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

100 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

April 20, 1913

4 billion feet of ripe timber

According to the latest estimate prepared by the Forest Service, there are over four billion board feet of merchantable timber within the Deschutes National Forest, headquarters of which are at Bend. Of this amount at least two and one-half billion feet is Western yellow pine. Approximately two billion feet of this is located so that it is available for sale and exploitation with a comparatively small additional railroad construction.

Most of the Deschutes National Forest timber lies to the west of Bend on the east slope of the Cascade mountains. The best and largest body is in townships 12 and 16 south, range 9 east and small adjoining areas. Here there are over a billion and a half of Western yellow pine of good quality, and growing in a country the topography of which offers an extremely easy logging proposition. To reach this timber, about 25 miles of railroad building is necessary, nearly all through a country where railroad building is easy, and part of the distance through an agricultural section.

Another excellent but smaller body of timber lies along the west fork of the Deschutes River southwest of Bend. This, however, will probably not be logged until the railroad line shall extend south from Bend, which, if it follows the present location, will pass within a few miles of the site. Other smaller bodies of desirable timber occur in other places.

Dibble finds it lively here

“It’s the best town I ever saw.” That’s what Del Dibble, the hotel man of Burns, said yesterday about Bend. Thirty years ago he was here and bought 100 head of cattle from Sam and Jim Smith, driving them back to the Silver Creek country.

“Bend surely has changed some,” said Del, after his friends had shown him about town. “It’s the livest, finest little city I ever saw. It’s got enough push and hustle to do anything.”

Mr. Dibble autoed over with his brother-in-law, Price Fennick, and was a guest at Hotel Bend. He said the road west of Brookings is in fine shape, but that the section through Lake county is a disgrace. He called attention to the fact that this road has been the means of settling a lot of northern Lake county and urged that county be petitioned to improve the 16 miles of the route within its boundaries.

“Bend offers the best route for freight and passengers Burns ever has had” said the Harney county visitor, who added that all the business men of Burns entertain the warmest feelings for Bend, and are highly satisfied with the treatment their freight receives here and in transportation. In comparing the Bend route with that from vale, Mr. Dibble mentioned, as an example of the disadvantages of the eastern route, that he had six cases of sugar at Vale for eight months, and can’t get them.

Bend’s sidewalks, water power and sewer construction especially impressed Mr. Dibble.

75 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

April 20, 1938

Roadside oasis to be established

A roadside oasis on the Central Oregon Highway near Brothers has been approved for construction and work will be started this season. The “high desert” oasis is listed as one of 16 state road projects.

The oasis project calls for the drilling of a deep well at Brothers. When water is available, grounds adjacent to the highway will be beautified and trees planted. A 40-acre tract has been secured for the work.

A maintenance headquarters will also be established at the oasis. Crews stationed there will be assigned the care and beautification of the grounds, to provide a wayside resting place for travelers.

The plan for the oasis was considered by the state highway commission, on a dusty trip across the Central Oregon plateau to Bend from Burns.

Coogan’s mother weeps at hearing

Jackie Coogan’s mother, Mrs. Lillian Bernstein, wept today when questioned by her son’s attorney at a deposition hearing in his $4 million suit for accounting of his earnings as a child film star.

Dabbing her eyes frequently with a handkerchief, Mrs. Bernstein declared that under the law her son had no claim on his earnings as a child.

“The boy is my son,” she said, “and I love him and I have done my best for him. I have tried to make a man of him but haven’t succeeded very well.”

Attorney William Rains, representing the young actor, then asked, “Is it your position that all of Jackie’s money belongs to you?”

“I believe that’s the law,” she answered.

Q. You and your deceased husband (Jack Coogan, Sr.) had an understanding that all of Jackie’s earnings were yours?

A. Yes

Mrs. Bernstein said she had not consulted with Jackie on financial matters since he became 21 years old last year. Attorney Rains attempted to learn from her whether she and the late Mr. Coogan had discussed the matter with Jackie during his minority. He particularly sought to recall any date when the boy’s future was discussed.

