RECORDS AND MORE
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2020
A local feast for the ages
class yet the price of tickets
is $2,” the editorial stated.
The newspaper also
commented on the abun-
dance of turkeys in the
community.
“There are lots of tur-
keys around the burg this
year and not a few of these
toothsome birds will be sac-
rifi ced in the greed of man
at the approaching Thanks-
giving,” the Oregon Scout
stated.
Twelve years later,
many La Grande residents
attended a Thanksgiving
“grand ball” put on by the
Foresters of America, a fra-
ternal society. The ball was
conducted at a local opera
house. Music was con-
ducted by a group named
Meade’s Orchestra and
Thanksgiving dinner was
served at midnight. Tickets
cost $1 and at least 100
were sold, according to an
article in a November 1901
edition of The Observer.
Fast-forward to Nov. 26,
1937, when a meal that had
Looking back at
past Union County
Thanksgivings
By Dick Mason
The Observer
UNION COUNTY —
Midnight dinners, grand
balls featuring orchestra
music and a meal so boun-
tiful that an Observer head-
line about it had an excla-
mation mark.
Union County’s Thanks-
giving Day history is
marked by such highlights.
Early records of Thanks-
giving celebrations in
Union County date back
at least to 1889 when
there was an account of
upcoming grand ball and
supper in the Nov. 21, 1889,
edition of the Oregon Scout,
then a weekly newspaper in
Union. An editorial in the
newspaper said the grand
ball would be memorable
and a bargain.
“Everything will be fi rst
THE OBSERVER — 3A
Holiday shopping season underway
few if any equal locally was
provided at a Civilian Con-
servation Corps camp near
Hilgard. Served at Camp
Hilgard were fruit cups, hot
rolls, celery, radishes, roast
turkey, cranberry sauce,
creamed potatoes, scal-
loped corn, pumpkin pie,
ice cream and coffee. Each
of the men at Camp Hilgard
also received a pack of cig-
arettes, according to a story
in the Nov. 27 Observer.
The camp’s crew con-
sumed 750 pounds of
turkey, 25 gallons of ice
cream and 75 pumpkin
pies. After their Thanks-
giving Day feast they were
not done eating. At 8 p.m.
they were served 200 dozen
doughnuts and 75 gallons
of cider.
The Civilian Conserva-
tion Corps camp was one of
many operating in Oregon
between 1933 and 1942.
The CCC was a public work
relief program started as
part of President Franklin
Roosevelt’s New Deal.
OTEC reminds locals to stay safe
The Observer
fi re hazard. Artifi cial trees
should have fi re resistance
protection. Never place a tree
near heat-emitting devices.
• Lights should have a
label indicating an inde-
pendent testing laboratory
accreditation.
• Make sure the lights
are rated for the location
they will be used. Before
hanging lights, check the
strands for broken bulbs,
fraying or bare wires that
could present hazards.
Replace damaged products.
• Extension cords should
only have three strands of
BAKER CITY —
Oregon Trail Electric
Cooperative reminds locals
not to let the colorful
sparkle distract from safety
when decorating. OTEC
in a press release provided
tips to help with holiday
decorating safety.
• Consider the safest tree
for your home. Real trees
should have green nee-
dles, and the trunk should
be sturdy and sticky with
resin. Keep your tree stand
fi lled with water so the tree
does not become dry and a
lights connected to them.
Never run extension cords
under carpets, through
doorways or where they
could be damaged. When
outdoors, never run exten-
sion cords through wet
environments, such as
snow. When securing light
strands, never staple or
nail them into place, as this
could damage the product.
• When decorating out-
side, double check that you
and any equipment, such as
a ladder or a light strand,
are a minimum 10 feet from
overhead power lines.
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
FRIDAY, NOV. 27
100 block of Fir Street. An
offi cer responded and coun-
seled one person.
10:54 a.m. — A La
Grande resident reported
telephonic harassment. An
offi cer contacted a person
and issued a warning.
4:46 p.m. — La Grande
police received a report
of a domestic disturbance
on the 2000 block of N
Avenue. Offi cers responded
and determined it was an
argument.
7:01 p.m. — A caller
reported a domestic distur-
bance on the 1200 block
of Evanston Street, Elgin.
Union County sheriff’s dep-
uties responded and sepa-
rated the parties, but no one
wanted to pursue charges.
9:55 a.m. — La Grande
police received a request for
contact regarding possible
abuse. An offi cer made con-
tact, took information and
explained options.
11:19 a.m. — A caller
asked to speak to the
animal enforcement offi cer
about cats in the area of
Main and East Beakman
streets, Union. The offi cer
made contact and explained
options.
6:25 p.m. — A Sum-
merville resident reported
the theft of medication.
A Union County sher-
iff’s deputy responded, but
no one wanted to pursue
charges.
SATURDAY, NOV. 28
SUNDAY, NOV. 29
4:33 a.m. — La Grande
police received a com-
plaint about noise on the
12:57 a.m. — La Grande
police received a request
for assistance with a person
experiencing mental illness.
Police contacted a mental
health provider.
9:41 a.m. — La Grande
police responded to the
200 block of N Avenue
for a female yelling. She
moved along after an offi cer
arrived.
1:49 p.m. — A caller
was suspicious someone
would abandon a trailer
near Pierce and Foothill
roads, La Grande. A Union
County sheriff’s deputy
found no one was aban-
doning the trailer at that
moment.
8:06 p.m. — La Grande
police responded to the
1300 block of Madison
Avenue on a report of a bur-
glary at a residence. Offi -
cers determined nothing
was stolen and would pro-
vide extra patrols.
Come Check Out The
FALL Fun We
Are Having
at
GRANDE
Kaleb Lay/The Observer
Pedestrians make their way into downtown La Grande on Black Friday, Nov. 27, 2020, a
day heralded as the unoffi cial start of the holiday shopping season.
OBITUARIES
Ray Taylor
Esther L. Hofmann
Ray Taylor, 82, of La
Grande, died Nov. 28.
Arrangements are by
Loveland Funeral Chapel
& Crematory, La Grande.
Esther L. Hofmann,
102, of La Grande, died
Nov. 27 at Grande Ronde
Hospital. A graveside ser-
vice will be held Dec. 4 at
2 p.m. at Hillcrest Cem-
etery. Attendees must
wear a mask and prac-
tice social distancing to
meet COVID-19 guide-
lines. Arrangements are by
Loveland Funeral Chapel
& Crematory, La Grande.
La Grande
La Grande
Please follow guide-
lines regarding face cov-
erings and social dis-
tancing at all services.
Dec. 4 — ESTHER
HOFMANN: 2 p.m.
graveside service; Hill-
crest Cemetery, La
Grande.
— Calendar courtesy
of Loveland Funeral
Chapel, La Grande
Raymond D.
Omohundro
Summerville
Raymond D. Omo-
hundro, 87, of Summer-
ville, died Nov. 28 at his
home. Arrangements
are by Loveland Funeral
Chapel & Crematory, La
Grande.
Maurice Rogers
975-2000
La Grande
Maurice Rogers, 92,
of La Grande, died Nov.
25 at Grande Ronde Hos-
pital. Arrangements
are by Daniels-Knopp
Funeral, Cremation &
Life Celebration Center,
La Grande.
La GRANDE
AUTO REPAIR
Charles Rothwell
www.lagrandeautorepair.com
La Grande
Charles Rothwell, 87, of
La Grande, died Nov, 30 at
his home. Arrangements
are by Loveland Funeral
Chapel & Crematory, La
Grande.
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