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FOLKLORE HISTORY OF ROSS RESIDENCE <br /> This dear little farmhouse, nestled among shade trees and <br /> settled in so well on Royal Road, is affixed to the Peterson <br /> Barn. <br /> • <br /> Clifford and Grace Ross lived there for 39 years, raising as- <br /> you-go foster children—sometimes as many as twelve, according <br /> to their niece, Julie Wells. The house was built, so they <br /> told me, in 1933 and added onto at a later date for a modern <br /> kitchen, laundry room and bath. Grace Ross was a seamstress <br /> and had many fine cupboards built for her findings. Cliff <br /> Ross was a "cowboy" and fixed up old cars — hence, the metal <br /> shed accounts for the over -sized usage. He was deceased <br /> around 1982. Grace Ross suffered several strokes and to keep <br /> her garden, which she loved, made an arrangement with Peterson <br /> Barn to maintain the rounds and in return for this <br /> accommodation, deeded her home to Peterson Barn. Now, with <br /> just two sons living in Portland and Idaho, they have moved <br /> their mother to a foster home in Portland, where she will be <br /> attended to and close by her sons. Unfortunately, with no one <br /> to care about the house and garden, the City of Eugene has <br /> decided to demolish it. <br /> Many years ago, the Wickes - Petersons settled the house, barn <br /> and shed as a Dairy Farm. It has a long tradition and sons of <br /> the relatives still live in the neighborhood. <br /> My wish is to keep the Heritage of the Ross Residence, move it <br /> to a location close by, so it won't be lonesome and to <br /> establish the gardens so it will look the same as it once did <br /> at 3865 Royal Avenue. Many times, foster children like to <br /> visit the families and the homes where they have grown up. I <br /> shall strive to maintain the stairway (oh, so steep!) and the <br /> attic bedrooms for their memories. I shall endeavor to keep <br /> the trust which you have conveyed to me as a memory of the <br /> Wilkes, Petersons and Ross relatives and also the citizens of <br /> Eugene, so they will have a sense of history to remember As <br /> with so many fine old antique residences, i.e., Shelton - <br /> Murphy- Johnson (I was instrumental in adding Dr. Johnson's <br /> name as a memorial), Amanda McNeil /Riley— they were both <br /> milliners and now I hope the Ross - Kelley Homestead will be a <br /> fruition. Old ladies never die—they just keep old houses!!! <br />