The McCully House Inn is the oldest home in Oregon operating as an inn. Our namesake, Jane Mason McCully, was a hard-working and adventurous woman who lived an incredible life. Read on to learn more about the history of our Oregon boutique hotel and the legacy of the McCully family.
McCully House Inn's History
Historic Southern Oregon Boutique Hotel
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The Story Behind Oregon’s Oldest Inn
The McCully House Inn
The McCully House Inn is the oldest home in Oregon operating as an inn. Its namesake, Jane Mason McCully, was hard-working and adventurous. Born in Alloway, Scotland, Jane immigrated with her family to America when she was 11 years old. Jane married her husband, John, in 1848. She was 24. He was 27.
The Wagon Trail West
With the discovery of gold in Southern Oregon, Jane and John joined a wagon train and headed west in 1851. When they arrived in Table Rock City (soon to be called Jacksonville), Jane, well-educated and a teacher, was one of two “respectable” women in the rowdy mining town filled with saloons, tents, and trading posts.
Growing Family, Business Ventures
With no children to teach, Jane turned to baking pies, bread, and cakes which she sold to miners for $1. Soon after, the McCully’s had a son, James. Meanwhile, her husband, John, dabbled in real estate purchasing land and becoming part owner of the El Dorado saloon and a local dairy.
In 1856, John built a two-story brick building that would become the Odd Fellows Hall on the corner of South Oregon and Main Street. The upper hall became an auditorium for traveling performers while the ground floor space was rented out as a retail establishment. Jane and John had a second child, Mary, and John won election to the Territorial Legislature, the only Republican from Jackson County. Soon after, Jane had a third child.
Building the McCully House
In 1860, John built a grand home for his growing family – the McCully House. But their joy was dampened by debt. John owed creditors over $7,500 with no way to pay. In 1862, faced with losing his business interests and his dignity, John McCully took the stagecoach out of town never to be seen again, leaving Jane, his three children and all the mounting bills.
Resilience and Entrepreneurial Spirit
Jane saved the home from the bankruptcy auction block by returning to baking bread and pies to survive. Jane opened “Mrs. McCully’s Seminary” providing advanced education for girls and boys. For many of the children raised in Jacksonville, Jane was the only teacher they ever knew even after public schools were available.
Over the years, local papers reported various Jane McCully investments and financial enterprises. She bought lots and houses and increased her investment in various business interests. Her success was such that her unmarried daughter, Izzie, never had to worry about finances.
Sadly, Jane fell ill in 1899, at the age of seventy-five and died. She is buried along with her daughter Izzy in the Jacksonville Cemetery.
