Museum looking for safecracker

EAGLE POINT, Ore. -- The Eagle Point Museum is looking for someone with experience at cracking safes.

No questions asked. All that is required is strongbox experience and a keen ear for the tumblers.

The museum has a safe that stood in the First State Bank of Eagle Point when it opened its doors early in the summer of 1911. The bank was one of the few that survived the Great Depression following the stock market crash in fall 1929.

The 2,000-pound safe, which looks a bit like an ancient diving bell, was donated to the museum last fall by the family of the late Walt Young, a longtime Medford businessman. Made by the Victor Safe & Lock Co. of Cincinnati, it actually has two safes -- one at the top and one in the base. It is at least 100 years old.

The sphere shape of the upper chest was created to prevent it from being blown open by safecrackers, said Perry Young, an antiques dealer whose father bought the safe more than 20 years ago.

"It was considered impregnable top-of-the-line in its day," he said. "It was made strictly for keeping gold coin."

"Someone said the only person who can open it is probably in the penitentiary," said Barbara Hegne, director of the Eagle Point Museum.

Eagle Point Historical Society members are curious about the safe's contents, Hegne said.

"We're looking for someone who can open it for us," she said. "And we all hope there is a pot of gold in there."