Flashback: Farrell loses wallet in wreck in 1949; Enlistments up 1,000%, Area women opt for military in 1974; Snowflake Boutique tradition grows in 1999

Published 2:00 am Thursday, November 7, 2024

100 Years Ago

Nov. 13, 1924 — Deschutes Gems potatoes liked

Here is news for Portland consumers: The first carload of world-famous Netted Gem potatoes from the Redmond section will be offered here Monday morning.

These potatoes are in a class by themselves. They are superior to anything offered in the United States from any other district, prizes to that effect having been frequently received.

A.T. McCauley, a prominent wholesaler, will make distribution of the initial carload here, and is much elated that shipments for the season will start.

Heretofore, this season it has been impossible to secure Deschutes Gems here because the home demand was so liberal that all offerings were quickly taken up.

These potatoes cost more than other potatoes, but the cost is forgotten after one taste.

— Hyman J. Cohen in the Oregon Journal.

75 Years Ago

Nov. 10, 1949 — Farrell loses wallet in wreck

The accident at high bridge last week that sent Keith Farrell to the hospital with a fractured pelvis also cost him his wallet, according to the injured man’s father.

Police have searched the area where the crack-up occurred, and the smashed car was also gone over thoroughly, but no wallet. Farrell says that the billfold contained only two or three dollars, but more important, it contained all his papers.

Farrell was taken from the Medical Dental hospital Monday by the Madras volunteer fire department car, which, on the way back, picked up the victims of another crash on the Warm Springs highway.

James Moss, who was also injured in the high bridge accident, was released from the Medical Dental hospital last week.

Relatives seek girls missing since Sunday

Two girls, one 15 and the other 12 years old, have been missing from their home in the Terrebonne community since 3 p.m. Sunday, it has been reported to police.

The girls who are sisters, left their home to take a walk and did not return, their father said. Relatives and police have been searching for them.

… The searchers found footprints which stopped at car tracks on the old highway, and they believe the two sisters got into an automobile.

50 Years Ago

Nov. 13, 1974 — Enlistments up 1,000%

Area women opt for military

Is it the greener grass on the other side of the hill, the better jobs and the faraway places that are attracting many Central Oregon girls to military services? Or could it be the yellowed grass on this side of the hill, the lack of jobs, the dull jobs and the same old grind that is driving them to it?

At any rate, in the last year the number of female military enlistments has doubled in most branches and tripled in some. And according to Army recruiter Sgt. Darrell Oleman of Bend, there has been a 1,000 percent increase from two years ago.

So, to find some explanation of the trend and some understanding of the expectations and reasonings of these girls, six prospective servicewomen were interviewed.

Teri Pound, an 18-year-old nurses’s aide from Prineville, was most impressed with the free schooling. She plans on spending her four years as a Navy nurse learning all she can in addition to attending night school medical classes on her own. At the end of her stint she intends to be a qualified registered nurse. She summed up her feelings in saying, “I’d rather be the head nurse than the bed pan washer,” and she felt that without formal schooling, she might very well be stuck on that “lower end of the totem pole.”

Lea Schnick, 18, is a student at Central Oregon Community College who will be joining the Air Force in the near future. She chose the education offered by the military over college because as she put it, “I’ll be getting four years of training and experience at the same time, while a college student must graduate and then go out and try to gain some experience.”

Miss Schnick, a Bend resident, thought that it is harder for a single girl to get a job than a single guy, because the employer thinks, “She might just up and get married and quit,” but felt there is no discrimination in the military.

At least two of the girls who might agree with that explanation of the difficulty in finding jobs are Janice Gearhart, 18, Bend, and Linda Menges, 17, Madras, both unemployed.

Both called the job situation “bad” and Janice felt it’s going to get worse by the first of the year. One of the girls remembered a day when there were only five job listings at the employment office for the entire city of Bend.

Mrs. Gearhart, who is separated from her husband, stressed the importance of getting a chance to learn various responsibilities in the service, which will help “prepare you for real responsibilities in your personal life.”

Linda Morton, 18, Sisters, seconded the importance of developing a sense of responsibility in saying that “You can’t just quit, you’ve made a four-year commitment — one you can’t get out of.” This, she believes, is something a lot of girls need. …

25 Years Ago

Nov. 10, 1999 — Snowflake Boutique tradition grows

“Mom,” the voice called, then added, “that’s a silly thing to say in room full of women.”

A mostly female crowd of browsers and shopper waited in line to kick off the holiday bazaar season at the Snowflake Boutique last weekend at the Deschutes Fairgrounds and Expo Center.

What began 24 years ago with two women selling crafts out of their home in Redmond, has grown into a club with 30 members and more than 40 consignors.

The first Saturday of each November, and the Friday evening before, the Snowflake Boutique opens to the public with holiday and gift items: stuffed dolls and creatures of all sorts; santas in cloth, wood, ceramics; stuffed snowmen, snowmen on signs and plaques; Christmas tree ornaments in wood, lace, saw blades; fleece apparel; harvest-themed signs, plaques, scarecrows, and dolls…

This year, two raffles raised money for worthy causes. The first, which included prizes donated by each member, raised almost $700 for the Family Access Network in Redmond schools.

The money will be used to provide “whatever comes up” that children need: winter clothes, shoes, socks, lice shampoo, said Melinda Ennis, FAN advocate at Vern Patrick Elementary and a member of the Boutique.

A second raffle, to aid a local artist and mother in her fight against breast cancer, raised about $1,100, said Dieanna Hutchins, advertising chairwoman for the non-profit Snowflake Boutique organization.

Hutchins said this year’s event was “wonderful,” with another good turnout. She makes crocheted angels, ornaments and tree toppers, and “pretty much sold out,” she said.

Monday she was “crocheting like crazy” for her next show.