Help Roger and Susan Whipple after the fire

Early Tuesday morning, March 19th, a sudden and tragic fire destroyed one of Jacksonville's most distinctive homes, along with two historic outbuildings belonging to builder/designer Rodger Whipple and his artist wife, Susan.

The Whipples moved to Jacksonville in the late 1980s from Southern California, where Rodger had been honored for his exceptional work on the historic Raymond Restaurant, among other projects, in Pasadena, CA.

Soon after arriving here, Rodger & Susan met and worked closely with Robbie Collins, the visionary for Jacksonville's inclusion in the US National Historic Registry. Rodger has designed and built numerous distinctive craftsman homes in Jacksonville and won awards for renovating the downtown Medford train depot, now Porter's Restaurant. The Whipples have been active community participants over the years. Susan has been a point person for the Medford Food Project for the past fourteen years.

The Whipple property was originally a ten-acre farm on the southeast edge of town. The original 1880s farmhouse still stands next to Rodger's newer Craftsman design (built-in 2000), which is now sadly in ruins. The Whipples had acquired many beautiful period paintings, furniture, and vintage rugs when they purchased a historic house in South Pasadena, CA, at auction. Most of Susan Whipple's stunningly colorful, original, and whimsical paintings were also throughout the Jacksonville house.

The loss is significant on so many levels.

This effort to raise relief money for the Whipples and their family is necessitated by their immediate need for many essentials. They were forced to run in pajamas and lost all their shoes, clothes, coats, and necessities, including medications. Rodger's truck was also destroyed in the fire. They also lost most of their personal business and financial records, photos, and longtime memorabilia. They will have to replace phones, computers, etc. This event is heartbreaking for people who devoted themselves to a life honoring things of historic and aesthetic significance. Heirlooms from great grandparents, historical books, photo albums of Rodger's buildings done over the years, awards, newspaper articles, and a lifetime of mementos are gone. The expenses of cleanup and recovery will not be entirely covered by insurance, exacerbating this loss.

The Whipples' son and beneficiary, Austin Whipple, will be responsible for determining the distribution of donated funds for immediate needs as well as longer-term needs and obligations. Rodger and Susan are homeless and must decide on their next move. Austin now lives in Portland and will travel to Jacksonville with his sisters, Jessie and Carrie, to assist their parents during this difficult time.

Please donate and share. Our neighbors need you.