This week in history: May 10, 2023

CARNIVAL CHARACTERS — These are some of the characters visitors to the Westside Elementary School carnival might bump into on Saturday. Setting the filming start is Sean Becker. Keith Schwartz is the cop; Britt Lee the robber. Mara Fields is the race driver, Chris Guertin the ball player; Darcy Wyers the computer operator; Trisha Morrissette the artist; Dana Culbertson and Derek Price are the interviewers, and Nancy Thompson is the jogger. A parade will start things and the carnival "Family A’Fair," will run at the school on Belmont Drive.

(One of two) "TOWN WILL REBUILD" states a front headline in the Friday, July 6, 1934, "The Dam Chronicle," serving Cascade Locks, following the burning July 2 of much of the town's commercial district. At right, a 1939 issue renamed "The Cascade Locks Chronicle" features new transmission lines being built in the Gorge. The newspaper is one of many from the Gorge to be found at online at the University of Oregon online newspaper archive, oregonnews.uoregon.edu.

1923 — 100 years ago

J.H. Fredricy is authority for the statement that nearly every hole in the river above the Forks has its full quota of steelheads, and he calls J.K. Carson to witness his report. Among them must be quite a number with sore mouths because anglers have for weeks been telling of the steelheads they hooked that got away. However, while every angler is at liberty to visit the upper river and gaze on these black backed beauties, it would be well to leave all poles at home until after June 1. A number of wardens are patrolling the river above the Forks and word is out that anybody caught with a fishing pole in that district stands a good chance of being relieved of enough money to buy a full fishing outfit. — Hood River News

G.L. Seaton has purchased the N.W. Torrey residence property in the west part of town and expects to occupy the place about the first of November, when the Torrey family are figuring on a trip to California. This property is one of the best places in this city. — White Salmon Enterprise

‘Mothers’ Day’ honored by Sorosis: Members of Sorosis club, honoring "Mother's Day," met in special session yesterday afternoon in the community room at the auditorium. The occasion was the first on which Sorosis club has met in the new building. — The Dalles Daily Chronicle

1943 — 80 years ago

A new War Production Board order restricting the use of seven species of western lumber, created much apprehension yesterday when manufacturers of box shook came to the conclusion that the order may mean that further making of box shooks may be curtailed to near the vanishing point. The order, effective May 13, limits use of all ponderosa pine, sugar pine, Idaho white pine, white fir, lodgepole pine, Englemann spruce and western spruce, except shingles, lath or railroad crossties … Demands for military boxing and crating have become so great, says WPB, that it was found necessary to stop unessential and less essential uses of timber. — Hood River News

A special meeting of representatives of the state department of education, the county superintendent, members of the county committee and the members of the boards of directors and principals of local school districts will be held in the grade school gym auditorium on Saturday, May 8, the purpose of which to be to discuss the maintenance and financing of our schools under the acts of the 1943 legislature. — White Salmon Enterprise

The Dalles experienced a melodramatic pursuit about 7 o’clock Saturday evening, with police sirens screaming, bullets flying through the air and pedestrians leaping to safety. The result — three damaged automobiles, two Portland shipyard workers in the Wasco County jail and nobody injured. — The Dalles Daily Chronicle

Pipeline for The Dalles irrigation project is up in the air at this point, supported by steel structure in crossing Mill Creek on an alignment with Jordan Street. Connecting links will soon be installed at each end. Walkway made of steel grating, together with rails, will be installed on top of the crossing, but regular pedestrian traffic will use the nearby city footbridge.

1963 — 60 years ago

Veterans in Hood River will mark Memorial Day with a parade and program on May 30, according to Evan Jones, United Veterans Council adjutant. He said the council has asked all various organizations to enter the parade, scheduled to start at 10 a.m. in Hood River Heights area. — Hood River News

A fine of $800 was levied Wednesday of last week against Magee Truck Service, Inc. of Klickitat, for making four shipments of lumber in the Pacific Northwest areas where the firm was not certificated by the Interstate Commerce Commission. It was the second conviction on similar charges upon which firm was serving two years of probation. — White Salmon Enterprise

The first truckload of supplies to stock local fallout shelters arrived here this morning from Troutdale. Load was discharged at Sunshine Biscuits, Inc. Supplies for this shelter include a number of 17 1/2-gallonmetal water drums, 36 cartons of crackers, six sanitation kits and one medical kit. The shelter has a capacity of 297 persons. Others receiving supplies today include the post office, J. C. Penney store, Adkisson Motor Co. and the courthouse. — The Dalles Daily Chronicle

1983 — 40 years ago

Sounds of music will mix with the roar of turbines at Bonneville Dam in June, and part of that music will be provided by dozens of excited "warblers" from Westside School. Their excitement is justified. They’ll be part of a music program at the dedication of the huge new second powerhouse at Bonneville, and they expect to be singing for the President of the United States. There are some 90 youngsters in the chorus, a group led by parent volunteer Steve Kloser. — Hood River News

Klickitat County commission district boundaries apparently haven't been changed since December 1963, and the three commissioners have now begun a study to determine how to correct population inequities which have since become established. State law provides that county commission redistricting take place no more often than once in four years. — White Salmon Enterprise

The Corps of Engineers tour train and visitor center located at Seufert Park near The Dalles Dam will start operation for the tourist season on Sunday. The tour train will operate on a five-day-a-week schedule until June 8, then switch to a seven-day-a-week schedule through Labor Day. — The Dalles Daily Chronicle

(Two of two) "TOWN WILL REBUILD" states a front headline in the Friday, July 6, 1934, "The Dam Chronicle," serving Cascade Locks, following the burning July 2 of much of the town's commercial district. At right, a 1939 issue renamed "The Cascade Locks Chronicle" features new transmission lines being built in the Gorge. The newspaper is one of many from the Gorge to be found at online at the University of Oregon online newspaper archive, oregonnews.uoregon.edu.

