THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021
BAKER CITY HERALD — A3
LOCAL
LOCAL BRIEFING
TOWNS
Continued from A1
The list includes Robinette,
which was on the banks of the
Snake River east of Richland.
Robinette, named for
James Robinette, who settled
in the area in 1887, had its
post offi ce established in
1909.
The town, which had a
population of 25 to 30 for
much of its history, was aban-
doned in 1957 as construction
neared completion on Brown-
lee Dam on the Snake.
Brownlee Reservoir inun-
dated the site of Robinette in
1958.
Reinhardt is coming to
Baker City on Tuesday, Nov.
9, to talk about his project
and collect stories about Robi-
nette from local residents.
The event is part of a new
lecture series that will be held
on the second Tuesday of each
Pete Basche/Baker County Library
Historic Photo Collection
Students from Robinette
School play in the snowy
playground. From left,
Karen Whitely, Linda
Buchanan, Petey Basche,
Joan Robinette, Earl
Robinette, Betty Basche,
Loretta Pollard, Charlene
Whitely.
Pete Basche/Baker County Library Historic Photo Collection
Diane Carrithers, right, and her mother, who ran the
post offi ce and store at Robinette.
month at the Baker Heritage
Museum, 2480 Grove St.
His talk starts at 6 p.m. in
the upstairs ballroom.
“I’m hoping a lot of people
show up who want to share
memories,” he said.
He’ll also have a question-
and-answer session to see
what local residents would
like to see in this project.
Drowned Towns
Although some instances
of drowned towns date back
to the 1920s, Reinhardt said
most occurred during 1950s,
’60s and ’70s when many
dams were built across the
Northwest.
Some, like Detroit, were
moved to higher ground
nearby.
But others, like Robinette,
just disappeared.
Well, almost.
Some of the buildings from
Robinette were moved to
Richland or Halfway, and still
stand.
Reinhardt’s goal is to
preserve the oral histories of
these towns.
“To capture the stories
of people who lived in these
places,” he said.
He plans to hold a History
Jamboree in the future to
collect stories and document
artifacts tied to the drowned
towns.
He said graduate students
will help with this fi eld work.
During his research, Rein-
hardt said he’s been surprised
at “how little vocal resistance
there was” to the building of
dams and subsequent reser-
voirs.
“It’s a really traumatic
event — the absolute destruc-
tion of a place they’ve come
to call home,” he said. “It’s a
really interesting and sad
puzzle — how did people come
to accept that?”
Right now he’s working
on an inventory of drowned
towns, starting with the
Snake River.
“It’s been a real process of
discovery and enlightenment
for me,” he said.
He has a map posted on
the website drownedtowns.
com.
The website also has a
place where people can send a
note with information about a
drowned town.
Resident’s photographs help preserve Robinette’s history
The legacy of Robinette,
one of Oregon’s drowned
towns, is richer than many
largely due to one of its resi-
dents’ facility with a camera.
Pete Basche and his wife,
Ernestine, moved to Robi-
nette in February 1942.
Over the next 15 years,
Pete worked as the Stan-
dard Oil Co. fuel distributor,
hauling gasoline and diesel
and heating oil around Baker
County’s Panhandle.
But Pete also used his
camera to document life
in one of Oregon’s more
isolated towns.
What he didn’t know, for
part of that time, was that it
was also a doomed town.
Pete’s daughter, Betty Bas-
che, who was born on Dec.
30, 1942, in the family’s home
at Robinette, said her father
“always had a camera.”
“We didn’t go anywhere
RIDERS
Continued from A1
Griffi n, for instance, served
for six years in the U.S. Army.
As for “Riders,” that refers
to one of the members’ favorite
hobbies — riding motorcycles.
Griffi n said she under-
stands that motorcycle groups
don’t always have a sterling
reputation due to the link, un-
fair though it may be, to gangs
such as the Hells Angels.
“We want to show people
that this group of motorcycle
riders are also really involved
with the community,” Griffi n
said.
The basis idea of Patriot
Hope Riders, she said, is to
without a camera,” Betty said
in a 2017 interview with the
Baker City Herald.
