The Legend of the Logtown Rose

A Logtown Rose Blooming in the Applegate

This pretty little yellow rose is not nearly as fragile as it looks. In fact, it was planted by a pioneer woman in 1853 and its descendants can be seen all over the Rogue Valley.

Thought to be a 'Harrison's Yellow Rose', the rose was brought to Oregon by Maryum McKee and her family when they left Missouri for Oregon in 1853. They settled in Logtown, six miles out of Jacksonville, where they lived for 37 years and where she planted her rose bush. Long after the home had been deserted and collapsed, the rose was still flourishing when the old homestead was visited by Maryum McKee and her grandchildren some 60 years after she brought it to Oregon.

Cuttings were taken from the rose in 1958 and planted in Logtown Cemetery where the McKee family is buried, and masses of the yellow roses can be seen blooming there during the month of May. Logtown roses are also planted in front of Star Ranger Station on Upper Applegate Road.

Cuttings are usually offered for sale at the Upper Applegate Grange annual plant sale and the rose continues to thrive in the gardens of many local residents.

Source: Jefferson Public Radio "Maryum's Rose" by Marjorie O'Hara.

Many thanks to John and Gayle Hart for providing this information and beautiful picture!