100 years ago

August 23, 1917 — The most gigantic offensive of the war began on Tuesday, participated in by the entire allied forces and on every front, England, France, Italy, and Belgium joined in the most gigantic offensive yet directed against Germany. The west front from the Belgian coast to Switzerland, was one gigantic battle, with French, British, Belgian and Portuguese troops attacking. Southward, Italy’s most formidable offensive threw millions into a grapple over a front of almost 100 miles. Field Marshall Haig’s drive in Flanders was pressing forward, while his Canadian troops gripped tighter around Lens. General Petin’s troops were driving fiercely out of Verdun, while steadily increasing their pressure along the Chemin des Dames and in Champagne. Russia alone of the great allied powers was not participating in the concerted action.

75 years ago

August 20, 1942 — With a large number of key men lost to the armed forces, women may be drafted this year to help put on the big parade for the 23rd annual Deschutes county fair, Dr. H.W. Rogers, head of the parade and queen contest, said this week. Parade workers will be on the spot this season, hit by wartime shortages of implements and equipment which, as Rogers pointed out, will make a heavy commercial division next to impossible. Dick Woodward, master in chief of the parade, and Ray rogers, his assistant, have promised, however, to make the event one of the best with the resources available. Horses and horsemen are expected to form a major part of the parade and other local talent will be called into duty. The newly formed Redmond Calvary will take part with an out standing show.

50 years ago

August 24, 1967 — Culminating a long period of planning and effort, concrete was poured last week for the foundation of a new $70,000 Christian Church on the lots occupied by the 36-year-old church still in use on the corner of Evergreen and 10th streets. New buildings will be built around the east and south sides of the old church, w=which will be removed after the new houses of worship is ready for occupancy. Designed by Sterling Cash, Portland architect, the new church property will actually be two joining buildings — an education unit and a fellowship hall to face on 10th street, and the main house of worship facing evergreen. Both structures are to be of simple, utilitarian design, built to be used often and in many ways, with possibility that some of the classrooms in the church school section of the fellowship hall will be made available to Redmond High School.

25 years ago

August 19, 1992 — What began as merely a dream of a few people in Redmond to help meet Redmond affordable housing needs more than a year ago will hit pay dirt Saturday. Redmond Habitat for Humanity will hold an affiliation celebration and land dedication on the site that will eventually hold two habitat houses. The public is invited to join the celebration. It begins at 10 a.m. at the donated site on Southwest 23rd Street between Quartz and Pumice. Redmond Habitat chairman Jerry Thackery, one of the founding members of the local group, will open the ceremony followed by comments from Les Alford of bend, regional director of Habitat Northwest. Thackery will also introduce the five people who donated the land for the houses: Leonard and Louise Downs, William and Bernice Durfee, and Rachel Robin. The deed for the two lots was recorded July 15.