i Record-Courier
THURSDAY, JUNE 23,2016
ADLER FIELD
continued from page 1
First things first, the site was in need of fill -
17,000 yards of it. Enter volunteer Aaron Logs
don. Aaron had the know-how and dirt. The
equipment to haul the dirt was provided by
Baker County and Baker City. Under Logsdon’s
direction, baseball fathers, employees of the
county, the city and the BLM began to fill the
large gaping hole. Vollie Heeb, volunteered to
level the entire playing field. Baker County
hauled granite sand to the surrounding areas.
Forest service employees volunteered survey
ing skills as the filling process continued.
Tiny Jones and Eastern Oregon Freight hauled
fencing, screen and sign board from Portland
and Seattle. Ben’s Transfer moved bleachers
and heavy equipment locally. No piece of equip
ment of Cascade Natural Gas, Britton Equip
ment Company or Clyde Ward & Sons was
spared as the sprinkling system was installed by
Francis Chaves and the Knights of the Colum
bus. The fence was installed under the direction
of Art Chaves.
Ed Moeller spear-headed the all-volunteer
effort to construct the grandstands with the
assistance of Ed Lovelace, Henry Davis,
George Smull, Bill Witham, Sid Johnson and
Charlie Moeller.
All the materials and lumber were donate by
the Burnt River Lumber Company and the
Ellingson Lumber Company.
The painting was donated by Joe Mahoney,
Everett Boorse and John Gatson. Tom Hasher
wired the sign board, concession stand and
press box.
The Oregon State Highway
Commission furnished the cinders, Farmaterials
the seed, and First National Bank and the U.S.
Forest supplied the trees for landscaping.
Aaron Logsdon excavated for the dugout.
Tracy Eidson and crew built the dugouts and the
press box. Commercial Welding Company
made the flag pole, the septic tank and provided
countless
volunteer hours
of welding
assistance.
To light the facility, Idaho Power brought the
poles to Baer freight-free and Morris Wells
hauled them to the site. York Electric, Baker
Electric, Tom Hasher Electric, Jim Ego, Bob
O’Dell and Paul Curts, together with Harvey
Witham, armed the poles and erected them.
California Pacific Utilities Company then
devoted its entire line crew and equipment to
wiring and spotting the lights.
Deans Paint and Glass, Basche-Sage
Hardware and Builder’s Supply furnished mate
rials and equipment. Artcraft Paint and Glass
furnished its truck and manpower erecting the
signboard. That sign was purchased by the Vet
eran’s organizations of Baker County.
Howard Standford and Joe Vershnik of Baker
Redi-Mix, Inc., furnished countless yards of
gravel and sand. They completed the asphalt
paving at a substantial loss to their business.
Carl Holman photographed the finished product
courtesy of Don Doyle’s Flying Service.
June 21,1966: The Dedication: It was on this
day Leo Adler turned 71 years of age. It was
therefore fitting the community again unite to
celebrate his birthday and to honor the man who
rightfully had earned the name “Mr. Baker”.
The dedication brought dignitaries to Baker
including Oregon’s Governor Mark Hatfield and
Wade Williams. More than 300 members of the
28 Little League, Babe Ruth and Junior Legion
teams stood at home plate during the opening
ceremonies, along with the Elks Drum and
Bugle Corps.
Little League and Babe Ruth President, LeRoy
Merrick, Gene Rose, and Bishop Francis
Leipzig, representing the Catholic Church and
Academy, presided over the evening.
Leroy Merrick gave special recognition to Art
Chaves, Frances Chaves, Gene Rose, Harold
McJunkin and Aaron Logsdon for their countless
hours of dedication and hard work.
A special appearance was made by County
Judge Lloyd Rea who had been away from
county duties for two months as a result of sur
gery. He made a special effort to visit with his
son, Jimmy Lloyd Rea, Jr., and his Babe Ruth
team before he left the field.
Steve Bogart, former Baker County Commis
sioner, was one of those Babe Ruth players (a
member of the Colts) there that evening. “We
(the kids) were not really thinking about all the
big names that were there. We just wanted to
play baseball.”
He continued, “I remember thinking how great
it was to be on a brand new field,” recalled Bog
art. ‘There was a real pitcher’s mound, mowed
grass, dugouts and a concession stand. We
were so use to playing on rock and dirt. It was
terrific!”
Bogart remembers how many people spent
countless volunteer hours making the field a re
ality. “In particular, I remember Nick McDo
nough, who worked for the Forest Service. He
and his wife did not have children, but he
worked so many hours helping to survey the
field as they completed the fill.”
That evening, Leo Adler paid tribute to the
thousands of hours of contributed effort that he
said overshadowed his contribution to make the
park possible. “This is much bigger that I ever
dreamed,”
Perhaps that says it best when one considers
the enormous community effort that went into
the making of the Leo Adler Field. “Bigger than
one ever dreamed.”
Today, the field still stands. Bakers City Babe
Ruth teams continue to compete in the game of
baseball. Lessons are still being learned at
home plate.
People like to use “spark” when it comes to
Leo Adler and his impact on Baker County.
