A number of people recognized the photo above as The Dalles Soda Works, 900 E. Second St., The Dalles, including Shari McConnell, Russ Brown, Mike Kilkenny, Susan Ortega, Bill Johnson, Lee Langston, Sheri Estivias, Gary Connley, Glenda Rosa, George Bradly, Jake Grossmiller, Petie Biddle and Mary Davis.
The photograph was scanned from a 5 by 7 inch negative pulled from the Chronicle archives, and the envelope reads “Soda Works, T.D., May 28, 1956.
Mary Davis wrote that Hans and Walter Blaser formed the Blaser Brothers Bottling Works which later became The Dalles Soda Works. Jake Grossmiller said he believed the picture was announcing that Pete and Ernie Miles had purchased the soda works.
Petie Biddle said they bottled Pepsi, Hires Root Beer, Nisbet Orange and 7up. They also sold Blitz beer which came in by train and later truck.
Jake Grossmiller said he worked for the soda works twice, the first time in 1960 as a warehouse worker. “We wheeled the cases out to the sidewalk with hand trucks and hand loaded the rack trucks. No pallet jacks and lifts. All bottles, no cans. Ernie Miles ran the office and did the ordering while Pete Miles ran the bottler, Eddie Nelson mixed the syrup, Virgil Sharpe drove the pop truck, Wayne Brookshire and, later, Dick Hattenhauer hauled the beer. I don’t remember the office lady, although Shirley Baldwin worked there later. Ralph Bisset worked part-time. I later worked for the soda works in 1965 at the new plant as a driver and salesman for out-of-town routes, and the beer routes after a couple of years. I left in 1969.”
Russ Brown noted there was an “abundant food store” located on the street side at one time.
Sheri Estivias said her uncle worked at the plant, and as a kid would take her “nickel spending” there. “We would watch his soda bottles get filled up,” she said.
George Bradley said he worked at the plant as a bottler and driver for thirty years. “We did it all right there,” he said.
The plant was moved to the east side of town where it is presently located as Pepsi Cola.
LOOKING BACK
May 17
20 Years Ago-1995
Susan Cole and Ryan LeBreton were named the outstanding senior girl and boy for The Dalles High School class of 1995 at an awards night ceremony held on Monday night.
Over 150 people brain-stormed at a town hall meeting Monday, seeking ways to cut costs, raise money and keep Joseph G. Wilson Elementary school open. Ideas ranged from finding corporate sponsors for the classrooms, sending older high schoolers to the community college, cutting administration, shortening the school year and going to a four-day school week. The town hall was also a forum to explain the devastating financial situation the district faces, which board members believe the community does not fully understand.
Time, not money, is the biggest factor in re-training teachers to incorporate Oregon’s education reforms into the classroom, School Superintendent Howard Fetz said. And that is the main reason for recommending the Maupin Elementary School District go to a four-day school week, said Fetz.
40 Years Ago-1975
Sue Rolen of Wahtonka and Patty Anderson of The Dalles won The Dalles Rotary Club’s $500 scholarships last night during an honors banquet for the top 10 percent of the students from both schools. Rotary President Kay Frizzell presented the scholarships, vice president Keith Mobley introduced the speaker, Robert C. Taylor, University relations department, Portland State University. He is from The Dalles.
Efforts to resolve differences in negotiations between District 12 teachers and the school board open here Monday with a state mediator at work. The meetings begin at 2 p.m. when the board’s committee meets with mediator Hugh Lovell who will meet teachers later in the day, and then come back at 7:30 p.m. for a joint meeting with both sides. Lovell met May 13 with District 9 board and teacher representatives in the same kind of efforts to get negotiations resolved. He was appointed by the Public Employee Relations Board at the request of the teachers.
60 Years Ago-1955
Frank Heater, 80, one of the last of the old-time law enforcement officers of this area, died Friday at the state hospital in Pendleton. He was associated with The Dalles police force for 31 years, serving as chief most of that time until 1947, and retired in 1949. Known for his colorful stories of the old days, Heater was a veteran of numerous difficult police jobs, several of which involved risk of his life.
Charles Roth Sr., retired Dalles businessman and prominent local church and civic leader, died last night at a local hospital after a lingering illness. He was 72 years old. Until his retirement in 1951, Mr. Roth operated the Roth Produce Company, now a part of the Pacific Fruit and Produce Company. Mr. Roth served on the District 12 school board for seven years, was on the original board of directors of the Northern Wasco PUD and served on the board of trustees of the Western Baptist Theological Seminary in Portland.
80 Years Ago-1935
Surveyors were today completing the establishment of two permanent marks indicting the elevation of high water here during the famous 1891 flood. The two marks have been set in the exterior wall of the post office building, just east of the main entrance, and on the Masonic building. The work of transferring the marks from the original one on the old Michelbach building, which stood on the corner of Second and Union streets before being razed to make way for a service station, was done by Pacific Power & Light company surveyors, who volunteered their services.
At the close of the third annual flower show sponsored by The Dalles Garden club last night, those in charge declared it had been the most successful venture they had sponsored. The flowers were displayed at Remington hall during the afternoon, with the evening group of St. Paul’s guild being hostesses at a silver tea at the same time in the guild room. More than 150 persons called during the afternoon and 28 growers entered flowers in the show. The showing featured Iris and Columbine, and the specimens on exhibit were of choice varieties and most attractively displayed.
100 Years Ago-1915
The Manchester Lumber Company, owned by W. J. Manchester and his son, G. E. Manchester, of this city, with a sawmill on upper Five Mile Creek and offices and warehouse at 202 Washington Street, The Dalles has secured the contract for the manufacture of many thousands of boxes for the Libby, McNeill & Libby cannery in this city, which will be used in packing this year’s output.
Thye and Berg, under the terms of their agreement, were to weigh in this afternoon at 170, give or take two pounds, or forfeit $50. Berg weighed in at 174½ and forfeited $50 to Thye. Ted Thye of this city, who has never been pinned to the mat by a middle-weight wrestler, will have the hardest battle of his career at the Vogt theatre this evening when he will meet John Berg, who claims the light heavy weight wrestling championship of America.
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