A headline in the Aug. 31, 2019, edition of the Medford, Ore., Mail Tribune declared, “Jackson County dodges lightning strikes.” An adjacent headline read, “Homing Pigeons To Aid Planes Fighting Fires.” The story about the pigeons was drawn from the Mail-Tribune’s archives from 100 years ago.

As It Was: Pigeons Join Battle Against Wildfires in 1919

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: Pigeons Join Battle Against Wildfires in 1919

As It Was: Pigeons Join Battle Against Wildfires in 1919