Yesteryear: Howling wolves interrupt evening night in school in 1924; Christmas rush beginning early at Bend post office in 1949; COCC culinary program cooks up success in 1999

Published 12:01 am Saturday, November 30, 2024

100 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

Dec. 7, 1924

Howling Wolves Interrupt Evening Night in School

Flickering lights dodging through dark woods like elusive “Will o’ the Wisps”; dark forms stealing through open spaces — then in the distance a weird howl, answered by similar menacing howls from seemingly ever part of the timber.

The flickering lights no longer flicker; the dark forms, as if answering a common signal, hastily leave the timber and converge toward their leader in an open space. But the howls of the strange animals, apparently coming nearer and nearer, continue.

“Wolves,” say the dark forms, now resolved into boy scouts, grouped around Scout Executive Harold Ware, near the Harper school house in upper Deschutes country Friday night. The scouts, on a hike over the Thanksgiving week end, had been playing a game, using flashlights to signal to each other, but the mysterious and menacing cries of the unknown animals suddenly brought the game to an end.

Ware assured the frightened boys that the animals howling in the woods were not timber wolves — they were coyotes. But nevertheless the Bend boys, many of whom had never heard a coyote before, were uneasy. That night the boys slept in the Harper school house, ware making his bed outside.

Horses Are Unable To Cross Santiam

An attempt to drive 35 horses across the Cascades from the Albany country to Central Oregon by Charles Huston of Prineville recently proved unsuccessful, according to the Albany Democrat. Huston got as far as Tombstone prairie in the Santiam pass region, with his horses, but the snow was so deep that he was forced to return to Albany. Five horses were lost in the attempt to cross the mountains, two of which broke through the crust of snow and were shot. The horses were being driven from Seaside, where Huston had shipped them several weeks ago on a trade, but had to take them back and was attempting to return over the Santiam pass. The horses were shipped from Albany to Prineville Saturday night.

Redmond Physician Will Move to Bend

Dr. J.F. Hosch of Redmond, one of the best known physicians in Central Oregon, will move to Bend the latter part of this week, where he will be associated with Drs. John Besson and Paul Woerner. Dr. Hosch and family will occupy the D.T. Carmody residence west of the river. Dr. Hosch, whose practice in Redmond has been taken over by Dr. D.E. Baird, will have his offices in the new Bend Clinic building, now nearing completion at the corner of Broadway and Franklin.

H.C. Topping Freed, Jurors Return After 21 Hours

MADRAS — Deliberating for 21 hours, the jury in the second trial of H.C. Topping for alleged appropriation of Jefferson county funds, found a verdict of not guilty Thursday evening. Topping was charged with having taken over $2,000 of county funds at the time that he was sheriff. He disappeared about the time that the shortage was discovered, but later returned voluntarily to stand trial.

The first trial resulted in a disagreement of the jury. The defense claimed that the shortage was due to Topping’s having made expenditures in connection with liquor law enforcement, which the county court would not honor.

The jury stood 9 to 3 for acquittal on the first ballot, it was reported by Topping while in Bend today. The verdict would have come sooner, except that the jury waited some time for instructions.

75 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

Dec. 7, 1949

New Metal Street Signs Being Erected

Work of installing new street signs on arterial routes and principal streets in Bend is nearing completion this week. John O’Keefe and Robert Johnson of the Bend street department were making an installation at 14th street and Galveston avenue, west of the river this morning. Under this year’s budget, a total of 107 installations, each bearing two signs, are being made. The metal posts are 10-1/2 feet long, with 30 inches underground. The metal signs have black background with white lettering.

685 Bicycles Now Registered

Registration of Bend bicycles has been concluded, with 685 out of an estimated 750 in the city licensed. H.A. Casiday, police chief, announced today. Heaviest registration in any one day was 102, when owners whose names begin with “T” and “S” were assigned licenses.

All registered bicycles have been assigned 1950 licenses, small white tags with black lettering. After Jan. 1, 1950, persons operating unlicensed bicycles will be subject to police action. Licensing of bicycles is provided by a new city ordinance.

Mrs. Thompson Announces Sale of Bend Building

Mrs. E.M. Thompson, a resident of Bend for nearly 40 years, announced today that Mr. and Mrs. C.D. Pierce will arrive in the city this week end from Alameda, Calif., to assume management of the building at 829-831 Wall street, which they bought from Mrs. Thompson in September.

The building involved in the real estate transaction was built in 1916 by the late E.M. Thompson, who came to Bend with his family in 1910, from Minneapolis. Mr. Thompson, who died in February, 1924, established Bend’s first complete music store, which was also the state’s first business of its kind east of the Cascades.

Mrs. Thompson rebuilt the recently sold building in 1929. Downstairs space is occupied by the Photo Arts studio and Photo Art camera shop. Upstairs includes Mrs. Thompson’s apartment and offices of Dr. John M. McCarthy.

Mr. and Mrs. Pierce, new owners of the Thompson building, have visited in Bend on numerous occasions, and have been planning to come here to make their home.

Christmas Rush Beginning Early at Bend Post Office

The Bend post office staff is looking forward to its busiest Christmas season in history, with the exception of Camp Abbot days, it was announced today as decks were cleared to handle the yule rush expected to develop in the present week. In Face, the staff yesterday afternoon experienced an unexpected mailing rush that necessitated special attention.

As a result of the heavy consignment of packages mailed yesterday, racks were brought up form the basement quarters and tables were arranged for outgoing mail. Postmaster Farley J. Elliott reported today that the staff has been enlarged for the holidays. Men and women with experience have been engaged he said.