“I never had any idea my son would do anything of this sort” she replied, “so I never discussed any dates.”

During her infrequent talks with the boy about money, she said, he had been informed that he could expect nothing except spending money and such sums as he required for living purposes.

50 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

April 20, 1963

Campaigning reaches fever pitch at BHS

Campaigning in the annual Bend High School elections reached the fever stage today. The politicians of tomorrow will consume quantities of throat lozenges, engage in grown-up shenanigans and attend caucuses in smokeless rooms until the voting starts following an assembly tomorrow morning.

The walls of the school corridors are literally papered solid with posters, banners wave from vantage points on the campus, and well-planned demonstrations break loose with apparent spontaneity, when supporters of the various candidates know together during breaks.

The campaign preparations consumed all of last week, with the various hopefuls and their cohorts preparing ballyhoo gimmicks in rumpus rooms, family quarters and even barns, throughout the city environs.

The two-party system was used to select finalists in primary elections, and as usual, the independents started swinging after the initial elimination. The parties this year are the Epicureans headed by Martha Pence and Harvey Freeman, and the Excelsiors, with Tamsin Boardman and Jim Leagjeld as whips.

In the race for president are Mike McGeary, Excelsior; Jerry Wetle, Epicurian, and John Peters and Alan McKinney, Independents. The Independents got on the ballot by filing petitions requiring a minimum of 200 signatures of registered voters.

Other candidates on the Excelsior ticket are Kip Kemple, vice-president; Terrie Todd, secretary; Karen Skjersaa, treasurer, and Lee Pinckney, paymaster.

Epicurean candidates are Steve Foley, vice-president; Jean McCusker, secretary; Julie Pease, treasurer and Scott Nielsen, paymaster.

The candidates and their workers put the final touches on their signs and other paraphernalia last night, and converged on the school parking area this morning at 4 o’clock, with campaign materials loaded on trucks, pickups and family cars. At 4 a.m. the signal was given, and contenders for favorite spots went into a mad scramble to get their propaganda in the most advantageous locations.

Runoff needed for BHS president

Jon Peters, Independent, and Jerry Wetle, Epicurean, led a field of four candidates for president of the Bend High School student body.

A run-off election will be held tomorrow, in order to conform to the requirement for a majority vote.

The Excelsior party swept the field for the other officers. Elected were Kip Kemple, vice-president; Terrie Todd, secretary; Karen Skjersaa, treasurer and Lee Pinckney, paymaster.

Note: Jon Peters won the runoff.

25 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

April 20, 1988

Plan to renovate museum released

A sweeping plan to renovate the Des Chutes Historical Center and create an attractive “anchor” at the south end of downtown Bend will be presented to members of the Deschutes County Historical Society on Friday.

Officials Wednesday released details about the renovation of the 74-year-old museum building and grounds at the corner of Wall Street and Idaho Avenue.

The work would cost an estimated $112,000 and would include the following:

• Restoration of the interior of the museum, a three-story building constructed in 1914 from stone hand-cut in a quarry near Bend. Replace antiquated bathroom facilities and repair a leaky roof.

• Reopening of Idaho Avenue that runs between the museum and the abandoned Bend Amateur Athletic Club. Note: Now the Boys and Girls Club.

• Construction of new parking and landscaping.

• Addition of a new outdoor exhibit area.

The Des Chutes Historical Center was opened in the old Reid School building in 1980 after years of lobbying by historical society members. The building and grounds are owned by Deschutes County.

The historical society has banked about $11,000 in donations and is hoping to pick up the costs of the interior restoration of the building, said Betty Rink, museum manager.

“We want to present a nice picture of what Bend was and what Bend is now,” said Rink.

“This building alone is one of our bests exhibits,” said Rink. “This is a nice museum already, and by the time we get through with this project it will be a super museum.”

Note to readers: Many improvements and renovations have been made to the museum in the last 25 years. Next year will be the 100th anniversary of its construction.