In 1897, Henry Clay Tison and his sons used axes, picks and shovels to build a road to their home on Elk Creek near Crater Lake. During the winter months, their rustic road was impassable except on foot or horseback, so Tison had to bring a supply of staple goods to last the winter. The family lived mainly on venison, bread and blackberry pie.

As It Was: Families Build Their Own Crude Roads in Early Days

Colorful vignettes dedicated to the regional history of Southern Oregon and Northern California. As It Was is an all volunteer effort -- produced by Raymond Scully and narrated by Shirley Patton in partnership with writers from the Southern Oregon Historical Society.If you have a writing background and would like to submit an As It Was essay for consideration, email your written piece to mrkrt@ashlandhome.net.A collection of As It Was essays is available in a high-quality paperback book at the JPR Online Store. Each episode is also available below.

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As It Was: Families Build Their Own Crude Roads in Early Days

As It Was: Families Build Their Own Crude Roads in Early Days