Holly Street Part 2: Ashland’s Faith Healer and Daffodil Paradise

Holly Street Part 2: Ashland’s Faith Healer and Daffodil Paradise

Article Highlights:
(1) Ashland’s Famous Faith Healer
(2) Daffodil Paradise

541 Holly Street: Former home of Ashland’s Famous Faith Healer

Mrs. Susie Jessel (photo from Jessel, no date, title page)

541 Holly Street was the home of nationally renowned faith healer Susie Jessel. She and her family moved to Ashland in 1932, and she lived here until her death in 1966. Her daughter wrote that Susie Jessel treated as many as 300 people a day at times, people who came from all over the country, as well as Canada and Mexico. She treated babies, the elderly, those with tumors, people who were crippled and many more.

Cars parked on Holly Street in the 1940’s, of people going for treatment from Susie Jessel (photo from Jessel, no date, page 62)

The photo above stimulated a memory for my friend Terry Skibby. He told me: “My folks would tour Ashland by car and see the sights when company came. One location was the Susie Jessel place with the large crowds of people. They were in the trailer park and street at the corner of Holly and Idaho Streets. This was in the 1950’s.”

How did she become a healer? Here are Susie Jessel’s own words.

“On April 2, 1891, I arrived. I was born with what they then called a veil or caul over my face. This was to indicate a special gift in a child. I believe now it is just termed a membrane. Mother noticed my gift immediately. She had trouble with her breasts, and she noticed that when my hands would touch them, the pain would leave and before long all pain and fever was gone.

“During the war Daddy’s eye had been injured and had a whitish scum over it. Before I was two years old I started noticing that eye and I would reach up and touch it. Soon the scum started disappearing and the sight returned to that eye. From that time on Daddy called me his ‘little bundle of magic.’

“I can’t remember when I wasn’t carried at all hours of the night to the ailing. Mother would place my hands on the person, and before long they would get relief from pain. And so my healing career started before I was out of the cradle.” (Jessel, no date, page 8)

“After all my research, I’m convinced she was the real thing, a true spiritual healer….” That quote is from author, lawyer and retired SOU business professor Dennis Powers, who researched Jessel and was quoted in John Darling’s 2014 Mail Tribune article. Powers said that she healed by laying on of hands and prayer. She did not ask for payment, but some people would leave money in her apron pocket. She insisted that she did not “do” the healing, that it was entirely God working through her.

People waiting to receive treatment from Susie Jessel (photo from Jessel 1950, page 7)

Time Magazine 1953

Time Magazine even featured Susie Jessel in a 1953 article. It said: “‘Susie,’ as her patients called her, moved to Ashland 23 years ago, and she has brought a boom to the town. Thousands of hopeful patients keep the cash registers ringing in motels, hotels, restaurants, drug stores and movie houses.”

Unlike Dennis Powers, the author of the Time article was very cynical when it came Susie’s healing powers, as shown by this line from the article. “Says Clarence Litwiller, a local undertaker who claims that last year he buried 18 of Susie’s patients: ‘She’s the biggest business in town for everybody.”

Here is another way to look at Litwiller’s statement. If Susie Jessel treated thousands of people in a year, many of whom their doctors said were near death, and only 18 of them died in Ashland, that could be seen as quite amazing.

Mrs. Jessel did not say that she could heal everyone who came to her. She made no promises. However, she stated that there was “a big improvement in at least 80% of them.” (Jessel, no date, page 49)

Was the healing only psychological?

Skeptics said that healings, if anything happened at all, were only psychological. Mrs. Jessel addressed this attitude:

“Some may feel that the healing is merely in the minds of the patients; however, when one thinks of the skeptical and the tiny babies and animals who with no knowledge of psychology receive so much and in some cases more help faster than adults, I don’t believe this theory applies.” (Jessel, no date, page 66)

Susie Jessel had a fascinating life story, but I can’t tell all of it here. If you want to read more, you can find many of my references for this article in the Ashland Library.

Ashland, Susie Jessel

Susie Jessel treating someone by laying on hands (Jessel, no date, page 55)

The Gardener

I will end this part of my Holly Street article with the emotional closing lines from H.K. Ellis’ 1943 magazine article about Susie Jessel.

I was packing things away in the car, getting ready to leave Ashland, when I was told that a patient wished to speak to me. He was pointed out, a short, stocky figure laboring in the nearby truck garden.