Postmaster Elliott predicted an unusually busy Christmas season for the post office staff this year when reviewing postal receipts of the year that is now nearing an end. Gains have bee showing every month.

Postal receipts for the month just ended were $9,216.33, compared with $8,568.17 for November last year. October receipts were also well in excess of those for October, 1948. First rush facing post office workers will be that of caring for outgoing mail. Incoming mail will reach a peak in the week prior to Christmas, which will fall on a Sunday this year.

50 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

Dec. 7, 1974

Highway division unveils plans for 5 area projects

In Central Oregon, five highway construction projects are tentatively planned for completion in the next six years.

But, contrary to popular belief as expressed by persons attending a public meeting in Bend, none of the projects involve such a drastic move as bypassing U.S. Highway 97 around Bend or Redmond.

The fate of the state’s main north-south artery east of the Cascade Mountains as it passes through Central Oregon was uppermost in the minds of some of the 45 persons who showed up at the hearing.

The hearing was billed as the unveiling of the major highway projects planned for the next six years and as a session to collect information from the public.

The public input gathered at yesterday’s hearings and others held around the state will be used in finalizing the tentative six-year construction plan explained yesterday. Carl Williams, regional engineer, told the audience there are no plans at the state level for the bypassing of Redmond by U.S. Highway 97.

As for the idea of bypassing Bend by rerouting the highway east of Pilot Butte, Williams told the audience, “There’s a line on a piece of paper that was put there some years ago. We have no firm plans of any kind.”

Williams said it would take at least six and maybe “eight or nine” years to complete engineering work before construction could begin on such major bypasses. Of the five construction projects planned by the highway division, using mostly federal highway funds, three are located east of Bend on U.S. Highway 20.

Two of the projects would involve widening and resurfacing the highway from the east Bend city limits to Arnold Ice Caves Road.

The first project involves widening 1.16 miles of roadway from the city limits to Ward Road. It will cost an estimated $500,000 and is scheduled to begin in 1977. Another project involves 8.86 miles of roadway between Ward Road and the Arnold Ice Caves Road. Construction on the project, which is estimated to $3.5 million, is to begin in 1978.

The third highway construction project involves 8.06 miles of rad on U.S. Highway 20 between Hampton and the Lake County line. That project is to cost an estimated $1.1 million and work should begin in the Hampton area next year.

The highway division is also planning to grade and pave 4.84 miles of Oregon Highway 27, more commonly known as the Crooked River Highway. Construction on the project is planned to begin in 1980. The part of the road to be improved begins at Prineville Reservoir and stretches north to Rocky Canyon.

The fifth project listed in the new six-year program is the proposed widening and resurfacing of the Cascade Lakes Highway between Elk Lake and Bachelor Butte. The Federal Highway Administration is administering that construction project.

The highway division is seeking public input in formulating its construction schedule for the first time, Williams told the audience.

After the meeting he said new federal legislation forced the highway division to seek the public input before any federal money would be made available. Federal funds make up about 88 per cent of the money used by the highway division., counties and cities to build and improve roadways in Oregon.

25 YEARS AGO

For the week ending

Nov. 30, 1999

COCC culinary program cooks up success

Julian Darwin is determined to see his students work in the finest restaurants around, but he’s had to lean on them a little more this quarter.

Darwin is director and instructor of Central Oregon Community College’s Culinary Institute, which provides students training in the hospitality industry. The program has existed for five years, but Darwin said he recently raised the standards of the courses to meet industry needs.

“I’ve heard some complaints in the industry,” Darwin said. “We need to make the students accountable for what they do. They may have a wealth of knowledge, but how good are their practical skills?”

The program’s curriculum has not been changed, only reorganized, said Darwin. Students cover baking, hot food production, cold kitchen operation and dining room service. In addition, English and applied math courses are added for a one-year certificate program.

This week, students are being tested with their skills and imagination. Darwin provides a student with a black box and inside are various ingredients that can be used for a variety of recipes. The students are judged based on their creation, presentation and imagination.

Kirk Shanahan, head chef at Broken Top restaurant, said he has hired graduates from the Culinary Institute and is pleased with their skills.

“Most of it comes down to the individual,” Shanahan said. “Students who graduate from a program like COCC’s seem to put more effort into their careers. They want to be good at their jobs. Those are good employees to have.” If the program raises the standards, Shanahan said, it could only help.

Darwin has a reputation of being a good teacher and requiring good work from his students, Shanahan said.

Darwin said he is spending more time on team building and communication skills, developing a positive attitude and strong work ethic. The best chef in the world may not keep a job if he or she never makes it to work on time, has a bad attitude and can’t talk with the kitchen staff.

“We’re finding that our students are responding to what they’re asked to do. This will be the first class to graduate since we changed the program, and they’re good students.” Although the program is growing, with about 20 students or more every quarter, many restaurants and resorts are still not familiar with the school. Greg Unruh, head chef at Scanlons said he has never hired a COCC culinary graduate, nor has he been approached for a possible internship.

“I support local programs, but I don’t think anyone who has attended the culinary school has applied for a position,” Unruh said. “They are welcome to apply, and we’ll see how they do.”

Sheri Handfield, head chef at McGrath’s said she has not hired a COCC culinary graduate. She has heard the program is geared for more formal, fine-dining rather than a family restaurant business.

Portland has a two-year culinary institute program, but Debbi Middleton, instructor at the COCC program, said the cost is twice as much, and most topics are covered at COCC in one year.

As part of their practical experience, the institute prepares a luncheon every Monday and Wednesday in Grandview Hall at COCC. Reservations can be made, and diners are asked to critique the meal and service.