100 years ago

For the week ending

May 18, 1924

100 men fight fire in woods

Approximately 640 acres of sparsely timbered land was burned over and the virgin stand of timber in the Deschutes National Forest southwest of Bend was threatened last weekend when the fire in the Shevlin-Hixon slashings broke away., fanned by a strong wind. A crew of nearly 100 men finally checked the fire and it is well burned out today.

Even though the forest fire had been confined to a comparatively small area Sunday night, the reflection of the blaze on the low hanging clouds was visible from Bend and attracted considerable attention in this city. Dense clouds of smoke, driven northward by the strong wind, have been noticeable from many parts of the Central Oregon country for the past few days.

Moonshine plants are scrapped here

Moonshine plants which Deputy Sheriff George Stokoe was seen hauling about the city on his automobile today, were not newly captured stills, but some which the sheriff’s force captured some time ago and which are being scrapped in connection with the “house cleaning” going on at the county jail.

The jail now houses no reminders of the moonshiner’s art. Three stills were hauled away and chopped up today, and the last five gallons of confiscated liquor was poured out in the alley and allowed to run down the drain to Oregon avenue. Purification of the jail is practically completed, and it would be only a slight exaggeration to say that living in it would be a pleasure. The walls have been kalsomined in a cheerful gray-blue shade, and all parts of the building have been scrubbed and disinfected.

Brothers may poll 60, says postmaster

The precinct of Brothers, one of the smallest in the county, may poll a record vote at the primary elections Friday, believes John Helfrich, rancher and postmaster, who was in Bend last night and this morning.

Ordinarily the vote at Brothers is heavy if it reaches 15, but at this particular season the population is augmented by a large number of stockmen, and there should be close to 60 at the coming election, Helfrich believes. If this estimate is correct, there may be a considerable shortage of ballots, as the number which would be needed is far in excess of the registered strength of the precinct, on which the ballot supply is based.

Lava bear is caught alive

The lava bear has been caught!

Alfred Andrews, for nine year a government trapper in the Silver Lake district but recently relieved from duty, caught him and says he is merely a dwarf grizzly. It is the first one known to have been caught alive. This bear, of a species long thought extinct, is two years old, but he is only 30 inches long and only 18 inches high.

Andrews’ nine year quest has been rewarded. Last Sunday he got track of one, and he immediately fixed a trap for him. Monday he visited the trap and found the live lava bear with two feet caught in the trap.

The Smithsonian Institute has offered $2,000 for a live lava bear, but Andrews will not sell. He is planning to tour the country with the animal exhibiting as a unique specimen.

75 years ago

For the week ending

May 18, 1949

Petersen rock gardens attract 100,000 in one year

Back in the winter of 1935, Rasmus Petersen, Deschutes County rancher, started a little project to keep himself busy. The project was the fashioning of a miniature castle out of rocks he had collected through the years. Out of this winter project launched 14 years ago grew a tourist attraction outstanding in the Pacific Northwest — the Petersen rock gardens.

Last year, more than 100,000 persons visited the gardens, through gates that have no turnstiles or ticket takers. This number about equaled that of the previous year. Since the rock gardens were started in 1935, probably as many as 500,000 have visited the grounds.

Back of the rock garden is a story — the story of a man who saw beauty in juniper groves and white mountains of the nearby Cascades even before water flowed northward through canals. Petersen reached the site of his now famous rock gardens — on a wintry December day, 1906, member of a party traveling into the interior country by team and wagon, in search of land. Petersen like his camping spot, obtained 236 acres and developed a ranch. He started his rock gardens as a personal hobby, and expanded the gardens when he discovered that the public was interested.

Several years ago, he disposed of his ranch, retaining only the 123 acres where the ever-expanding rock gardens are located.

A number of years ago, Petersen purchased the Guy Compton mineral collection, and around this collection has been constructed the Petersen museum.

Bend boys wins state marble championship

Billie Giltner, 14, Kenwood pupil, ruled as marble champion of Oregon today, following his victory Saturday afternoon in the Young Oregonians’ state tourney, held in Portland. In the state finals, Billie met Jimmie Hodson, of Roseburg, and won two out of three games.

