Compiled by Don Hoiness from archived copies of The Bulletin at Des Chutes County Historical Society.

100 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

July 4, 1915

Some tyrant (editorial)

Sam Hill has missed an opportunity to be a real benefactor — a specially honored citizen of the type of Simon Benson, for instance. Benson is an enthusiast, almost a fanatic on some things, and a liberal giver. But Benson has the good sense to realize that other people are entitled to their points of view, and that just because he disagrees with them they necessarily are not wrong. Therein he differs from Hill.

Because Hill’s pet engineer, Bowlby, made a mess of things in Washington, Hill accused most of official Washington of being crooked. Because Bowlby got in bad as Oregon’s road builder-in-chief Hill got another mad on and took his playthings and went home, so to speak. And now because the people of Central Oregon do not welcome having Hill shove roads down their throats, which he plans irrespective of their desires and for which they are privileged to pay, there are some ill-mannered enough to hope that Sam will get sore again and retreat to his good roads lair at Maryhill.

Sic semper tyrannis — which is the classical way Caesar had of saying that the overbearing guy always gets it in the neck.

Bridge piers are done

The concrete piers for the railroad bridge to the Shevlin-Hixon mill were completed on Saturday and the big concrete mixer which had been used on the job hauled away. The timber bents are now being put in place above the piers, the work being finished from the west end out to the span. On the east side the approach to the bridge is practically completed, and it now seems certain that the date set last week, July 25, will see trains running over the bridge.

The dam is two thirds finished and the water is now passing through the spillways on the completed portion. Today the river will be turned from the east side and the remaining coffer work started. Work on the logging road grading continues.

President Gilman of the Oregon Trunk and several other officials spent last Friday here in inspecting the newly completed spur and the bridge work.

75 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

July 4, 1940

Uncle Sam to get famed nephew

Asked if he were happy at the prospect of becoming an American citizen, Dr. Albert Einstein, famed German refugee scientist, replied heartily, “Sure, sure, who wouldn’t be?” He was with daughter Margot, entering the Federal Building in Trenton New Jersey, where both sailed easily through tests for U.S. citizenship.

Russia’s move to south is worry to Rome and Berlin

Further interference with smooth operation of German and Italian plans for an unobstructed attack on the British empire is threatened by revival of Russia’s old ambition to obtain partial or entire control of the Dardanelles. The seizure of Bessarabia and North Bukovina by Stalin has only secondary importance to a Slav movement toward the Dardanelles, in its effect on Germany and Italy.

Russia has been ambitious for generations to obtain an unhampered warm water exit to the world’s ocean pathways. The Baltic is blocked by German control and by the narrow western exit. Vladivostok is ice-bound in winter and is too far away. Murmansk is ice free, but far from the usual trade routes.

Russia longs for domination over the Dardanelles, connecting the Black sea with the Mediterranean, and the natural gateway into the international ocean lines. If Turkey’s hold over the Dardanelles could be broken in Russia’s favor, Russian strength as a first class European power would be greatly increased. The Russian Black Sea fleet no longer would be bottled up in time of war.

The British, for their part, would not like to see Russia control the strait; but whatever causes trouble in southeastern Europe in a way antagonistic to Germany and Italy is of supreme importance at this time to the British empire. Turkey’s declaration of non-belligerency against Germany and Italy makes Muslim aid to Britain remote, thus freeing Britain’s hand to assist if necessary.

Russia may show temporary discretion, but the possibility of Stalin making a sudden move toward the Dardanelles while Germany and Italy are using their full strength against Great Britain must cause disquietude in Berlin and Rome.

50 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

July 4, 1965

‘General Mac’ to have role in Music Man presentation

Bend’s Water Pageant princesses, Linda Mirich, Sheila Adkisson, Nancy Merrifield, Kathy Franks and Janet Judy will meet General Mac Arthur Friday, July 16, opening night for Bend’s summer play, “The Music Man.”

Mac, of course, is not the late famed military leader. But he is not unfamiliar with some military procedures. As a show horse, Mac has to his credit roles in the “Indian Fighter,” “Canyon Passage,” and he worked with Don Levy and Susan Hayward in “Oregon Passage.” He belongs to Dean Hollingshead, Jones Road, Bend.

Stage play will not be new to the golden haired horse. He once worked as the only horse in the stage play “Oklahoma.” During Oregon’s Centennial celebration, Mac was one of the horses which made the Pony Express run from Hampton to Redmond.

Mac’s Wells Fargo express wagon will be displayed for one or two days in front of Bend’s downtown First National Bank to promote the upcoming summer play.

Teeter-totter mark eyed by teenagers

World’s record for marathon teeter-tottering will be challenged by members of Bend’s Junior High teenage recreation council, that is if there is a record. If there isn’t, Bend’s teenagers will set one.

The marathon fete on a teeter-totter is set to start Tuesday and go until volunteers run out. Council officers hope the marathon will last into Sunday, July 11th.

Junior high students are being signed up at Bend’s swimming pool to participate in the program.

Tentatively set to be held in the parking lot of the downtown First National Bank, the teeter-totter endurance will be on display for all to see. Problems are raised when teeter-tottering continues through the night. State curfew prohibits unchaperoned juveniles being out past midnight.

One observer noted a second teeter-totter might be set up near Bend’s police station to be used at night when curfew hours are effective. Police could serve as chaperons.

Details are to be worked out. It might be difficult to transport pairs of working teeter-totters from the bank to the police station and back again without losing rhythm.

Note to Readers: The Teeter-Totter saga starts next week!

25 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

July 4, 1990

Daughter of Revolution waves the flag

Elaine Wagner says the Fourth of July is much more of a blast if you have some idea what your ancestors were up to when the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

She knows, for example, that nine of her ancestors were caught up in the war 214 years ago. At least one would go on to serve with George Washington at Valley Forge; another did little more than stable horses for soldiers of the Continental Army.

And one, the 39-year-old Oregon leader of the Daughters of the American Revolution sheepishly admits, fought for the British.

A self-described super patriot and flag waver, Wagner chafes under the strict rules of the staid, generally restrained DAR, which frowns on its member organizations getting involved in political issues such as current debate over desecration of the flag.

She abhors flag burning and believes the DAR should take an aggressive stance in defense of Old Glory.

“I find it hard to believe that it’s free speech to burn the American flag. You can’t shoot the bald eagle,” she adds.

Wagner was among the wave of women who enrolled in the DAR in 1976 following the burst of interest in genealogy created by the book and television series “Roots” and the explosion of patriotism during the Bicentennial celebration.

The DAR, as its name suggests, is open to anyone who can prove her ancestors helped the cause of the American Revolution. The ancestors need not have actually clashed with the British redcoats; some members of the DAR are descendants of those who did little more than cook for or provide clothes for Continental soldiers.

DAR members help prospective “daughters” search military records, wills and other documents to identify ancestors. There is a “Patriotic Index,” a several volume tome that lists patriots already proven by the DAR.

Once a patriot is found, the challenge is documenting births and marriages for every ensuing generation. This chore is made more difficult by the inevitable loss of documents over the years, some destroyed in floods or fires at county courthouses around the country.

Wagner, a teacher and history buff, followed her aunt into the DAR. She believes strongly that DAR activities, such as promoting projects and events that increase understanding of American history and providing college scholarships, are important.

“If by joining the DAR you don’t learn any other history beyond your own family, you have learned a lot,” she says. “But I would hope that anyone who joins learns something about the history of our country.”

“It’s important to know how you and your country came to be here.”