Christmas Trees on the Coast Range presented by Jeff Maddess

CHM admission: Free for members / $7 for non-members (limited to 30 attendees)

Online suggested donation: $5 

Jeff Maddess is a native Oregonian born in the Willamette valley. After completing high school he worked in a sawmill, accumulating college credits during the day while working nights. Over the years the mill work provided funding and eventually Jeff graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelors in Business Management. Supervision jobs in the wood products industry kept Jeff busy for the following ten years. During that time he was married and him and his wife were blessed with a beautiful daughter. After a serious car accident his life focus changed to teaching, so Jeff worked his way through sixty Graduate hours receiving a teaching certificate in Special Education. His entire teaching career was spent right here in the Bay Area and he and his wife retired four years ago. They presently work a Christmas tree farm taking breaks to travel and visit their daughter who is a paramedic in Washington. 

Join Jeff Maddess as he explains the undertaking of a family Christmas tree farm. Stonehouse Trees is located at a historic Coos county location, the Stonehouse homestead alongside the West Fork Millicoma river. Jeff will discuss the history behind their unique location as well as their part in growing Christmas trees for the largest producer in the nation – Oregon! The history of our state’s special row crop will be explored along with practical tips of the trade. Learn about their specialization in Noble Fir (the Cadillac of Christmas trees) and the minimum nine-year ongoing support of each and every tree which is exacting, and at times elusive.

*The museum will be open 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM with the talk beginning at 6:30 PM.

**This program will be offered both in person at the Coos History Museum and online. If joining us in person, payment will be taken at the door and registration is not required. If you would like to participate virtually please register for our Zoom webinar utilizing the link to the left that says “Register for Virtual Program Here”. A recording of this talk will not be available.

All events subject to change.