Looking Back and History Mystery

Two of three vacancies in the Community and Economic Development Department will be filled following a decision by The Dalles City Council Monday. The decision came without the department organizational proposal expected from City Manager Margaret Bauer. Bauer asked for a postponement of that presentation, and instead asked the council to authorize hiring one planner and one administrative assistant. The council quickly agreed to filling the planning job, but early in the meeting could not reach agreement on the assistant position.

The Wasco House will reopen under new ownership in the next few weeks. Lillian and Jay White have purchased the restaurant on Liberty Street from former owner Jon Holt. The Whites have lived in The Dalles for two years. She works at Dufur School as a counselor, and he is a custodian at Chenowith Middle School, but both have extensive experience I the restaurant business.

40 Years Ago-1975

Hiring of a new business manager and the selection of a plan to repair the roof at Joseph Wilson elementary school were major items on the District 12 School Board agenda last night. The directors appointed Peter (Pete) R. Clemens, 38 of Richland, Wash., as business manager replacing Phil Kaser who resigned to run his wheat ranch. The board found that it may be possible to install roof trusses on the old part of the Wilson building instead of covering the present roof with a new one.

Its fall roundup time in The Dalles and more than 70 young wranglers blow into town Saturday for the annual Northwest Rodeo Association’s Pee Wee Championship. Junior riders are aged 6-10 and seniors 11-13. Prizes of belt buckles and tack will go to the winners in these events: Pony bucking, calf riding, barrel racing, pole bending and goat tying.

60 Years Ago-1955

Archers turned out in force for their special deer hunting season, which opened during the weekend in Wasco and Hood River counties, Paul Ebert, agent for the Oregon State Game Commission, reported today. Six deer were taken by the approximately 300 hunters out. Most kills were made in the High Prairie, Gumjuwac Saddle and Upper Eight Mile creek areas.

Commercial fishing in The Dalles area is reported to be rapidly declining and estimated at 20 percent less than last year, largely because the peak of the run having passed before the season opened. Although quality is said to be far under usual standards, the price of salmon is increasing rapidly Tyee Fish Co reported. Gillnet boats are said to be averaging some 200 pounds of fish per catch.

80 Years Ago-1935

Construction of a small capacity ore smelter was begun on property owned by W. J. Seufert and associates, east of Ye Olde Mill dance hall. When built the smelter will be the only one in Oregon, and except for larger plants at Tacoma and Kellogg, Idaho, the only one in the northwest. Seufert said today that the smelter was being built largely for experimental purposes and would have a capacity of about 50 tons of ore a day.

Blueprints of the National Guard armory proposed as a WPA project for The Dalles have been received by Richard M. Weber, commander of Company H, 186th infantry, the local machine gun company, from Brigadier General Thomas E. Rilea of Portland. The blueprints received by Weber were for a building 87 by 152 feet square, containing a large drill floor, various rooms for use of the guard company, the quartermaster department and officers.

100 Years Ago-1915

The local theatrical season will open Saturday night. This announcement will be greeted with genuine pleasure by Dalles theatregoers. The opening attraction is one that will interest young and old. The press agent for the Vogt opera house has the following to say concerning Billy Clifford, famous comedian who will appear here next Saturday night in “Walk This Way.”

One of the big attractions in the educational department of the Wasco County Fair will be a parcel post booth which will be maintained by the post office department. Secretary T. B. Philips has secured, the cooperation of Postmaster R. E. Williams, who has communicated with the department in Washington, D.C. A supply of all kinds of cartons, wrappers, etc., will be sent by the government, together with literature pertaining to parcel post shipping.