I went over, walking across soft red loam. The young fellow wore grimy dungarees, a faded blue shirt and a ragged straw hat pulled low over his eyes. I did not offer to shake hands with him for he seemed desirous of overlooking any sympathy.

‘How’s the de luxe gardener?’ I asked.

‘Just swell!’ he exclaimed. ‘Look!’

He raised his face to mine. His eyes were two circles of blotchy white. ‘Look!’ he repeated. ‘These cataracts are thinning. For five years I’ve seen nothing farther than a yard away. But now, for instance, look at that robin over on the cowshed fence. It’s about 50 feet, I’d say.’

‘You’re right,’ I agreed, following his gaze. ‘But somehow, it’s hard to believe.’

‘Not when you’re behind the eight ball,’ he said grinning. ‘Things Mrs. Jessel once told me are beginning to come true. I know. Why, only last night I caught a glimpse of the moon!’

541 Holly Street is still called the Jessel House, though it is now a vacation rental.

541 Holly St, former home of faith healer Susie Jessel

Do any of the readers of this article know someone who was treated by Susie Jessel?

Now let’s walk the rest of Holly Street until it ends at Liberty Street.

500 Holly Street: Artistic Fieldstone

Ashland, stone wall

500 Holly Street has a natural fieldstone wall anchored by two huge boulders.

I always appreciate creative stone wall building, especially natural fieldstone walls like this one. I look at a stone wall like this and I think of words like patience, right-brain, strong visual sense, trust and nature.

558 Holly Street: Lush Wisteria vine

558 Holly, trunk of the huge Wisteria vine

This is not the longest stretching Wisteria vine I have ever seen, but it is close. I think this is the largest Wisteria trunk I have ever seen. As shown in the photo above, from the trunk at the corner of the front porch the vine has been trained to grow towards the street.

There it takes off along the front fence line, all the way to the property line in both directions (as shown in the photo below). I look forward to coming back in the spring to enjoy this Wisteria’s magnificent blooms.

Mrs. Susie Jessel lived here at 558 Holly Street for about two years before settling at 541 Holly Street.

558 Holly, huge wisteria

645 Holly Street: Artistic Facade

Ashland, architecture

645 Holly Street has a beautiful stone facade

My artistic eye likes this stone-facade garage with upstairs studio. The beautiful wood garage door adds to the charm and a little design help from afternoon sun and tree shadows completes the artistic package.

750 Holly Street: Magical Japanese Maple

Ashland, tree

750 Holly Street: This was my attempt to capture the magical afternoon light through Autumn-color Japanese Maple leaves.This house has a lovely front yard, but the afternoon sunlight shining through these Japanese Maple leaves really got my attention. This little tree was absolutely stunning. I captured a bit of the magic, but no matter how many photos I took, I couldn’t capture all of it.

826 Holly Street: Daffodil Paradise

Ashland, flowers

826 Holly Street, daffodil paradise, planted by Carol

Here at the Liberty Street end of Holly Street is one of the most spectacular Spring gardens in Ashland. If you love daffodils, you must walk or drive to 826 Holly Street in March or April. Here are photos of the garden in March of 2018 and March of 2020, to give you a taste of the daffodils (and lavender) in all their glory.

Ashland, flowers

The colors and shapes of daffodil and lavender complement each other during the month of March 2018 at 826 Holly Street.

I met Carol, the owner of 826 Holly Street, as I was walking in the springtime. She explained to me that she started planting daffodil bulbs 24 years ago. She liked them so much that she has continued to plant more every year since then, as well as separating the clumps of bulbs.

Carol told me her secret was to dead-head the flowers as soon as they stop blooming. She told me: “I want all the goodness to go back into the bulb.” I think you’ll agree that she has plenty of “goodness” to show for her 24 years of hard work and loving care.

I love the sign Carol placed on her front yard tree: “Think flowers and be happy. Get out and plant.”

This is a final photo of Carol’s lush daffodil garden in March 2020.

Two Dramatic Trees on Holly Street

I will close the Holly Street walk and article with a look at two trees that stand out.

Trail Marker Tree?

Ashland, tree

Is this Ponderosa pine at 558 Holly Street a “trail marker tree?”