2003 — 20 years ago

Within two weeks, glass walls will enclose the Hood River Library construction project … All masonry and exterior concrete work are complete. Crews finished the front steps and courtyard on Monday. The county will install the flooring and some of the bookcases, as well as mask windows and other areas in preparation for painting. — Hood River News

The Columbia River Gorge Commission's office in White Salmon will be closed this week while the staff moves into its new 2,900 square foot facility. The CRGC headquarters is at 288 E. Jewett currently and will reopen next week in its new location next to the White Salmon Community Library. — White Salmon Enterprise

For farming families of an earlier time, the one-room schoolhouse was a central part of society where not only education, but public gatherings and worship often took place. The recently restored Endersby School is now a central feature of the Dufur Historical Society's effort to portray that farm heritage. — The Dalles Daily Chronicle

Two Cub Bears Are Center Of Interest

Youth or old age, it made no difference. The focus point of interest in town last Saturday was the window of the E.A. Franz store in which two cub bears gave one long performance for the benefit of the crowds of children and grownups who came and went and came again to watch the antics of these playful combinations of fat and fur.

The cubs were loaned to the Franz Hardware Co. for one week by the Honeyman Hardware Co. of Portland, and in a big show window, with plenty of excelsior and hay to fall into when they lose their balance on the limbs of the tree which is in the center of their playground, they appear to be sublimely oblivious to the fact that they recently were made orphans by a hunter who shot their mother in the woods near St. Helens and brought the cubs into civilization.

Edgar Franz is foster mother to the cubs and says that each cub eats and drinks three quarts of milks and a loaf and a half of bread three times a day. The cubs are two months old and are husky specimens of young brown bears. After showing in Hood River, they will be turned over to Biologist Finlay, who will take a series of motion pictures of their habits and antics.

Mr. Honeyman has received a large number of offers for the cubs, which will eventually find their way into one or other of the amusement parks of the West. — May 11, 1923, Hood River News

Legion Now Owns Its Hall

County Court To Set Up Memorial Fund

Hood River post of the American Legion now owns Legion Hall and will receive a deed to the property from the county of Hood River, following the deposit of a check for $2500.

In making this announcement, members of the county court also stated that the money turned over by the Legion will form the nucleus of a new Memorial fund, which will be invested in War bonds and held until World War II is ended and Hood River county men now in the armed forces return home, to have their say as to what type of memorial shall be established in this county.

… The building was, originally, the city junior high school, and was sold to the county for the purpose of establishing a war memorial of practical value. Citizens had set up a memorial fund at the end of the first World war, and other funds were appropriated to make up the $2500, which the county paid for the building, which was later delegated to the American Legion and its Axillary for use of their large group of members. On many occasions, other organizations have been granted use of the hall for civic and other purposes. — May 7, 1943, Hood River News

City Washed By Severe Thunder Storm

Brilliant Display Of Lightning Illumines Heavens; No Damage Reported

With the temperature at 90 degrees for two days and held at a minimum of 57 degrees last night, and the atmosphere full of static electricity and other atmospheric conditions unusual, something had to break. It did. It came in the form of what is said by old residents to be one of the hardest electrical storms in this locality for many years.

Accompanied by a swift rain and heavy peals of thunder the storm broke over the vicinity with a vengeance of a pent-up hurricane, just about midnight, lasting from some time after that. Rattling window panes and the pelt of rain on the roof disturbed the sleep of more than a few.

No report of damage as a result of the storm were received this morning. It did break the hot spell, however, and the mercury today at noon was down to 75 degrees, although the afternoon held promise for more rain.

The rain was welcome, adding .04 of an inch of precipitation to the already record total. Reports from localities west of The Dalles indicate that warm weather has been experienced there also in the past few days, although coast cities have not reported temperature within five degrees of that experienced here. — May 9, 1923, The Dalles Daily Chronicle

1923

Million Ransom Is Demanded By Chinese Bandits

Future Of (Ore.) Coast As Wool Center Hangs On Hearing

5000 Acres Near GrandDalles (Dallesport) In Irrigation Plan

1943

U.S. Submarine Shells Village on Japanese Island

Prisoners Taken By Thousands As Allies Advance

Hitler Gloomy Over Prospects

1963

Revision Body Seeks To End Death Penalty

Officers Heard Feverish Students

Stores Rocked By Bombings (labor dispute)

1983

‘Hitler’ newsman bares sources

TD Port in line for EDA Funds

Court takeover bonanza, problem for one clerk

2003

FBI skeptical of Saudis’ help

Oil leaking from Columbia River hydro dams

Powell seeks new peace in Palestine

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