Document text
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 NEWS NOW Roseburg shooting victim describes gunman's rampage ... Guest Opinion: Plaza fencing is ugly and wasteful ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Require national service ... Roseburg shooting victim describes gunman's rampage ... Guest Opinion: Plaza fencing is ugly and wasteful ... Herb Rothschild Jr.: Require national service ... AS IT WAS Juniors paid the price for trick pulled on seniors Prank ruined a fancy dinner and led to retribution the next day Comment By Alice Mullaly Southern Oregon Historical Society DailyTidings.com By Alice Mullaly Southern Oregon Historical Society Posted Jun. 18, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Alice Mullaly Southern Oregon Historical Society Posted Jun. 18, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Harold Merrill grew up in Ashland. Many of his stories are recorded by an oral history transcript at the Southern Oregon Historical Society. One of them is about a high school jinx in 1913. It seems there was a vacant farm house on a hillside just out of town where some seniors at Ashland High School planned to hold a fancy dinner. But a group of jealous juniors, including Merrill, decided to see if they could spoil the occasion. They went to the drug store and asked for its most terrible smelling substance. The afternoon of the dinner, the group sneaked up to the house and burned a little asafetida (a gummy substance used in herbal remedies) in each room. Then they moved to a hidden location nearby to watch. Soon the seniors, all dressed up and carrying nice covered dishes came up the hill and into the house. Seconds later they streamed out and rushed away. The juniors were delighted — at least until the next day. Somehow the seniors found out who had done it and administered the “hot hand” to everyone involved with belts, boards and other spanking tools. Merrill can’t recall messing with anyone’s party again. Source: Merrill, Harold. Oral History Interview with Harold Merrill, Jan. 11, 1978, conducted by Alan Achut for the Southern Oregon Historical Society, transcribed by Vonnie Chapman, No. 59, p.20 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 Jun. 18, 2015 at 12:01 AM » 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 2015 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