When I spoke with Gary Pool, who lives on Holly Street, he pointed out this dramatic Ponderosa pine on Holly Street as a possible Native American trail marker tree. I had never heard of the term “trail marker tree” and I did some research. I found this interesting insight and explanation online.

“Trees have been used as signs for centuries. Between 2002 and 2005 I had the privilege of being involved with the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian. During that time period, I worked with several native Americans, including a Native American ethnobotanist who taught me many interesting things about Native American Culture including the practice of using Marker Trees to show the way. Native Americans used to use trees to tell in which direction they should travel. These were called Marker Trees.

“Favorite tree selection for these trees were oaks, maples and elms. These species were selected for their flexibility in youth, but hardwood in maturity. Marker trees were bent in the direction of a frequently visited destination such as a water source, campsite, or a safe river crossing.” (Ronda Roemmelt 2015)

The photo below shows a tree identified by experts as a Native American trail marker tree.

Ashland, tree

Trail Marker Tree in North Central Illinois, with Dennis Downes, researcher

(Photo on Great Lakes Trail Tree Society website)

After my research, I have concluded that the Ponderosa Pine on Holly Street is not a trail marker tree, though it would be romantic to call it one. Here is my reasoning. Nearly every trail marker tree photo I saw online shows the bent branch that “points the way” only 3′ to 6′ above the ground (like the photo above). The lowest bent branch on the Holly Street pine is more than 10′ above the ground. I think it is a case of unusual artwork by Mother Nature.

Massive Oak Tree

Ashland, oak tree

541 Holly Street is home to an historic oak tree, in addition to having been the home to an historic faith healer.

This oak tree is not quite as dramatic as the Ponderosa pine, but it has a massive and beautiful presence on Holly Street.

If you have thoughts about this article, or if you have a Holly Street story to add, feel free to leave a comment below.

References I consulted while writing about Holly Street:

Anon. “Medicine: Straw for the Drowning,” Time Magazine, September 7, 1953.

Darling, John. “A History of Healing,” Medford Mail Tribune, July 1, 2014. (link here)

Ellis, H.K. “The Story of Mrs. Susie Jessel,” TRUE magazine, Country Press Inc., 1943

Jessel, Mary Jane. The Story of Mrs. Susie Jessel, 1950.

O’Harra, Marjorie. Ashland: the first 130 years, 1986

Roemmelt, Ronda. “The History of Marker Trees,” Deeproot.com, October 5, 2015

Sanderson, Mary Jessel. Healing Hands: The Story of Susie Jessel, as told to her daughter Mary Jessel Sanderson, no date.

19 Comments
  • Susan Larsen, Hastings
    Posted at 05:29h, 29 November Reply

    At three years of age my father and grandmother drove to Ashland. The Doctors had all but given up on me, as my asthma could claim my breath and stop my heart with one good attack. I too sat on the chairs, waiting my turn.. I was allergic to everything! Even my own bacteria. Dairy products were a no. After several treatments, Suzie told Grandma to give me a big scoop of ice cream. It was truly a gift from God. She healed so many. I am alive at 75 because of Jessie (Susie Jessel).

    • Peter Finkle
      Posted at 08:19h, 06 December Reply

      Susan,
      What an emotional story. Thank you for sharing your healing experience with Susie Jessel.
      Peter

  • Carol Lininger Hergert
    Posted at 12:29h, 09 December Reply

    Enjoy your articles!

  • Rita Bishop
    Posted at 09:57h, 25 February Reply

    Many years have passed since I lived in my birth town, Ashland, Oregon. I lived for many years across the street from Terry Skibby.. My name was Rita Holland then. I was very sick when I was five — 104 degree temperature and a throat that was closing from diphtheria. Dr. Brown placed me in quarantine at home and told my parents to prepare for me to die. My father went to Mrs. Jessell’s house and begged her to come. Without fear, she came. I still remember the light around her and feeling better almost instantly. I was also treated by Joe for headaches — no longer had headaches. Many years l connected with Alma in San Jose. She successfully treated me for asthma. God bless them all.
    [Note: This comment was sent in by Rita Bishop on October 20, 2021, but for some reason it did not get posted. I added it manually February 25, 2022. Peter]

  • Scott Chace
    Posted at 00:26h, 06 June Reply

    I worked with, and befriended, Susie’s daughter Alma back in the 80’s. A very friendly, pious, loving soul. My knee meniscus was totally ruined and the doctor wanted to do a TKR. Alma did three or four sessions on it and then said no more were needed. Over then next six months my knee was completely healed and hasn’t bothered me to this day. God bless you Alma. Thank you.

