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Southern Oregon Journal: Give it up for the Oakland Oakers Sunday Feb 5, 2017 at 12:01 AM By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune This week we’ll visit a hidden jewel of a town situated a couple of hours up I-5 that's nestled among the valleys of Douglas County — Oakland — home of the Oakland Oakers. I first heard the term Oaker when my friend and former co-worker Kelly Lemley told me she grew up in Oakland and was a cheerleader there. I could see that. With Kelly rooting from the sidelines, I’m not sure how they ever lost a game. She has spirit, yes she does. But I thought she was kidding about the name. Now, I’m not certain what an Oaker is. My spellcheck sure doesn’t like it, but that rarely stops me. After thorough research, I have it on animated authority that an Oaker is an acorn with a face. I can only speculate as to why the school wasn’t called the Oakland Acorns. Maybe it was a general disdain at having the word "corn" on their mascot. Well, let’s face it (they did), an acorn doesn’t carry nearly the intimidation factor of the curious Oaker. This morning I enjoyed a great visit with Conni Riley, who runs the Oakland Oregon Good News Gazette and is a whirlwind of support for her town. She and her family live in the old ice house and sometimes give tours. I told her I lived in one here. What a coincidence. She said they have the phrase “Go, Nuts!” printed on T-shirts. You’ve got to love a small town that claims both history and a sense of humor. She added, “Those crazy Oakers boast a 100-percent graduation rate ... The Friday night football games and the basketball games are always packed with fans.” Downtown Oakland retains its original charm, having been incorporated in 1878, but the first time we meandered the two country miles off I-5 at exit 140 going south (138 heads north), we had growling stomachs to silence. Since then we’ve made repeated trips to Tolly’s, an old-fashioned soda fountain serving satisfying meals and ice cream treats in a historic setting. It’s worth the brief detour just to walk through town taking pictures and enjoying the small-town ambiance, like we did. The streets lie deserted, even though about 900 folks call it home. With the old, brick buildings on either side of us, and a tumbleweed blowing through, I wondered if at any moment we might find ourselves in the crossfire of an Old West showdown. But as I suspected, there is usually more to a town once you scratch the surface. So it is with Oakland. The best time to see Oakland awake is on weekends when most of the stores are open. But Conni sent a list of amenities longer than Calapooya Creek, which flows nearby. Among them is a newly developed disc golf course with sand volleyball and picnic benches. And Stearns Hardware store has been in the family since 1887. Say hi to Bill Stearns when you visit, and see one of the original freight wagons they used. Triple Oak Wine Vault and Vogel Vineyards both have tasting rooms in Oakland, with other wineries located throughout the surrounding hills. A walking-tour map of Oakland will take you through town and tell you about all the gracious, old, Victorian-era homes. Some are in various stages of renovation, returning them to their former glory. Oakland is truly a step back in time, with many of the original buildings housing antiques stores and other shops. Most have their histories posted in a window, and the Oakland Museum is open every day but major holidays from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Clearly we visited during naptime. I had no clue there was a lively community heartbeat behind the reserve. But Oakland is another in the lineup of small-town nuggets within Southern Oregon, which I hope to mine in the coming months. — Peggy Dover is a freelance writer living in Eagle Point. Email her at [email protected].