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Armory remodel pushes events to new venues Friday Nov 11, 2016 at 6:43 PM Nov 11, 2016 at 6:43 PM Nick Morgan Mail Tribune @mtcrimebeat An extensive remodel to the Medford Armory has displaced Southern Oregon events, forcing them to find new venues or cease them altogether. Since April, doors to the Medford Armory have been locked as the building is in the midst of a multi-million-dollar update, including structural improvements, replacement of its heating and air conditioning system, new windows, restrooms and kitchen facilities, according to Oregon Military Department budget documents. Holiday-themed events such as the annual Clayfolk Pottery Show and Rogue Valley Railroad Show were forced to find new venues because of the closure. Though it will cost slightly more for the five organizations that put on the railroad show, organizer Tony Johnson believes the move to the Jackson County Expo will be a positive one, providing more space and more parking for the 39th annual event, set for Nov. 26-27. "Whatever disadvantages there are at The Expo are greatly outweighed by the advantages," Johnson said. Clayfolk show chair Shirley Huft said fire codes for the annual pottery and art event require a minimum 25,000 square feet to accommodate the roughly 70 pottery booths, along with a demonstration area, performance area and vendor area. "All of these things are a part of what Clayfolk is, and it all takes space," Huft said. She passed on a number of 8,000-square-foot locations before finding the right fit, leasing a portion of Brammo's Talent headquarters for the show, set for Nov. 18-20. As helpful and accommodating as Brammo has been so far, Huft said it remains to be seen whether the move will be permanent. For 33 years, the Southern Oregon Antiques and Collectibles Club held an antique show in September at the Medford Armory, but the 2015 show may be the last one organized by the club, according to SOACC founder Robby Miller. In the months leading up to the 34th annual fall show, uncertainty about the venue led to a domino effect of lost momentum that moved the 11-member club to cancel future shows. "It was spurred on by the fact that the armory wasn't ready," Miller said. A cancellation forces out-of-state vendors and buyers to seek alternative shows outside the area, according to Miller. "They're not going to come back to you if their show did good," Miller said. "It was time for us to retire." Carol Barry, with Twin Bridges Antique Productions, was forced to take a year off from her May antique sale raising funds for Dogs for the Deaf, but said Doug Whitehead, who is in charge of rentals at the armory, attempted to communicate delays. "He must have done everything he could to give everyone an accurate prediction," Barry said. "It's stuff that's really beyond his control." For the past 45 years, Dennis Nelson organized the Original Medford Giant Flea Market at the armory, but he's had to put his regular flea market events on hold since January.  "It's frustrating," Nelson said. "I'm out of a job." He's hoping to return in late February. Even though Nelson said sellers and shoppers are "antsy" for the flea market to return, adding that some need it to supplement their retirement income, he understands that the facility needed maintenance. The roof had been leaking off and on for years. "They're a good bunch down there and I'm sure they're doing their best," Nelson said. The annual Providence Festival of Trees was still scheduled at the armory, according to its website, (http://ow.ly/S1oG3066cg7). It's slated for Nov. 30 through Dec. 4. — Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @MTCrimeBeat.