This week in history: May 8, 2024

While the number of visitors to the valley on Blossom Sunday was below the average, owing to heavy rain in Portland, residents and members of the Portland Progressive Business Men’s Club fittingly celebrated at the Blossom banquet, arranged by the Chamber of Commerce and held at the Columbia Gorge Hotel on Thursday evening of last week. With the members of the Portland club, their wives and friends to the number of 60, the total attendance was over 200, and all throughout enjoyed by Mine Host Tremblay and were quick to express their appreciation of the splendid menu and fine service extended. A pleasing feature was the dessert, consisting of ice cream in a hollowed red apple blossom. Apple blossoms were the leading theme in the decorate scheme. Following the banquet, dancing was indulged in to music provided by the popular Ford’s Orchestra. — Hood River News

Death by pneumonia today removed one of the pioneers of this part of the country, in the person of G. W. Harris, 76 years old. ... born in Missouri, Mr. Harris crossed the plains in 1855 in an old ox-drawn ship of the prairie, coming to this part of the country when but a young man.

Francis Pashek reported this morning that he believed he was the first vegetable grower of the district to bring in early peas to the fresh market. — The Dalles Chronicle

The ten thousand and one local baseball fans that failed to trail our ball team to The Dalles last Sunday missed the fastest and cleanest game played thus far this season. It took just an even hour and thirty minutes for the local boys to demonstrate their superior ability over the sand lotters of the Mid-Columbia metropolis, and at the conclusion of the game they were on the long end of an 8 – 1 score. It was just the kind of game that makes baseball popular, for not once during the entire game was there a peep from any one of the players, nor once was the umpire’s decision questioned. The boys are a fine aggregation and deserve winning games – White Salmon excepted. — White Salmon Enterprise

1944 — 80 years ago

The Forest Service, through District Ranger S. C. Walters, of the Parkdale Ranger Station, yesterday announced that a total ban on all brush or other fires in Hood River valley, without permits, had gone into effect at 1 a.m., Thursday, May 5, and from now on no burning is permissible without a service permit issued by the Forest Service. All fruitgrowers and others are urged not to start fires until they have obtained the necessary permit.

Previously, it has been stated that burning would be permitted without permits until May 15, but low humidity, which has developed the past fews days, coupled with practical illustrations of the dryness of the duff in the timber, have made it necessary to set up the fire-ban without permit date, in order to meet the danger of forest fires during the present sharp lack of manpower with which to fight any forest fires. — Hood River News

Increase scored by seven types of disease brought an over-all increase of 13 percent in communicable disease in Oregon for the last week, according to a report from the Oregon health bulletin. Scarlet fever rose 10 per cent. The week’s total was short of the all-time record high registered last month. Venereal disease totals were up by 10 per cent during the week, with a pronounced gain for syphilis more than offsetting a slight decline for gonorrhea. Venereal disease totals are up 96 per cent above the same week last year. Three cases of venereal disease were reported in Wasco county.

... farmers were reminded this week that only two weeks remain for signing 1944 farm plan sheets indicating their 1944 war food production. This same form may be use for indicating participating in the AAA program of practices to increase production. — The Dalles Chronicle

All children residing in School District 66 who are now six or will be six years old by October 1944, are invited to attend school on Monday, May 8th, to acquaint children with the teachers and school plant. Parents are requested to send the pre-school children on Monday, May 8 only. — White Salmon Enterprise

1964 — 60 years ago

Fourty-two years as a jeweler — 23 of them in Hood River — ended for Blair Carpenter over the weekend when he turned Carpenter’s Jewelry over to Jack Tausend. It’s been a long time since such things as a watch repair, diamond rings and bracelets weren’t Blair’s chief interest, but now he’s turning to hunting, fishing and traveling. Maybe, he says, he’ll still do some clock repairing, but not for awhile. He doesn’t figure to have any spare moments for sometime, at least until after hunting season ends next fall.

For 13 years, Blair and Mrs. Carpenter have worked together in the jewelry business. Blair started in Hood River at Sche Jewelry and worked there for 10 years. Then he opened a shop in Keir’s Drug where he and Retta worked together. In early 1961, they started Carpenter’s Jewelry and continued a successful operation there. Another familiar face there was Nellie Cross, Mrs. Carpenter’s sister, who helped out. — Hood River News

Scheduled released of yearling trout in Oregon’s lakes and streams for the 1964 fishing season will total 2,121,000 according to figures released by the Game Commission.

Burglaries under investigation for the past two weeks are believed solved with identification of a large group including juveniles and adults involved to various extents in theft of beer and an apparently unrelated beer party raided by city police, District Attorney Don Turner said Friday. — The Dalles Chronicle

1984 — 40 years ago

Salary and benefit agreements in a two year contract were ratified Monday, May 7, by the Hood River County School Board, four days after teachers had signed the agreement. The new contract between the school board and Hood River Education Association will begin July 1. School officials said the teacher association accepted a reduction in insurance benefits to offset the cost of a three percent increase agreed to by the board. A district spokesman also said the agreement allows the district greater flexibility in determining the length and type of student day. The settlement came just over a week before the school board sends a $1.6 million tax base increase proposal to the voters. — Hood River News

“They bring their children and their lunches and it’s a real old-fashioned quilting bee.” That’s the way Edna Woods, Trout Lake, summaries the action which takes place about twice a week in the Trout Lake Grange Hall, as several local women prepare for a quilt show and sale May 13. Woods is a member of the Klickitat County Parks Board, and helped kick off the project which the quilt sale will promote — a fund drive to build new playing courts in Trout Lake. In addition to the sale, which is timed to correspond with Mother’s Day, members of the Trout Lake Playing Courts organization plan a bike-a-thon May 12. — White Salmon Enterprise

2004 — 20 years ago

Cascade Locks students were taught “ground smarts" this week to boost their self-confidence and protect them against a violent attack or abduction by an adult.

“We’re here today to show you the different options you have in a bad situation,” said Heith Miller, a Tae Kwon Do instructor, to third and fourth graders.

He and his wife, Vanessa, are both black belts and spent Wednesday and Thursday teaching self-defense skills to elementary and middle school students. The children appeared to thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to role-play and even scream at the top of their lungs. But the underlying message was very serious, “Do not accept violence in your life.” — Hood River News

Upset parents spent Saturday, April 24, by the roadside in downtown Lyle, holding signs and encouraging local residents to stop and add their names to two petitions. One petition would retain Rempel the other seeks to have Superintendent Huffman dismissed. — White Salmon Enterprise

Global Headlines

1924

Strike in Ruhr Disturbs Chance For Settlement

1944

Spain Makes Concessions to Allies; Curtails Supply Shipments to Nazis

2,000 American Planes Hit Berlin in Daylight Raid

Japanese Land Armies Speed Up Offensives

Tokyo Agrees To Move Supplies For Prisoners

Germans Expect Invasion Within Next 3 Weeks

1964

Strong Desire For Laos Neutrality Persists

Reds Give Defector Back To West

Diem’s Younger Brother Executed

South Korea Cabinet Quits