Pelota Fronton

United States historic place


Pelota Fronton
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

The exterior of the Pelota Fronton in 2015
42°58′28″N 117°03′10″W / 42.974410°N 117.052896°W / 42.974410; -117.052896
Area	less than one acre
Built	1915
NRHP reference No.	72001084^[1]

The Pelota Fronton is a Basque pelota ball court and landmark in Jordan Valley, Oregon, United States.

History

The court was built in 1915 and finished in 1917. It was last used regularly in 1935. This was caused by the Taylor Grazing Act of 1934. Jordan Valley had numerous Basque immigrants that came to herd sheep. After the act passed, the court gradually lost usage, and it started falling into disrepair over a span of roughly 4 decades. In 1972, the court was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^{[citation needed]}

In 1997, the court underwent a full renovation. Restoration included installation of a covered interpretive sign and a stone representation of the Zazpiak Bat, the coat of arms for the seven Basque provinces. A sign reads: “Jordan Valley Ko Frontoia restored 1997 danok etorri” in recognition of the inauguration of the restored pelota fronton in September 1997.^{[citation needed]}

In Jordan Valley games, the wicker racket, or cesta, is not used. To this day, the court remains a symbol of Basque culture in the region.^[2]^[3]

References

^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
^ "Jordan Valley". Ontario Chamber of Commerce/Visitor & Convention Bureau. Archived from the original on August 26, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
^ Engeman, Richard H. (September 1, 2009). The Oregon Companion: An Historical Gazetteer of the Useful, the Curious, and the Arcane. Timber Press. p. 195. ISBN 9781604691474. Retrieved April 12, 2013.