Compiled by Don Hoiness from archived copies of The Bulletin at Deschutes County Historical Society

100 YEARS AGO

For the week endingJuly 9, 1916

To stop liquor importation

The prohibition state central committee voted to initiate at once an amendment to the constitution of Oregon to make the state absolutely dry.

The first petitions for the proposed amendment, which prohibits the importation of liquor into the state, were put out last week. Workers will start after signatures immediately, it was said. This amendment is the answer of the Prohibition party to the initiative measure to permit Oregon brewers to manufacture beer and to fill orders from Oregon consumers who under the present law, have to send outside the state.

The amendment to be submitted by the Prohibition party was drawn up by ex-Governor West. It revises Section 36 of Article I of the state constitution by insertion of the following two words: “… imported into …”

As amended the prohibition section of the constitution would read: “No intoxicating liquors shall be imported into, manufactured or sold within this state, except for medicinal purposes, upon prescription of a licensed physician, or for scientific, sacramental or mechanical purposes.”

“The party has taken this action,” said J.P. Newell, Prohibition state chairman, “because after waiting for nine or ten days after the announcement of the brewers measure nobody seemed to be doing anything to offset it. As it is very important that action be taken at once or not at all, we have decided to meet the issue by initiating an amendment to make the state absolutely dry.”

Norwegians to organize

A meeting has been called for this evening at the Bend Steam Laundry for the purpose of organizing a lodge of Sons of Norway. Oscar Thompson of Astoria, regent for the district including Oregon, Idaho, Washington, California, Montana and British Columbia will be present.

There are more than 50 Norwegians in Bend who have signified their intention to join. The Sons of Norway is a fraternal and beneficiary organization and also works for the naturalization of its members and the preservation of many of the traditions of the mother country.

75 YEARS AGO

For the week ending July 9, 1941

Egyptian princess entry is winner of annual pet parade

An Egyptian litter bearing a tiny and sun tanned queen of the Nile, a part taken by diminutive Sally George, won first place in Bend’s annual pet parade, held this morning under sunny skies before thousands of spectators. Second award went to Mrs. Claude Wanicheck’s nursery school group of 16 children.

Forming on Bond Street in front of the tennis court, the long procession of pets behind a fire truck (on) which rode Queen Juanita and her princesses. Diminutive queen Sally of the Nile found refuge beneath her canopy, while attendants fanned her with palm leaves. In this prize winning group were Barbara Skinner, Harry Monical, Donna Maudlin, Jackie Loomis, Virginia Russell, Jerry Creasey and Sally George. Contrasting strangely with the prize winning Egyptian entry was a bit of prospecting color of the old west provided ny John and Dwayne Rosebrook, who plodded in front and behind a horse laden with miner’s equipment. John and Dwayne were awarded a special prize for their portrayal — and they also won a round of applause as they wearily marched in their gold hunting trek.

Capacity crowd sees rodeo event

All the color and action of the old west were centered in Bend Friday, concentrated in the rodeo featured by the Elks in their Fourth of July celebration. Hard riding cowboys from all over the northwest and as far south as Arizona matched their skill against wickedly bucking broncs, sharp horned steers, elusive, wriggling calves. A capacity crowd thundered applause, the sun kept on shining, and (what) the Bend High School band did was unanimously termed “a swell job” of keeping spirit and music in the stampede.

Colorful parade half mile long

Bend “went to town” on horses Friday in what was termed by old timers “the most colorful Fourth of July parade in years” which was led off by a color guard composed of Rimrock Riders.

All the glory of the rainbow was reflected from the brilliant shirts of the Rimrock Riders’ colorful cowboy outfits. One of the highlights of the parade was a real covered wagon, authentically showing in the gun toting pioneer woman beside “her man” on the front seat, and in the large, straggly-letter sign, “Tumalo or Bust”, on the side of the vehicle.

There were riders of every age and size along with a large troupe of Warm Springs Indians in their richly beaded costumes. There were clowns, trick ropers, cartoon characters and many other characters.

50 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

July 9, 1966

Teens threaten teeter-totter title

Canadian youngsters in Edmonton, Alberta, have decided to attempt to best the Bend Teenage Council’s world marathon teeter-totter record.

A telegram to Bend Mayor Charles B. Hinds from the mayor of Edmonton notified the local youngsters of the challenge to their record.

Bend youths kept a teeter-totter going continuously for 514 hours, 30 minutes last summer. It was part of a promotion to obtain money to save the “high wheels” in Drake Park.

The money was raised and the wheels are now undergoing repair.