Pete’s photographic sub-
jects ranged from Christmas
pageants at the one-room,
K-8 Robinette school, to boat
trips down the Snake River’s
rapids, to family outings in
Hells Canyon and to Anthony
Lakes to escape the Canyon’s
oppressive summer heat.
In the last few years before
Robinette was submerged,
Pete focused his lens most
often on the very project that
doomed his town — the con-
struction of Brownlee Dam.
He photographed the
multi-year process — it
started in 1955 — from the
ground on both the Oregon
and Idaho shores of the
Snake, from the steep slopes
above, and in several cases
from an airplane.
“That was his passion —
photography,” Gary Diel-
man, who curates the Baker
County Library District’s
Historic Photo Collection, an
online archive that includes
almost 8,200 images, said
in 2017.
That’s the year Dielman
added 270 photos, most of
them taken by Pete at Robi-
nette during the 1950s, to the
collection.
Pete, who moved to Rich-
land in 1957, died on July 17,
2004, at age 90.
Betty Basche, who lives in
Richland in the same house
in which she was born after it
was moved from Robinette,
inherited much of her father’s
photo collection — more than
1,000 images.
The Pete Basche Collection
and the rest of the county’s
historic photos, are available
at bakerlib.org.
— Jayson Jacoby
serve as a back up to existing
organizations that help people
in need, including churches,
service clubs, the county veter-
ans service offi ce, and others.
“Those groups can’t do it
all,” Griffi n said. “We want to
fi ll in the gaps.”
In some cases, she said,
that might involve explaining
to residents how they can get
help with their needs — for
instance, by giving a veteran
the phone number for Rick
Gloria, the county’s veteran
service offi cer.
But Patriot Hope Riders
can also offer direct aid in
some circumstances, whether
that’s fi nancial help or, say,
getting somebody’s car run-
ning so they can get to work
and the grocery store.
“We have members who
are mechanically inclined,”
Griffi n said.
Patriot Hope Riders has
seven founding members,
including herself.
• Roy Fontenot and Becky
Eaton, owners of Black Iron
Forge Co. and Black Iron Pit
• Cameron Williamson,
owner of Iron Rhino Fitness,
eight-year Army veteran and
VFW member
• Matt Diaz, owner of Get
Smoked BBQ, Navy veteran
and volunteer at Harvest
Church
• Mandy Diaz, owner of
Whimsy Cakes Bakery, Navy
veteran and volunteer at
Harvest Church
Geiser Grand nominated
as Best Ski Hotel
The Geiser Grand Ho-
tel in Baker City has been
nominated as a contender
for Best Ski Hotel in USA
Today’s 10 Best Readers
Choice travel awards.
The winner is deter-
mined by online votes.
The Geiser Grand is
currently in fi fth place out
of 20 locations — behind
Viceroy Snowmass in
Colorado, The Blake in
New Mexico, Trapp Fam-
ily Lodge in Vermont and
Fairmont Le Château in
Quebec.
The Geiser Grand’s
entry references the ho-
tel’s proximity to Anthony
Lakes Mountain Resort,
Oregon’s ski area with the
highest base elevation, at
7,100 feet.
Baker County Livestock
Producers Foundation for
the 2021-22 school year.
Morrison is a sophomore
at Treasure Valley Com-
munity College in Ontario,
where he is majoring in
Agriculture Business. He
Vacancy on school
intends to pursue a master’s
budget committee
degree in the fi eld.
Morrison has his own
The Baker School Dis-
cow herd and is part of his
trict has a vacancy on its
budget committee, and ap- family’s ranch in Baker
plications are being taken. County. He is involved in
Applications can be
the Rodeo Club and has had
picked up from Karly
numerous leadership roles
Knapp at the school
in 4-H and FFA. He has als
district offi ce, 2090 Fourth participated in community
St. Applications are due by service projects with the
Nov. 29.
Nazarene Youth Group.
Scholarship forms are
available at the Baker
Ty Morrison receives
County OSU Extension Of-
scholarship
Tynan “Ty” Morrison of
fi ce, 2600 East St., or online
Baker City has received a
at http://extension.oregon-
$750 scholarship from the
state.edu/baker.
