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About The Record-courier. (Haines, Baker County, Oregon) 1932-2016 | View Entire Issue (May 7, 2015)
5*1 ************ ecr L0T 0074A**C007 BAKER COUNTY LIBRARY fl 2400 RESORT ST BAKER CITY OR 97814-2721 Thank You for Supporting this Family Owned, T^wSpaper www.therconline.com Est. Haines 1901 ~ Haines, Baker County, Oregon Rachel Pregnancy Center Offers Help, Holds "Baby Bottle" Fundraiser By Hayden Perkins t Thursday, May 7, 2015 J Volume 114, Number 19 *10 Pages • 75 cents Eastern Oregon Museum Opens Saturday Refreshments on Mother’s Day Hours: ¡at 10-4 ay 12-4 Submitted photo Alberta Darlington, Director of the Rachel Center and Cristina Corr n Baker City’s Court Avenue, just south of O Broadway, stands the Rachel Pregnancy Center. Helping families with relationships, preg nancy, and parenting, the Christian organization is dedicated especially to providing alternatives to abortion. The Rachel Pregnancy Center wel comes all, whether they belong to a congregation or not. The group operates by financial donations alone. Its upcoming 12th annual “Baby Bottle” fundraiser helps to continue services by collecting baby bottle donations filled with coins, currency, or check. The fundraiser has been incredibly successful for the Rachel Pregnancy Center thus far. “It’s re ally kind of down to a science now,” says Area Coordinator Susie Busch. “It basically keeps the doors Qpen,”.sh.e jcontipues, Busch is passionate about the organization she has served for about seven years, which is driven by Baker City and surrounding churches. “It’s just neat how the Lord brings these people in,” she says. She is proud of the Center’s parenting classes and post-abortion counseling - she es pecially emphasizes the value of spirituality when helping those in need of assistance. The Rachel Pregnancy Center’s “Baby Bottle” fundraiser begins Mother’s Day, May 10, and lasts through Father’s Day, June 21. If you would like to donate, please contact (541) 523-5357. Kimberly Williams of North Powder Wins First Place Over All at Klamath Falls High School Rodeo Photo by Lindsey Wyllie Correction In last week's article: "When an Inkling Becomes Reality," reference was made to one of Brody Roberts's teachers. The last name was incorrect. Stephanie Mays (not Hays) is a teacher at Brooklyn Elementary School and her husband, Chris Mays was the E.R. Nurse. Also, in the article about the Ethics Complaint, the Executive Director's name is Ron Bersin, not Burston. Sometimes the treasures easiest to miss are the ones in our own back yard. Such might be the case with all of the mu seums in the area, including the Eastern Oregon Museum in Haines. The dedicated volunteers who have been preparing for another season are opening the doors this Saturday, May 9 at 9 a.m. I have visited the museum often and am always amazed at the fact how each time there are new artifacts and history to discover. I'd like to extend an invitation to everyone in the county to take the time for a tour. In addition to the various displays, this is a great place to discover local history and information about different families in the region. History of the Eastern Oregon Museum (Editor 's Note: The following information was compiled from archives in the museum. There was no date included, Eastern Oregon Museum was started as the result of five years of Hobby Shows held in the Grange Hall. Each year additional historical exhibits were added, and the people re alized a more permanent location was needed. Consolida tion of the High School left the huge sixty foot by one hundred foot gymnasium vacant. Negotiations with the town of Haines resulted in the museum leasing the building. A Baker attorney, Albert Fisher, donated his time to take care of the legal work. He was also a great advocate for the mu seum, traveling around Eastern Oregon, asking men and women to help in this endeavor. Eventually, a Museum Board was selected, and on May 11,1959, the first By-Laws were adopted and the Eastern Oregon Museum was opened to the public. Soon, artifacts were pouring into the museum faster than one person could catalog them. The basketball bleachers were used to display articles, and the walls were soon cov ered. The secretary, new to the job and uncertain of just how to get a record started, sometimes fell far behind. To add to her problems, Mr. Fisher would bring in loads of items that he had collected several days or weeks before, forgetting in the meantime just what items had been donated by whom. He told the secretary simply to catalog them to him, which she did. This caused a bit of a problem in later years, as new officers got involved. After a great deal of talking and lis tening, a new system was established, and although not every item of those first loads was numbered and labeled, the majority has been. An old-time merchant had two lots behind the building, which he deeded to the museum. Several years later, the City of Haines traded the museum building and the lots on which it sits to the Eastern Oregon Museum, Inc. for the two lots behind it. In 1962, the Union Pacific Railroad closed the passenger depot, and agreed to donate the depot station to the museum. The station was moved across the tracks and four blocks east to lots deeded to the museum by an interested husband and wife. A large building was later added in order to house the expanding collection of old-time farming machinery. Over several years, the Board undertook many projects to improve the museum, using money obtained from donations by tourists, interested community members, memorials, school tours, and the sale of craft items, books, and costume jewelry. Many years were spent repairing the museum, in cluding replacing the entire roof of the main building, and adding a metal cap, which was applied in 1988. The cap cost $5,000 and was forty feet wide and one hundred feet long at that time. Editor's Additional Note: More recent improvements in clude the fact that members of the Mormon Church painted the Museum a couple of years ago and the Carriage Wing was re-stained as an Eagle Scout project by a member of the Kerns family. LED lighting has been installed and made possible through grants. OTEC's generosity help cut the costs by about half according to Mary Rider, treasurer. A new ramp was installed to the Depot by Lynn Perkins with lumber from Gerald Loennig last, summer. This year, they are hoping to have the Depot painted as part of another Eagle Scout project. Future of the Museum Marketing the museum to visitors, maintaining the build ings, and finding volunteers to help staff the museum during open hours are just some of the challenges faced by board members. This year, a mailing has been sent to individuals and businesses regarding membership and the museum is currently developing a website and will expand their pres ence on the internet. Teri Brown-Johnson who serves as secretary for the mu seum has developed a website for the museum: www.east- emoregonmuseum.com and the directors have also sent out a membership mailing. Funds will be used for the mainte nance, upkeep, and continued growth of the museum and will help ensure a bright future. Having a presence on the internet will help effectively market the museum. Word of mouth remains an excellent way to increase traffic so take the time to suggest an outing to the Eastern Oregon Museum, and the other museums throughout the county, to your friends and family. It's a fun, inexpensive, and educational way to spend a Saturday or Sunday. Memberships Help Support the Museum Memberships are available at the following rate according to Johnson: $15 student; $30 adult; $20 senior citizen (individual); $30 senior citizen (couple); family $60. There are also business sponsorships available. For more information contact: Barbara Campbell, president at 541-898-2032; Teri Brown- Johnson, secretary 541-856- 3793, or treasurer, Mary Rider at 541-856-3517. For those without a member ship, the cost to enter is a suggested donation of $2. 4005 23rd Street • PO Box 226 Baker City, OR 97814 (541) 523-3616