Compiled by Don Hoiness from archived copies of The Bulletin at the Des Chutes Historical Museum.

100 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

Jan. 12, 1913

Priscillas have fun

The Priscilla Club met with Miss Arrie Black Monday evening. Miss Alice Black and Miss Lucy Bridges being guests. At the New Year’s banquet a prophecy telling what each member would be ten years hence was read, and Monday the various young ladies took the parts which that prophecy bequeathed them, 19 participating in the entertainment.

That many kinds of futures lies before these Bend girls was indicated by the diversity of their roles, which included a prima donna, a missionary, a botanist, a lecturer, a circus performer, a lawyer, a countess, and others. In the course of the evening refreshments were served,

The Priscillas will give some special singing and dancing at the Star Theatre on Saturday night. While their exact program is being kept a secret, it is known that they all will appear dressed as old maids.

Oregon metal production

For several years there has been a decline in the metallic output of the state of Oregon, more especially in its gold and silver.

The grade of ore in the deep mines has been much lower than formerly, although more of it is treated, The lowering of the average tonnage value is due to the large quantities of old tailings handled, their average yield being taken with that of the new ore in making up the totals and average values.

The largest producer of gold in Oregon is Baker county, as has been the case for some years. In silver yield Baker county also holds first rank.

Neither the southwestern nor the northwestern counties of Oregon are producing as much gold as a few years ago, although the estimated figures for 1912 show that some little advancement is in progress. The state badly needs the advent of capital to open and develop its deep-mining properties, many of which are lying idle for want of means to place them on a productive standing.

75 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

Jan. 12, 1938

Metolius recreation area being developed

Development of the Metolius river country into one of the finest recreation areas in the Pacific Northwest is reported under way this winter as various resort owners prepare for the 1938 vacation season. Improvements include the complete renovation of the Heising resort, now under new management; new cabins on the recently improved Lake Creek lodge grounds, formerly known as the Hanson resort, and the addition of several modern, three-room cabins to the Suttle Lake grounds.

In addition to the resort improvements, the Deschutes National Forest is continuing its work of developing the recreation area.

Extensive development of the old Heising resort, now owned by J.A. Zehntbauer of Portland, is under way, according to information received here today. The resort is under lease by Zehntbauer, owner of a summer home on the Metolius River, to William Haney. Mr. and Mrs. Dan Heising, former operators of the resort, are now residents of Bend and own a rooming house on Portland Avenue.

Work now in progress on the Heising resort includes the complete renovation of the central building to be finished with knotty pine, and the reconstruction of the cabins. The barn and corrals are to be removed and tennis courts and badminton courts constructed on the grounds. It is planned to have all work completed prior to the 1938 vacation season.

The Heising resort overlooks a picturesque meadow that slopes down to the Metolius River, a meandering stream at that point. The Zehntbauer home, one of the finest of its kind in the Pacific Northwest, faces the resort from the east.

Haney was a visitor in Bend yesterday. He came here to protest recommendations of the Deschutes Sportsmen’s association that the closure of the Metolius River be extended to include waters bordering some of the resort areas.

On the Lake Creek lodge grounds, all the old cabins are being razed and will be replaced by modern cabins. Extensive improvements of the Lake Creek grounds was started last spring and much work, including the construction of a big central lodge, has already been completed.

At Suttle Lake, James E. Rentschlar, of Bend, has a half interest in the resort, operated by George Sherman.

Resort owners along the scenic Metolius River are confident that the completion of the Santiam highways will result in a great influx of visitors, especially from west side cities. Anticipating a greatly increased use of the area, the forest service primarily through CCC work, has engaged in extensive improvements in recent years. Camping facilities have been increased and at Suttle Lake a new swimming dock has been completed.

The highway between Bend and the Metolius River area is now paved, and before long, pavement will extend over the Cascades from the heavily populated west side communities.

50 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

Jan. 12, 1963

No measurable snow here yet, by Phil F. Brogan

Bright sunshine flooded interior Oregon again today as Bend moved well into its so-far snowless winter of 1962-63.

No measurable snow has been recorded this season in Bend — and, old timers point out, it is a season which in earlier years frequently yielded deep snow, including the four-foot deep drifts of December, 1919. That was the winter of the “blue snow” in the upper Deschutes country.

Frequently through the years, Bend seasonally measured its heaviest snow in December.

Although this has been a snowless winter in the Bend area, and in most other parts of the interior plateau country below the 4,000 foot level, moisture, mostly as rain, has been above normal.

“Fifty-four years, and I have never seen anything like it.”

Leroy Fox, who has been in Bend half a century plus four years, made this comment today when referring to the area’s “winterless winter” of 1962-63.

In his long residence here, Fox, former Bend fire chief, has enjoyed some mild fall-winter seasons, but nothing to equal that of the present.

Castro’s popularity tarnished (editorial)

Are Castro’s days numbered?

That is the opinion of Sen. Hubert Humphrey (D-Minn.), who returned home Dec. 19 from a Central American tour. And it is obvious that things aren’t going too well for the bearded dictator.

Four years ago observers in Cuba guessed that 95 percent of the population supported Castro.

But this is no longer so, notes a Turkish newspaper man, Goksin Sipahioglu, who spent from mid-October to early December inside Castro’s Cuba.

“I am sure at least 90 percent of the Cuban people — probably more — are against the communists and against Castro too,” writes the free-lance reporter from Istanbul.

There are those who say Fidel Castro faces 1963 with his picture cards all played.

The days of Castro may well be numbered. But that alone will not lessen the threat from this Communist-dominated police state. Nor will it lessen the plight of the Cuban people.

25 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

Jan. 12, 1988

COCC automotive program toots horn

Instructors in Central Oregon Community College’s automotive technology department have something to toot their horns about.

The automotive curriculum recently received top accreditation from the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF), making COCC the only school in Oregon and Washington certified in all eight program areas tested.

Don Moody and Allen Ehl, who share the duties of instruction and administration of the automotive program, say the honor provides tandem benefits — increasing student employability and promoting donations of vehicles and parts from automobile manufacturers.

Hinging on the review was certification in eight areas: engine repair, automatic transmissions and transaxles, manual drive train and axles, suspension and steering, brakes, electrical systems, heating and air conditioning and engine performance.

NATEF certified COCC in all eight categories. The honor has already begun paying for itself, according to Moody, The instructors received letters of congratulations from Chrysler and Ford Motor Co., and Ford also sent two engines as a direct result of the certification.

The honor also means that the prestigious ASE logo (Automotive Service Excellence) can be included on the diplomas of program graduates, Moody and Ehl point out, giving students a competitive edge with employers. They predict that the NATEF certification also will have a beneficial effect on enrollment.

COCC’s two-year program, which offers graduates an associate’s of science degree in automotive technology, averages 20 to 25 students. The two instructors boast 100 percent job placement for last year’s program graduates.

They add that even in Central Oregon, where wages are admittedly depressed, auto technicians can make an annual salary of up to $40,000.

“Not too shabby”, Moody quipped.