The Canadians apparently heard of the Bend record via a dispatch on the wires of United Press International.

An Edmonton disc jockey contacted Teenage Council advisor Vince Genna for the ground rules of marathon teeter-totting.

The telegram, received here Tuesday, said: “On behalf of the youth of of Edmonton, capital of Alberta, Canada, I Mayor Vincent M. Dantzer officially accept your challenge to break your world’s teeter-totter marathon record of 514½ hours. I firmly believe that the young people of this city have the fortitude and ambition to establish a new record that will be very hard to meet.”

Genna said the challenge has “international implications.”

He said the Bend Teenage Council would probably wait and see if the Canadians beat the record before deciding whether or not to re-establish teetering.

Mike Donley, John Nehl both win twice in all-comers meet

Former Bend High School track star Mike Donley dominated the open division of the all-comers track and field meet at Bruin Field Thursday. Donley won the 880 yard run and the 220 yard dash in the 15-event meet. John Nehl won both the 60 yard dash and the 660 yard run in the grade school division. Nehl also finished second in the 440.

Jim Hudson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Hudson of Bend, was shown competing in the discus. The meet was the first of four all-comers events scheduled for the Bend track during the month of July. The events will be held each Thursday. Other Bend High School athletes won most of the open events.

Peter Smith’s “Fatmen”, a 440 relay team made up of coaches, won that event in 39.4 seconds. Rick Nicholson took the pole vault in 12-6. Dan Stockdale won the 16 pound shot put with a toss of 41-1½. Steve Cox won the event using the 12 pound shot.

Jim Parker won the long jump in 20-10¼ and Jack Fredrickson captured the javelin with a toss of 190 feet, Terry Stockwell won the high jump at 5-10 and Walt Smith was first in the 100 yard dash in 10.6 seconds. Joe Flichele won the grade school 440 and Eddie Stroud won the grade school 220. Allan McCullough won the open 2 mile in 11:05.5.

The all-comers track meets are part of a summer physical fitness program sponsored by the Bend Park and Recreation department.

25 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

July 9, 1991

Yankee Doodle lady turns 107

Sabina Pratt spends most of her time living in the past. She has a lot of years to remember: This Yankee Doodle dandy, born on the Fourth of July, turned 107 today.

During a recent visit from her son “Persh” Andrews, Pratt spoke about a childhood event that happened almost 100 years ago. Referring to her sister, she wanted to know: “Has Lori set the table?”

At 106, Pratt is not as lucid as she was at 100. But as she celebrates her birthday, many family members and caregivers at Madras’s Mountain View Nursing Home marvel at Pratt’s longevity. Her secret, according to Andrews, has been to get plenty of rest.

“She could lie down and go to sleep any time she wanted,” said Andrews.

“Clean living,” which included avoiding alcohol and smoking, and a low meat diet have most likely added years to her life as well, he said.

Not to mention her Irish ancestry. Pratt was born in Columbus, Wisconsin to Irish immigrants: her father fled Ireland during the potato famine. A proud Irishman, Andrews said Pratt’s “mental determination” led her to believe that “there wasn’t anything she couldn’t do.”

At the turn of the century, she moved to Eastern Washington to continue her career as a one-room schoolhouse teacher. In 1910 she married Franklin Winfield Pratt and the couple had five children. That family expanded to 12 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

After graduating from Central Washington College of Education in the mid-1920s, Pratt moved to Bend and began teaching in nearby towns. Shifting careers, she passed the civil service exam and in 1937 moved to Washington, D.C., to work for the U.S. Treasury Department.

She was fond of the four years she spent in Washington. She spoke of the cherry blossoms along the Washington Mall and afternoon teas at the White House. The tea parties were given by the first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who regularly played host to government workers. Aside from enjoying tea parties, Pratt and Roosevelt had in common the year they were born: 1884.

After leaving the East Coast and marrying Earl Pratt, her hometown sweetheart, Pratt returned to Central Washington to finish her years as a teacher. She retired in Yakima in the 1960s, later moved to Eugene, and in 1981 came to Madras to stay near Andrews.

With a degree from two schools, including the University of Oregon, Andrews said his mother emphasized the need for education. She is a writer with two children??s books and one book of poems in print.

Eighteen years after writing her last book, Pratt spends most of her time during the day in a wheelchair, occasionally nodding off for a healthy nap.

At times, she drifts back to her days with her mother and sister riding horseback in Wisconsin in the late 1800s.

But Pratt is known to rejoin the present. Over the Memorial Day weekend, she told her son: “I’ve lost a great many people over the years. Soon it will be time for me to go.”