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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Group files paperwork for $13.50 minimum wage ballot measure ... New printer will get RCC students thinking in three dimensions ... Medford police say domestic violence intervention is preventing homicides, ... Group files paperwork for $13.50 minimum wage ballot measure ... New printer will get RCC students thinking in three dimensions ... Medford police say domestic violence intervention is preventing homicides, ... Vogel Park was named for council member Your recent entry about how the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater earned its name got me to wondering about the adjacent Vogel Park. I know "vogel" is the German word for bird, but I'll bet there's some other explanation for the park's name. Can you tell us, please? Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Apr. 6, 2010 at 12:01 AM Posted Apr. 6, 2010 at 12:01 AM » Social News Your recent entry about how the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater earned its name got me to wondering about the adjacent Vogel Park. I know "vogel" is the German word for bird, but I'll bet there's some other explanation for the park's name. Can you tell us, please? — Bill S., Medford Happy to, Mr. Bill. The little park at the corner of Main Street and Central Avenue was named to honor Virginia Vogel, the first woman to serve on the Medford City Council. The park was rebuilt in the 1990s as part of the Medford Urban Renewal Agency's downtown renovation project that transformed the theater. A Mail Tribune story from 1997 about the rededication of the park recounted Vogel's extensive civic profile. The council named the park for her shortly before her death from cancer in 1982 at the age of 62. Vogel was first appointed to the council to fill a vacancy, then won a full four-year term in the November 1974 election. She was an active parks advocate and the council's liaison to the city Parks Commission. Her appointment created a bit of a linguistic problem because the city's charter, a relic of pre-feminist days, spoke only of "councilman." The council voted to change all references to "councilman" to "council member." You may have noticed we said the park was rebuilt in the '90s. Do you want to know how Medford came to have a park at that busy corner? Of course you do. There was a fire in the building at that site in 1969. The late Frankie Burton suggested planting some trees and converting the scars of the downtown shopping area's worst fire into a shady park. Oregon Bank, which bought the land after the fire, agreed to loan it to the city until it decided to build on the site, at which point the city would move the plantings. It was dedicated April 11, 1970, as Medford Portable Mini Park. The park was initially developed with donated funds, but Medford residents enjoyed the open space in downtown enough that they approved a bond issue to buy the land. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected]. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Apr. 6, 2010 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 MailTribune.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 Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked 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. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501