Completed Safeway store at 732 S.W. Sixth St. held its grand opening December 1969 as hundreds of early bird shoppers waited in line for the nine o’clock ribbon cutting by Mayor Gerold Barrett. Free gifts were given to the first 200 customers along with rain hats for the women and cigars for the men.

100 years ago

Nov. 27, 1919 — An old pioneer dies at Prineville

George B. Millican, 85 years old, died at Prineville Tuesday. He was born in New York and crossed the plains in 1851 to California, earning his way by driving a band of cattle.

Until 1862 he engaged in mining in California and Idaho, moving to Lane county, Oregon, at that time, where he farmed on the McKenzie river until 1869. The town of Walterville was named in honor of his son.

He first crossed the Cascades in 1863 as a guide for Captain Crouch and he helped to open the first trail through McKenzie pass. He owned the first herd of registered cattle, bringing them into the Crooked river country in 1868. Shortly afterward he moved to a ranch on the McKay, 2 ½ miles north of Prineville, which later became known as the Millican Springs ranch.

In 1886 he moved into what has since been called Millican valley, and was the first white man to settle in the vast bunch grass empire.

75 years ago

Nov. 30, 1944 — Freed Prisoners to Get Messages

Through the Red Cross, messages may be sent to liberated prisoners of war and civilian internes in the Philippine islands, it is announced by Mrs. C. W. Heim, who is in charge here. Messages may also be sent to liberated prisoners of war and U.S. and British citizens who were interned in European areas now freed from Nazi control.

These messages must be dispatched by December 15, Mrs. Heims said. The special forms on which they are to be written can be obtained by Mrs. Heim.

50 years ago

Dec. 3, 1969 — Safeway’s progress parallels 40 years’ growth in Redmond

Time changes–and so has Safeway.

The opening of the spacious new Safeway Store, with its ultra-modern interior, makes one stop to realize how far Safeway has come to reach its present status.

When Safeway first came to Redmond in the early 1930’s, it was located where the present B & B 88¢ store now is operated, and was managed by Ansel Thornberg.

Expansion made it necessary to seek out a new location and the property across from the city hall was acquired. Before building of the store on Evergreen, it is of interest to recall occupants of the block bordered by Evergreen and Forest Avenues and Seventh and Eighth streets.

Going back to the 1930’s, it is learned by a livery stable was across from the present Redmond Hardware. The Deschutes County Fair Association kept all the race horses at the stable. In those days, the carnival was held on Eighth Street.

Redmond Fire Department, located where the old Safeway building stands, consisted of two small sheds, one for a hose cart and the other housing a chemical wagon.

The old high school gymnasium was moved to the parking lot and later converted into a Legion Hall. Along with activities of the Legion, it served as a place of work for many Redmond women. The welfare department in Bend provided cotton, which came from government purchases in the South, and other materials. These the women used to make mattresses and quilts, with their disposal handled through the welfare office.

During the ‘30’s an ice skating rink behind the Legion Hall gave winter recreation to many Central Oregonians. That same decade saw the city jail, then constructed of lava rock, located in the same block. As it had only one door and two barred windows, the structure did not provide protection from the elements. According to some old-timers, who recall being lodged in one of the cells, it was necessary to burn whatever was handy for heat–whether it were a mattress, blankets or the bed itself.

The blacksmith shop was across the street between the present city hall and Redmond Medical Clinic.

In recalling the past 40 years, one might wonder what the next 40 will bring to the annals of Redmond history.

25 years ago

Nov. 30, 1994 — Couple brings culture home

John and Marilyn Bohmker are enjoying their new life in Redmond, but it didn’t take them long to realize that Redmond lacks the culture diversity of many cities.

So last week they decided to do something about it.

The Bohmkers invited a group of Taiwan and mainland Chinese scholars and professors attending Oregon State University to visit their new home in Redmond and check out the sites in Central Oregon.

Friday afternoon a group of about 20 arrived at the Bohmkers’ home in Cascade View Estates. Skiing and visiting Smith Rock and the High Desert Museum were on the group’s itinerary for the weekend. Six of the Chinese tried skiing on Saturday while the others visited Smith Rock, Ogden Scenic Wayside and the reindeer ranch.

The visit was a chance for the Chinese to observe and participate in American life, said Mary Artz, a Corvallis woman and close friend of the Bohmkers who helps some of the students learn English and study the Bible.

And it was a chance for the Bohmkers to experience more ethnic diversity. The family recently moved to Redmond from Corvallis, where about 8 percent of the population is Asian. John Bohmker works for Macsema, a company that has relocated from Corvallis to Bend and hopes to eventually find a site near the Redmond airport.

The Chinese enjoyed the trip over the mountains, Artz said. Some had never seen snow and all “were amazed at how much snow there was,” she said.

The Bohmkers opened their hearts and their house to the visitors. Immediately the Chinese reciprocated the hospitality by preparing traditional Chinese appetizers and dinners.

The Chinese fixed several meals during their visit. Much of the food included flour, and the group went through 20 pounds of flour during their stay, Marilyn Bohmker said.

Feng Fong-Long, an associate professor of forest resources at National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan, said his family is enjoying its stay in Oregon. He is in the third month of a year-long visit to OSU.

He was able to bring his family with him to Corvallis — and to Redmond. the family has found school very different in the United States, Feng said. In Taiwan, school runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. six days a week. There is constant pressure to do well to gain entrance to universities, Feng said.

Members of the group that visited Redmond and visits like the one to Redmond and the friendship of people like the Bohmkers and Jeff and Mary Artz make their stay in the United States easier when homesickness starts setting in.

And their visit was fascinating to their hosts.

“It was a little crazy at times,” with more than 20 guests in the house,” she said, but it was fun.”

The guests showed a video of China, including Tienanmen Square.

“I told them we can’t afford to go to China, so it was nice they brought China to us,” Marilyn said.