History of bubbling Klickitat water

Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Library.

The presentation traces the spring's history from the Klickitat tribal usage through the commercial development of the bottling plant and dry ice operations, and the government use of carbon dioxide during World War II to the current protection of the old gas-ice house as a Vaux Swift sanctuary.

Bisset is a long time Columbia River Gorge resident who has a deep interest in local area history. She has used her history and genealogy skills to research a variety of local historical topics, which she has transformed into both written articles and public presentations.

Her interest in Klickitat Mineral Springs began with the chance discovery of a Klickitat Mineral Springs grape soda bottle at a flea market in Sumpter, Ore. What she originally saw as an advertising gimmick, led to an amazing journey through local history which unfolded into a rich story that went far beyond the Gorge.

Historic photographs and documents add to this presentation. Audience participation and sharing is welcome, and always enriches the telling of a story.

Other topics Ms Bisset has researched have been drawn from family history relating to Dufur, specifically The Dufur Orchard Company and Dr. Vanderpool's S. B. Medicine Company, as well as other local topics that piqued her interest.

She has recently completed a series of newspaper articles on "The History of the Port of The Dalles," which became the basis for the Port of The Dalles 75th Anniversary celebration.

Her most recent project was the creation of power point background to accompany John Lundell's "Three Wasco County Courthouses" presentation at the 2009 Original Wasco County Courthouse February History Forum.

Through the lens of her camera she has studied topics from native flora to local tombstones.

This spring she will do a presentation on the "History of Oregon's State Flower -- Mahonia Aquifolium" (Oregon Grape) as part of Maryhill Museum's docent education program.

For more information, call the library 493-1132.