100 years ago

May 4, 1916 — In an opinion by A.A. Jones, first assistant secretary of the Interior of the United States, received by District Counsel Edward S. Taylor of the Reclamation Service, a radical change in the interpretation by the Department of the Residence requirement on private land within a reclamation project to obtain a government water right; is announced. Heretofore an applicant for a water right must have been a resident upon the land or in the neighborhood thereof until the consummation of the sale of the water right by the government to the land owner. This was interpreted to mean until final payment had been made. The interpretation of the acts of Congress governing the granting of water rights to private landowners with a reclamation project, it is said, has kept people without capital to buy the water right outright or the ability to maintain residence on the land for the 10 or 20 years covering the time of installments, from taking up land and water rights.

75 years ago

May 1, 1941 — The Central Oregon Irrigation District is engaged in a deal for the outright purchase of the Odin Falls Ranch, it had been disclosed by officials of the organization. The objective is to obtain possession of the water rights now controlled by the ranch. When the deal is closed around 80 second-feet of natural flow will be made available to the C.O.I. District, and will increase the amount of water that can be released into the district canals by about 10 percent. Over an entire season, a flow of 80 second-feet is roughly enough water to irrigate 3,000 acres. The full rights at Odin Falls calls for 150 second-feet of natural flow for pumping, and 26 second-feet for irrigation, but based on the land in cultivation there, the 80 second-feet is about all actually that is involved.

50 years ago

May 5, 1966 — St. Thomas’ Catholic Church soon will start construction of a new rectory, it was announced today by Father Francis McCormack. Bids for the building, to contain 2,300 square feet, will be opened May 13 at the parish hall. The structure is to be brick matching the church and the hall. Three or four months will be required for completion, it is anticipated. The old Rectory and guest cottage have been sold to Erwin Varcoe, a contractor, and have been moved off the premises. The former rectory was constructed in 1937. Plans have been underway for the new building for about a year.

25 years ago

May 1, 1991 — The Fantastic Museum planned for South Highway 97 and Airport Way is a go if a zone change wins approval later this month. The museum won the support of the Redmond City Council Tuesday, but not until a lengthy discussion about the procedures used in determining the site and design approvals has taken place. The council unanimously agreed to ratify city staff’s original approval of the museum, but added that a revised site plan for the project must go back through staff and the planning commission. The decision came after about two hours of discussion. The issue was brought to the council after four planning commissioners requested that the council review the staff’s recommendation.