1925 — 100 years ago
Pioneer Matron is called by death. Mrs. W. J. Baker, a pioneer matron of this valley, passed away at her home on State St., at 2.30 a.m. on Wednesday morning at the age of 67 years.
Born near Pittsburg, Penna, Mrs. Baker spent her girlhood in the East. It was in 1883 that Mr. and Mrs. Baker arrived in this valley, and shortly afterwards they purchased property here, among their holdings being the ranch on Borrkside Drive, on which, for many years they made their home. This orchard contained the first commercial plantings of Newton apples in that district...Mrs. Baker who, through constant communion with books, was a remarkably well-read woman, was president of the Matrons’ Club of the Order of the Easter Star, and was an indefatigable worker.
— Hood River News
Out of 353 children inspected in 35 Wasco county rural schools, only 39 pupils were found without defects, according to report issued for the preceding month b y Miss Sena Peterson, county health nurse...
Eight women and girls applied for work at the local “Y” cottage Tuesday of this week, nine Wednesday and eleven Thursday, according to records kept by Mrs. W. E Clark, house mother, who is endeavoring to find places for the unemployed women. Out of this number but one secured work, it was said, and 14 remained in the city this morning, unable for want of funds to seek other locations. Mrs. Clark explained that the applications ranged in age from grandmothers to very young girls.
— The Dalles Chronicle
1945 — 80 years ago
Ration office to close soon. Unpleasant job lasted four years. The War Price and Ration Board of Hood River county, operating under the Office of Price administration since December 1941, will end its function as a wartime agency on Friday, November 23, and the local office will be closed permanently.
Records will be moved to The Dalles, from which center further OPA control will be exercised over the Hood River area.
— Hood River News
The Columbia river salmon run dwindled to 360 fish during the week extending from October 28 to November 3, it was revealed today in the report from the Oregon fish commission. During this period 92 chinook salmon, 83 steelhead and 185 chums passed through the Bonneville dam fishways.
— The Dalles Chronicle
Glenwood glad of moisture as wells are dry. It seems winter has started and nobody was ready for it as this is the earliest snow since 1915. The wells are all getting dry because of no fall rains. It snowed a little every day last week until we had 12 inches and since it has been raining and blowing. We all hope for a chinook so the water will come up in our wells.
— White Salmon Enterprise
1965 — 60 years ago
Bonus for Highway 35 users was the cliff-whittling job from the Hood River bridge (top) to the “Y” junction (foreground). The cliff removal wasn’t part of any state plan, but was a byproduct of other construction. The contractor needed material, so he made arrangements to remove it from the top right part of the picture.
What used to be a rotten rock cliff that dribbled rocks onto the road and crowding traffic toward the guard-rail is now an open route, as the cars traveling illustrate. Fill removal left Harry English with a large, flat lot where rock and brush had been. English indicated there are no immediate sale or construction plans for the newly leveled lot.
— Hood River News
Prompt action of three boys, all high school students at Sherman High in Moro, resulted in the quick apprehension of a Portland rifleman held by the office of Sherman County Sheriff Leo Roberts in the slaying of a registered quarter horse and three cows.
Someone who broke the glass in the front door, probably by elbowing it, entered the American Music Co. store, 217 E. Second Street, early Thursday and took four guitars valued at more than $1,000.
The Johnson administration’s battle with the aluminum industry over its price hikes appeared to be all but ended today — with the government the winner.
A drug common in the Southwest, marijuana, can also be grown in northern climes, Vernon Earl Rose of Hood River admitted Monday when he pleaded guilty to a charge of “growing, preparing and mixing a narcotic drug without a license.”
— The Dalles Chronicle
“Royalty” in spotlight at victory ball. The victorious Wasco-White Salmon Home Coming football game was climaxed by one of the most successful and well attended Home Coming dances held at Columbia High. Music by The Malibus.
The Home Coming Court is chosen each year by the members of the two clubs who are responsible for this event. The President of the Lettermen’s Club, Mike Clarke and the President of the Pep Club, Barb Pearce, were in charge of the plans for the evening.
— White Salmon Enterprise
1985 — 40 years ago
Crews blast huge rock as slides close highway. A major rockslide blocked State Route 14 between Home Valley and the Collins slide area from early Wednesday morning through late Saturday afternoon, forcing traffic to detour over the Bridge of the Gods and the Hood River Bridge. About 12 hours later Wednesday, a second rockslide on a hill between tunnels 4 and 4 SR 14 wiped out about a 150-foot section of the Broughton Lumber Co. flume, sending a torrent of water cascading down the slope. Rocks and mud spilled onto the Burlington Northern railroad track and state highway below, blocking both.
— Hood River News
U.S. marshals were ready to fly jailed guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh back to Oregon today under tight security to face charges of arranging sham marriages for his disciples to dodge immigration laws.
Rep Jim Weaver, D-Oregon, Monday introduced a bill to turn the 64,000-acre Rajneeshis ranch into a federal hunting and fishing management area and charged the Rajneeshees were culturing AIDS in their laboratories to “kill off as many people in this country as they possibly could with the AIDS culture.”
Speaking in a soft but clear voice, Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh pleaded innocent today to charges of federal immigration fraud. About 35 disciples stood folded their hands in a prayerful gesture as the sect’s 53-year-old leader entered the packed courtroom...
Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh is back on his ranch under $500,000 cash bond and a court order not to fly in airplanes.
Followers of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh plotted to assassinate people who opposed their commune and to poison residents of The Dalles, Ore., with salmonella bacteria in an effort to swing an election, a federal agent has testified.
— The Dalles Chronicle
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