Fort Jones celebrating 150 years of history Sept 3-5th

historic photo from the Fort Jones Museum

The Scott Valley sits in western Siskiyou  County where agriculture defines the lay of the land. It a great place for a Sunday drive or a bike ride where you can cruise down roads that carry you past fields of alfalfa, cattle pastures and the sense of calm that pervades farm country. One of the towns in the Scott Valley will be celebrating 150 years this weekend, Sept 3rd-5th. Fort Jones, which sits on the beginning of the Scott River Road, has plenty fun planned for its Sesquicentennial Celebration.

The folks of Fort Jones are happy to celebrate the history of their town, which in its early years carried the various names of Scottsburg, Scottsville, Ottitiewa, and Wheellock before finally being voted on in 1860 to officially name it Fort Jones, after the U.S. Army fort that once stood nearby. While you’re into town, look for the Sesquicentennial pamphlet to read more about the fort and the town’s history. You should also visit the Fort Jones Museum, where you can see displays that tell stories of the Native American tribes indegineous to the Valley along with stories of the white settlers.

The celebration event kicks off Friday with the Scott Valley Bank Summer Concert Series at the Fort Jones baseball park on Highway 3, beginning at 6:30pm, with Americana/Country band, One Horse Shy. Saturday kicks off with a pancake breakfast at 7am, followed by the start of a 15-mile footrace at 8am (see the Museum website for an entry form). Then its off to check out the mule pack demonstration at Scott Valley Physical Therapy at 9am. At 10 am the vendor and craft booths open, kids activities begin and the Mountain Men’s Camp opens at the ballpark. Head back into town for the parade on Main Street at noon. The afternoon includes a horseshoe competition, a blacksmith demo on Main Street, old time fiddlers and a jam session and the all day car show that will include antique and modern vehicles along with horse drawn carriages. The evening wraps up with dinner at 6pm provided by the Catholic Church Ladies and a street dance from 8-11pm.

Sunday offers more of the same, starting with another breakfast at 7am. An organized mountain bike ride begins at 8am, so bring your bike along. The street vendors open at 10am again and 1.5 fun walk/run starts at 10am as well. The Homecoming Luncheon begins at 11:30, and the Horn Street stage will host fiddlers at noon followed by a gospel jam session at 1pm.

If you’re planning on visiting, you can learn more at the event at the Museum’s website, or call the Museum at 530.468.5568. You can find lodging information on the VisitSiskiyou.org website: you’ll find more options in Etna than in Fort Jones, ranging from B&Bs to RV camping. When it comes to where to dine, you can always ask a local, but you probably won’t want to miss the Etna Brewery Pub in Etna and an ice cream sundae at Scott Valley Drug, also in Etna.