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Medford is centered in Southern Oregon's beautiful Rogue Valley. The small city in nestled at the foot of towering Siskiyou Mountain Range and rolling country hills. In the 1880s, early railroad surveyors set out to connect the Rogue Valley with the railroads that stretched across California. In 1885, the city of Medford was officially incorporated. Three years later, the plot of land that eventually became known as Alba Park was deeded to the city by the railroad company. This park is Medford’s oldest. The park was named Library Park in 1911 after the construction of the Medford Carnegie Library. The park grew to be a central hub of the city and Medford’s downtown slowly grew up around it, thanks to a couple by the name of Charles and Callie Palm. The Palms came to Southern Oregon from Ohio in 1888 and settled in Medford. Charles Palm went into the real estate business and the couple invested in Medford’s urban renewal. Slowly but surely, the modest town began to grow. When Charles Palm died in 1933, a white marble statue was placed in the middle of Alba Park, in honor of the long-time residents dedication to building up the town. Today, some downtown buildings still bear the “Palm” name. In 1956, President Eisenhower began his “People to People” Sister City Initiative in an effort to make more international connections and foster a sense of community between cultures. In 1959, Medford Mayor John Snider chose Alba, Italy, to be Medford’s international sister city. The choice was easy for Snider. He wanted a city that was similar to Medford both geographically and agriculturally. Alba, Italy, shares some key similarities to Medford. The town also lies among golden rolling hills accompanied by rows of vineyards. Like Medford, Alba has a booming wine and food industry. Its culinary scene boasts one prized ingredient, white truffles, which are celebrated each year with a Truffle Festival. Aside from its Michelin guide-caliber food scene, Alba is also the hometown of Nutella, the famous chocolate hazelnut spread. Many may not know that the state of Oregon produces 99.9 percent of all domestic hazelnuts, but it does! Both towns get to reap the rewards of beautiful landscapes and agriculturally rich regions. The sister city relationship was made official in 1960 with one of the first Trans-Atlantic Telstar Telephone conversations. This historic phone call between Mayor Snider and Alba’s Mayor Osvaldo Cagnasso solidified the new sisterhood. In 1962, Pino Dutto arrived as the first Alba resident to visit Medford. That same year, the first group of Medford students visited Alba for one week. This kicked off a series of visits by Medford and Alba residents and student groups. It continues to this day. The relationship between the two cities became so strong, that in 1985 the Medford City Council declared that Library Park be renamed Parco D’ Alba, or Alba Park, in honor of Alba, Italy. Today, Alba Park still lies blocks from the Palm buildings and bustle of Main Street. The park, which is also only blocks from the Jackson County Jail, has become a haven for some homeless people whose bad behavior is a nuisance for local businesses. Even so, the towering trees, green grass and beauty of the marble Palm statue still echo the memories of a time when Medford was just being established on the new frontier. Students and delegates from Alba, Italy, still visit Medford and vice-versa. Alba students were in Medford as recently as July 4, 2018, to celebrate Independence Day here. The sister city connection is stronger than ever.