When one looks around at all that has been
accomplished as a result of Leo Adler commu
nity grants, and one thinks about the number of
kids who have gotten a chance at higher
education because of Leo Adler scholarships,
perhaps “spark” does not adequately represent
what Leo Adler has meant to Baker County.
Perhaps, just perhaps, we should consider the
word ‘tsunami.” Simply put, the landscape of
Baker County has been forever changed as a
result of Leo Adler.
Happy 121st Birthday, Mr. Baker!
And now, Leo Adler, your spark has provided the flame to build a field for
boys. On your field, a lesson in democracy will be taught every game, for
baseball draws no lines of race, color or creed. Boys will become men, for
when they walk to the plate, they must carry the bat alone - mom and dad
can no longer help. These are the lessons your spark has provided, Leo
Adler, and all who assisted on the field. To you and these people this
community owes a debt of gratitude.
- Excerpt from the program on the night of the Leo Adler Field dedication -
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FRI-THURS
(4:20) 7:20 9:35
CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE P&13
After he reunites with an old school pal through
Facebook, a mild-mannered accountant is lured into
the world of international espionage.
FRI-THURS
By Gerald Hopkins
When Christopher Columbus sailed Into Cuban waters in
1492, he described it as “the most beautiful island he had
seen.” Well, we're back from Cuba, and can add that it is a
beautiful country with warm and friendly people.
We were a little apprehensive because we were told not to
leave any negative notes in the room, leave suitcases open in
the room in the event they might be checked, and not say
anything negative. We had a little difficulty leaving Miami but
finally found our travel group of eight other individuals. Two of
them fled Cuba as teens during the Revolution. They wanted
to go back and find their homes.
When we started to fly out, the crew asked us to move up
or back from the seats so we could balance the plane (fairly
good sized).
We were put up at a beautiful hotel, which was the same
one that President Obama stayed while there. I looked around
and saw six security people in the lobby. I thought there was
someone important staying, but found it was just security for
the hotel. We were near the ocean, but a fence kept guests
from going to the beach. It reminded me of Thailand when we
were first there in the later 70's with mildew smelling beds, and
some smell from the toilet. Even though it was the winter sea
son, it was definitely hot and muggy.
We went to Trinidad, with beautiful cobblestone streets and
colonial buildings. We again stayed at a five star hotel, but not
quite as nice. The single elevator got stuck once while we
were on it and had to ring the alarm bell for help out!
Ya'lla Tours was an excellent choice. Although more ex
pensive, they keep the groups small (usually no more than 18-
20) and everything is very organized. We had a great guide.
Mariana was a 26 year old student finishing her second year
of community service. She is required to do so upon finishing
university. She was very accommodating and spoke excellent
English. She even had the bus driver drive around to find the
home of the Cuban couple in our group. The home that he fled
was made into a military building, but was now a small
cultural center. Mariana answered all questions openly, but
was very cautious when it came to talking about the Cuban
government and governmental issues.
Gerald Hopkins (right-front) in front of Cuban art building.
The meals were wonderful but always included black beans,
rice, salad and choice of chicken, beef, pork, fish or lobster.
Since we always had to drink bottled water, they served that
or mahita (rum and mint), beer, or fruit juices.
The revolution led by Che Guevara and Castro immediately
set up a socialistic government and ties with the Soviet Union.
With the introduction of socialism, the drop in sugar prices in
the 1960's, the loss of Soviet support, and an embargo placed
on the Cuba by the United States, the country became
stagnant.
Our traveling companions from Cuba said everything looked
the same as it was fifty years ago. However, the beautiful
colonial buildings, and those built during the tourist/casino
days, have been crumbling and the country is obviously in
shambles. The major highway had potholes and rough spots.
Tourism is still the biggest source of money; Europeans,
Canadians, and South Americans being the largest groups./'
Agricultural products include citrus fruits, tobacco and coffee.
Other products include pharmaceuticals, rum, cement,
fertilizers, textiles and prefabricated buildings.
We had heard the myth that only old cars would be seen.
Though prevalent, there are newer cars such as Fiat, KIA,
Volkswagen, etc. from other countries. Due to poverty and
high gas prices, traffic is not bad even in Havana, a city of two
million.
PG-13
Two decades after the first Independence Day inva
FRI-THURS
CUBA: A Beautiful
Country with Warm and
Friendly People
(4:10) 7:10 9:45
■
( ) = Bargain Matinee
We took a walking tour of old Havana and visited four major
plazas. One can see music groups on every corner. They play
and sing beautifully. We saw the Plaza de San Francisco de
Assis and the 16th -century convent. We visited the Plaza de
Armas, where the city was originally build in 1776. We had a
chance to visit El Floridita Bar, birth place of the daiquiri and
one of Ernest Hemingway's favorite bars (and he apparently
frequented many!) We also had a short stop at the handicraft
market where goods included leather products and art pieces.
It was on our second day that we visited the Convento de
Belen, a center that serves Havana's poorest neighborhood.
Its focus is on elderly and disabled children. We made our
contributions as a part of the humanitarian visa that allowed
us to go to Cuba.
See CUBA on page 9