Compiled by Don Hoiness from archived copies of The Bulletin at the Des Chutes Historical Museum.
100 YEARS AGO
For the week ending
March 9, 1913
Bend boy honored
George Vandevert of Bend was last week elected president of the Young Men’s Christian Association at Willamette University, at Salem, where he is a junior in the college of liberal arts.
At the regular election there was a deadlock, there being two other candidates besides Mr. Vandevert. At a special meeting, Mr. Vandevert won by three votes. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. W.P. Vandevert and was the first boy to graduate from the Bend High School.
Portland prices scared Uncle Frank 50 years ago
Down at Laidlaw Saturday, “Uncle" Frank Nichols, who grew up with Oregon, was telling H.R. Lounsbury some things he remembered about prices in Portland half a century ago.
“Some of us fellers from the Interior went down there," said the old pioneer, “and a real estate man got hold of us. He wanted us to buy a couple of lots on the river; they are just about where the Madison street bridges crosses now. He asked $40 for them, but shucks! ... Ther’ warnt no houses near and I asked if he thought we was crazy." Then Uncle Frank chuckled, adding “I reckon we were, too!" Mr. Nichols added that the same sort of chances are going begging right here in Central Oregon today.
Artesian water struck
Reports come from Prineville of the striking of artesian water on the ranch of George Slayton, four miles west of town, at a depth of 210 feet. The flow was strong enough to throw the water through a five-inch casing 11 feet above the ground.
A number of contracts have been let by other ranchers for drilling on their farms, following the success of Mr. Slayton’s venture.
Well drilling outfit founded
A.D. Norton and W.B. Kelger came in the first of the week from their homesteads in Millican valley to get a well drilling outfit which they recently ordered.
They will take it out this week and the first well to be drilled will be on Mr. Norton’s claim at the 26-mile-post on the road to Burns. They expect to drill wells for others in that vicinity.
Corn show set for this fall
The Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Co. proposes holding a corn show this fall at Pendleton for farmers of Eastern Oregon. Cash prizes will be offered for the best acre of corn and the best ears of corn.
The company believes that this show will demonstrate the possibilities, the practicability and the profitableness of corn growing in this state.
75 YEARS AGO
For the week ending
March 9, 1938
Japan seeking peace in China
Japanese diplomats sought a third power today willing to instigate new negotiations for peace with China.
Neutral military observers predicted a “political interlude" in the war before the Japanese attempt to force their way across the Yellow River against Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek’s “Maginot line" defending the railway and the national capital at Hankow. Chengchow, junction of the Lung-Hai and the Peiping-Hankow road, was subjected to almost constant aerial attacks as Chinese defenses at a dozen strategic points in southern Shansi and Northern Honan felt the shock of large shells from Japanese artillery pieces strung out along the north bank of the river.
Although it was believed certain that the Japanese would not halt until they captured Hankow once they crossed the river, observers believed the Japanese command would prefer to end the costly war if China would agree to Tokyo’s demands. On the other hand, Chinese and foreign circles at Hong Kong said it was unlikely Chinese officials would be willing to talk peace at present in view of the relatively successful defense of the Lung-Hai and Tientsin-Nanking railway fronts.
Peace moves were being made here and in Hong Kong, reportedly with British and Italian support.
Fuehrer Hitler’s big day
Hitler strode to his historic three-hour Reichstag speech before steel-helmeted troops, presenting arms with fixed bayonets.
Confidence in the newly revitalized German army which the Guard of Honor represented was seen in the aggressive tone of Hitler’s Reichstag address culminating in the warning that, although Germany wants peace, if circumstances should compel action, “steel and iron will take the German people and the German homeland under their protection."
50 YEARS AGO
For the week ending
March 9, 1963
Senate supports 1968 Olympics bid by Portland
The Senate today suspended rules and gave immediate passage to a House memorial promoting Portland as the site of the 1968 Olympic Summer Games.
It was the third major action this week to boost Portland as the Olympic Games site. Final passage was given earlier to a bill which would allow Portland to build an Olympic stadium outside its city limits. And on Wednesday, Gov. Mark Hatfield flew to New York to explain Portland’s advantages to Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who will make America’s pitch for the games.
Legislative leaders have publicly indicated they would support Portland’s bid in every possible way.
Cigarette puff would be pretty costly
Two hundred dollars for one cigarette puff!
This the penalty that faces the first member of a newly-organized Bend group, “Cigarettes Anonymous," that dares puff a fag.
Membership of the group has doubled in the past week. It started with two, Glen Ratcliff and Reed Nelson. Latest recruits are Dick Ettinger and Fred Cartmill. Each member is required to place a check for $200 in escrow, with a custodian of funds named.
Should any member of the group smoke before the end of the year, he forfeits his $200. This would go to the Deschutes United Fund. Other members get back their checks.
At the end of the year, if members see fit, the no-cigarette pledge will be extended another year. However, members of “Cigarettes Anonymous" are not completely restricted from smoking. They are allowed one cigar a day. There are no restrictions on pipe smoking.
25 YEARS AGO
For the week ending
March 9, 1988
Mountain View coach at pinnacle of career
Jack Lutz looked surprisingly at ease Tuesday, wearing his trademark sweater vest, coaching on the sidelines at the Oregon Class AAA boys’ basketball tournament at Memorial Coliseum. Especially considering he never thought he would be there.
“I never expected to coach varsity, period," said Lutz, who is in his third year as head coach at Mountain View High. Lutz spent a career as a freshman coach, teaching fundamentals and good work habits from 1953 to 1984 to those in greatest need of those lessons.
Now, here he is with his third state playoff team in as many years. During that span, his Cougars have won one Inter-mountain Conference title outright, tied for another and compiled a 49-19 overall record.
Lutz entered the state tournament coming off his best season yet, as Mountain View led the IMC in team defense and claimed the conference championship with a 16-2 record. Tuesday was Mountain View’s first time playing in Memorial Coliseum and the double-elimination portion of the tournament.
The Cougars fell to number two ranked Wilson.
But Lutz was pleased with his kids, who simply were beaten by a better team. And he’s enjoying himself in the River City.
“I enjoy it," Lutz said, speaking of playing on a strange floor, living in a hotel and being badgered by the media. “This is probably the greatest coaching experience I’ll have right here."
Lutz remains a teacher first. Win or lose, the kids are what makes the job special. “This is the greatest bunch of kids a coach ever had," he said.