Alice Hanley spent her life in the Hanley home. She cared for her parents until their deaths, and raised her niece Claire from the age of six, in addition to managing a farm of over 100 acres. Alice also helped establish the Oregon Home Extension Service and served on its Board from 1919 until her death.
Although Alice did not inherit all of the original Hanley home furnishings, which were sold, she retained what she could and purchased pioneer family furnishings at auctions. We are fortunate today that Alice kept so much of the home intact, allowing us to view rooms much as they appeared after the home was built in about 1875.
She was active with the Chataqua movement in Ashland. In 1922, Alice ran for Oregon State Legislature but she, along with many other Oregon candidates, lost to a Ku Klux Klan candidate. Alice was also a founder and officer of Southern Oregon Pioneer Society. Alice’s home for her entire life was the Hanley Farm. She took care of both her parents during long illnesses, and raised her niece Claire after Claire’s parents died when she was six.
Sources: Alan O'Leary, SOSC Senior Seminar paper, History 415, Winter 1995. Oregon Journal, 8 July, 1940. p. 8 SOHS Hanley files. Vertical files. Historic Structure Report, Alfred Stashli, SOHS library 728.6 577 1994.
