day offered a chance, in the words of the newspaper’s article, for “bashful lovers and sweethearts to tell their loves, anonymously; and for jesting people to distribute caricatures and sarcastic verses, not at all flattering to the recipients.” The editor commented humorously that he had received his share of abuse but would have preferred $10 greenbacks. Young girls took advantage of the opportunity to collect friendship buttons. They asked anyone they met to give them a friendship button, which they put on a string worn over the shoulder or around the waist. Some dedicated girls collected from 200 to 300 buttons. Collecting names of children from all over town, J.M. Sutton held a Valentine lottery. The kids gathered for the fun at the courthouse, and received Valentines drawn by lottery for each child. Sources: Jacksonville Democratic News, Feb. 5, 12, and 26, 1870. (Microfilm of the Democratic News is available at the University of Oregon Knight Library.) 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 Feb. 10, 2016 at 2:42 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