This week in history: July 24, 2024

1924 — 100 years ago

Construction on the new Pundt bakery on Third street by Hedges & Huls, local contractors, is progressing to the stage where the brick masonry walls of the sides and rear are being started. Forms are also being torn off the new Hamilton hospital and the West End school. — The Dalles Chronicle

For several days last week the unusual noise of explosions of a motorcycle were heard between the turnaround and Cooper’s Spur. Wells Bennett, well-known motorcyclist recently conceived the idea that he could climb Mount Hood on a motorcycle, but by noon on Sunday he had decided that about halfway up Cooper’s Spur was the limit, at least for this year. Mr. Bennett encountered all manner of unforeseen difficulties, from failure to secure proper lubrication to a desire on the part of the motorcycle pitch over backwards. Mr. Wells had expected plenty of now on the slopes beneath the Spur and had made all provision for securing traction on this, but when he arrived last week there was no trace of snow. — Hood River News

Steel crews working on the Waukoma interstate bridge spanning the Columbia between Hood River and White Salmon, were startled last Friday when a big swarm of bees swooped down and settled where an upright girder joined a horizontal. The steel men are considered the nerviest of skilled workmen, but they gave the unwelcome insects a wide birth. — White Salmon Enterprise

1944 — 80 years ago

Starting Tuesday, a new policy of granting gasoline to members of the armed services on leave or furlough will be effective, it was announced today by the local price and rationing board. Under the new arrangement a member of the armed service on leave for a period of three days or more will be entitled to one gallon of gasoline for each day of his leave or furlough, up to a maximum of 30 gallons. — The Dalles Chronicle

Not all Apple Growers Association members are alive to the importance of making up boxes for part of their apple crop, and many think that we are crying “wolf” without justification. This is not the case states General Manager J. E. Klahre who continues: “Growers have in their possession apple box shook sufficient for 450,000 apple boxes, and it is our observation that this shook is not being make up as rapidly as it should be.

“In proportion to the size of the crop, the Association will need more lugs and apple boxes than ever before. Why? Because the short labor supply forces the storing of loose fruit, and this takes from 25-30 per cent more boxes than if the fruit could be packed immediately. — Hood River News

The White Salmon schools will start the fall term on Wednesday, September 6, announces Superintendent Roy H. Cain.

One of the main changes will be the moving of the 7th and 8th grades to the high school building to relieve the crowded contention at the grade school. The high school enrolment is down in comparison to former years.

Mr. Bailey and Mrs. Wilke will have charge of the two grades moved to the high school, and Mrs. Bernice Smith will be principal of the grade school in addition to the remidial work she has had for several years.

Superintendent Cain also states that the high school building is being completely renovated. He expects to have a band instructor this year. — White Salmon Enterprise

1964 — 60 years ago

A cabin cruiser headed downriver and owned and operated by Howard S. Whitney of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, was reported “in distress” Friday afternoon after its propeller became fouled in a cable on a buoy 800 feet above the John Day Dam spillway, state police said. — The Dalles Chronicle

More than ten months of labor controversy came to an anticlimactic end when Cascade Locks Lumber Company employees cast a convincing “no union” vote on Wednesday, July 15. Of the 142 workers eligible to vote in the National Labor Relations Board representation election, 129 cast votes. There were 79 for no union. Lumber and Sawmill Workers Union No. 3176 AFL-CIO, the former bargaining agent at the plant, received 28 votes. Twenty-three votes were challenged, one was void.

After the tally was completed union pickets quietly removed their picket shack and abandoned their vigil for the first time since the strike started September 10. Mill owner Merl Seitzinger kept the plant closed until early January, then they reopened it with non-union workers who crossed the picket lines. — Hood River News

1984 — 40 years ago

A Multnomah County circuit judge Wednesday cleared the way for Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh to testify in a $1 million defamation suit filed against Rajneesh Foundation International.

Attorneys for Rajneesh filed a motion to protect Rajneesh from testifying saying because he practices public silence it would violate his Constitutional rights of religious freedom to order him to appear in court and give a deposition. — The Dalles Chronicle

Bonneville Power Administration and the United States Forest Service this week launched a joint field investigation for a transmission right-of-way through Mount Hood National Forest. The field survey culminates nearly a year of joint study by the agencies. Their goal is to select a route that will have a minimum impact on timber, water and recreational resources. The study envisions three 500,000-volt lines, the first to be completed in 1968 and the others as loads require. The 500,000-volt lines will rewire one-fourth as much right-of-way as 230,000 volt transmission lines carrying the same capacity. — Hood River News

“They said there were four runner-ups, so when they named the first runner-up, I thought I’d lost, that I was fifth.”

That was blue-eyed, freckled-faced, strawberry-colored haired Colette Schambron’s initial reaction to being named the 1984 Washington State Teen Miss. First runner-up in the contest was Miss Vancouver and second runner-up was Miss Bremerton.

After realizing that she had won the state pageant held July 14 and 15 at the Seattle Marriott Hotel, the vibrant beauty said she was in a state of shock and just stood there on the state motionless. “It still hasn’t hit me. It doesn’t seem like I’ve made it yet.” — White Salmon Enterprise

2004 — 20 years ago

To Gerry Iken, the brother of a World Trade Center terrorism victim, there are bigger issues than the Sept. 11 commission’s report on what went right and wrong in the days before catastrophe.

“To me, the bigger issue is why 9/11 happened to being with,” Iken, a teacher at The Dalles High School, said late last week. “I think all the rhetoric that has taken place since 9/11 has been misdirected.”

Iken would like America, as a nation, to step back and ask why.

“What is there about us that attracts this type of reaction?” he pondered. “We’re so pumped on patriotism and revenge that nobody has bothered or is willing to sit back and ask that question. It’s almost as if it would be crime to look at our failings.” — The Dalles Chronicle

Just as record heat wave was directed to roll through Hood River County, a 150-foot-long section of flume crumbled near Dee for the second time in a month, spilling 400,000 of water and marooning 1,600 people from their water supply.

“If we don’t get water back to them in a timely manner it will negatively impact orchard crops,” said Jerry Bryan, District Representative.

Within a day of the break, however, the water-siege was already affecting orchardists and residents. — Hood River News, 2004

Global Headlines

1924

Federal Troops Fail In Attack On Rebel Forces

Dreadnought Hood Goes Through Canal

1944

Hitler May Be Seriously Injured In Death Attempt

Germans Crack Yank Forces Near Periers

German Ambassador Talks Peace With Pope Pius

Hitler’s Pants Blew Clear Off

Buzz Bombs Deal Destruction Over England