Merchandise won by the Bend boy includes a bicycle, “with all the trimmings,” which he brought back to Bend Sunday. His major award, however, will be a free trip to Pittsburgh, Pa., to enter the national tourney sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Pre-registration survey for college work planned

In preparation for the opening in Bend next year of classes providing college level training under new state legislation, a pre-registration survey is to be held this week throughout Central Oregon, Howard Nicholson, member of the Bend high school staff and adult education coordinator, announced today.

Purpose of the survey, Nicholson said, will be to determine who is interested in attending college, and courses in which they plan to enroll. In Oregon, the college level training is to be offered in Bend and Klamath Falls, with the districts to contract with the state board of higher education for required facilities. Instructors will be provided by the state colleges and afternoon and evening schedules will be available.

The local college, with classes to be held in the high school, will be known as the Central Oregon college, it was announced today. Courses to be offered include English composition, survey of English literature, history of western civilization, United states history, freshman mathematics, elementary analysis, biological science survey, survey of physical science, constructive accounting, typing and stenography.

Nicholson said that at least 15 term hours of freshman work will be offered in the 1949-1950 school year. This will be equivalent to a freshman year of a regular four year college program. All this work will be transferable and will apply on lower division requirements at the University of Oregon, Oregon State college or the three Oregon colleges of education.

50 years ago

For the week ending

May 18, 1974

It only hurts when she laughed

Redmond’s second disaster drill was staged early this morning. Simulated major disasters are staged by area hospitals occasionally so they won’t be surprised by the real thing.

At 6 a.m. Assistant Fire Chief W.H. “Spike” Durfee picked up the phone and gave the alarm — “There’s a plane crash at the airport with bodies all over the place!” When firemen and emergency medical personnel arrived, they did find “bodies” all over the place. They were 20 members of the Central Oregon College licensed practical nursing class, and they were having a hard time avoiding a case of the giggles.

The “injured” were transferred to Central Oregon District hospital, where they were given a number on their forehead, their “injuries” were diagnosed and they were sent to the proper treatment area.

Extent of injuries ranged from mild abrasions to being dead on arrival.

The only thing really wrong with the “victims” however, was being very cold from lying on the ground during the below freezing weather early this morning.

25 years ago

For the week ending

May 18, 1999

Fire destroys recycling team shed

Wind-driven flames raced through a large pile of cardboard Thursday afternoon, destroying a small storage facility at Deschutes County’s recycling center. Fire officials credit a heat-activated sprinkler system for keeping flames from jumping to The Recycling Team of Central Oregon’s newer and faster cardboard baler that sits in a larger storage building constructed last year.

“The system worked like it was supposed to and kept the fire out of the new building,” said Mike Riley, executive director of The Recycling Team of Central Oregon. No one was injured. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The heavy, intense flames produced a thick plume of black smoke that could be seen for miles across the city. Employees at the center, adjacent to Knott Landfill, noticed smoke coming from a large pile of loose cardboard surrounded by bales shortly after noon and called the Bend Fire Department.

Bob Madden, a battalion chief with the fire department, said when fire crews arrived the fire had spread to a nearby storage shed containing office paper and an older baler. The fire in the building was fueled by hydraulic oil from the baler.

Firefighters attacked the fire from its perimeter and were able to protect two other buildings. The fire was brought under control in 30-minutes, although crews remained into the evening hours to tear apart bales to make sure all fire was extinguished.

Firefighters poured 2,000 gallons of water a minute at the peak of the fire to tame the flames.

The insured storage shed was destroyed. Riley estimates losses to the building and baler at $20,000 each. He expected the center would build a new storage facility. In addition to the building loss Riley estimates about $15,000 of marketable recycled cardboard and office paper was torched. Each 1,300-pound cardboard bale sells for $70 a ton, while office paper draws $95.

The fire will not affect operations at the recycling center. The operation will remain open, although the cardboard recycling area will be closed for a couple of days for cleanup.