    • Peter Finkle
      Posted at 11:17h, 06 June Reply

      Scott,
      Thank you for sharing this story with us.
      Peter

  • James Smith
    Posted at 12:54h, 07 November Reply

    Nice start on the Jessel story, but I think a little mention should have been made about her children, who carried on after she was gone. Joe Jessel was a friend and I’ve had him take hold of me. If he held on for a minute or so his hands would get hot, like a super warm heating pad.

    • Peter Finkle
      Posted at 12:56h, 07 November Reply

      James,
      Thank you for adding a comment about your experience with Susie Jessel’s son Joe. I did read in the books about Mrs. Jessel that her son was also a healer.
      Peter

  • Lloyd Stone
    Posted at 15:12h, 05 November Reply

    I remember clients of Susie Jessel staying with us at my mother’s boarding house. I remember my mother referring to them as “Jesselites”. I also remember that not one of them was ever cured. I heard about the apron with pockets that Susie wore so that the clients could put money into without her asking for money. It was an early lesson in my life about con game played on desperate people anxious to do anything to get cured.

  • Stewart Hedges
    Posted at 14:25h, 05 November Reply

    We moved to Ashland in 1948 and lived in a duplex located across the street from the college. It was also a motel owned by the Mr. and Mrs. Mathis. The Rooms there were always full of people going to Jessels for healing. My grandmother came over from Klamath Falls and also went to Susie Jessel. Right across the street from us on the same side was the market, Dale and Grimes.

  • Mark Radway
    Posted at 14:22h, 05 November Reply

    Susie’s son, Joe, treated me as a child. Joe married my best friends (Randy Litwiller & Kevin Litwiller) mother, Donna Litwiller. Donna was one of my mothers best friends and I got to know Joe. He was one of the most magical, inspiring people I have ever met. Both Donna and Joe are long gone, but, what a great world it was to be around them. They were both quite amazing people.

  • Donna Babbitt-Perry
    Posted at 13:26h, 05 November Reply

    My Grandmother, Mom and my mom took me to see Joe. I think my Grandmother saw Susie at first. Joe helped with my tonsils as my parents didn’t have insurance to take them out. I know my Grandmother loved going and it helped her.

  • Summer Lull
    Posted at 10:38h, 05 November Reply

    Great article! I think Susie Jessel’s daughter carried on with her healing work, to a degree – when I lived on the property mid 70’s, people would line up outside the Jessel house and file in – I sat on the porch of a little trailer there, drinking beer and bar b queuing chicken! Carefree youth!

  • Tim McCartney
    Posted at 09:15h, 05 November Reply

    It was sometime in 1955 or 1956 when my great uncle Mack Linville traveled here from Skagway, Alaska to get treatments from Susie Jessel. It was the only time I saw him. I don’t know what his ailment was, but he seemed to be happy with the treatments.

  • Holly Connell
    Posted at 06:35h, 05 November Reply

    Thank you for sharing a bit of local history, it is fun to learn about the places I walk/drive by daily!

  • Dana Smith Tuley
    Posted at 00:13h, 05 November Reply

    I remember in 1949 or 50 me riding to Ashland with my grandmother who took my great grandmother down from the Neil Creek Quarry where they lived for “treatments” from “Mrs. Jessel”. It was mysterious/almost mystical to me as a 5-6 yr old for whatever reasons to drive by there and drop her off and pick her up hours later. The area felt “different” to me and I don’t remember any conversations about her or her work to make me think that. Gran had treatments for cataracts that years later my dad swore did nothing for her but she had other treatments for years for her “aches and pains” that she swore helped. Today I go to Ashland for chiropractic “treatments” and massages and swear by them!

  • Billie
    Posted at 18:23h, 04 November Reply

    I loved reading all of your articles about Holly Street. I have such great memories of growing up in Ashland in the 50’s and 60’s. Thank you!!

    • Peter Finkle
      Posted at 19:55h, 04 November Reply

      Billie, You are very welcome. I definitely got “lucky” with my Holly Street history and people stories. Peter

  • Jackie Bachman
    Posted at 10:45h, 04 November Reply

    So fun to walk with you on Holly Street! Love all the stories and history…

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