MOTHER
she immediately wondered
whether Kaitlyn had gone
with the man again to
his home.
Michelle said the home
that Baker City Police
searched earlier this week is
the one where the man lives.
Regan said police didn’t
fi nd Kaitlyn, but Michelle
said she still wonders
whether her daughter is
hiding there.
“I don’t know of any
other person she could pos-
sibly be talking to,” Michelle
said, referring to the man
with whom her daughter
had a relationship.
Michelle said that last
year she overheard “highly
inappropriate” phone
conversations between her
daughter and the man.
She said she doesn’t
know if they have had
contact since Kaitlyn — who
went by Kaitlyn Adler until
about a year ago — ran
away last year and went to
the man’s home.
Baker City Police Chief
Ty Duby said on Wednes-
day afternoon, Nov. 3, that
Michelle’s belief that her
daughter is intentionally
staying away from home is
the most plausible explana-
tion.
Given that there’s no
evidence that Kaitlyn was
abducted, Duby said there’s
little if anything police can
do other than what they
already have, which is list
Kaitlyn as a runaway on a
nationwide police network.
Duby acknowledged that
it’s “frustrating” to not be
able to help Michelle get
into contact with Kaitlyn.
But police have no legal
Continued from A1
Baker City Police Sgt.
Mike Regan said police
became more concerned
about Kaitlyn, leading them
to describe her as endan-
gered, because they haven’t
been able to confi rm that
she’s had any contact with
anyone since leaving BHS.
Michelle has a suspicion
about her daughter’s where-
abouts based on an episode
last year when Kaitlyn, then
16, also ran away.
Michelle said she argued
with Kaitlyn, and didn’t try
to stop her when she left.
“I let her go because I
thought she just wanted
to blow off some steam,”
Michelle said.
When Kaitlyn didn’t re-
turn after a couple of hours,
though, Michelle became
worried.
She said she initially
thought about a man, who
had recently turned 20, that
Kaitlyn might have had a
relationship with.
Michelle said she went
to the house where the man
lives, knocked on the door
and could hear her daugh-
ter’s voice inside.
Kaitlyn refused to leave
with her mother.
Michelle said she called
Baker City Police, who told
the residents of the home
that they couldn’t keep
Kaitlyn.
“Finally she came home
with me,” Michelle said.
“She wasn’t happy about it.”
When Kaitlyn didn’t
come home the afternoon
of Oct. 28, Michelle said
• Chris Graves, volunteer
fi refi ghter
Griffi n said their goal is to
have at least two fundraisers
per year.
As a past president of
the women’s auxiliary at the
Baker City Eagles, Griffi n has
experience in raising money.
“We raised money for vet-
erans and we helped quite a
few veterans with the money
we raised,” she said.
Griffi n said another recent
fundraiser at the VFW Memo-
rial Club was on behalf of
Michael Blount, a 48-year-old
Baker City man who died
Aug. 6 after being hit by a
vehicle while riding his mo-
torcycle on Campbell Street in
Baker City on July 20.
NEWS OF RECORD
DEATHS
Rebecca Marie Henry: 65,
of Baker City, died peacefully
Oct. 31, 2021, at her home with
her family by her side. No fu-
neral services are planned at this
time. Memorial contributions
can be made to the American
Cancer Society through Gray’s
West & Co. Pioneer Chapel,
1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR
97814. To light a candle in Rebec-
ca’s memory or to offer online
condolences to her family, go to
www.grayswestco.com.
FUNERAL PENDING
Dean Franklin Spence:
Memorial service with military
honors, Friday, Nov. 12 at 11 a.m.
at the Harvest Church, 3720
Birch St. in Baker City. Follow-
ing the service, a reception will
take place at the Harvest Church
Fellowship Hall. Memorial
contributions in Dean’s memory
can be made to the Compassion
International or to the Idaho
Youth Ranch through Gray’s
West & Co. Pioneer Chapel,
1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR
97814. To leave an online condo-
lence for Dean’s family, or to fi nd
a livestream link for the service,
go to www.grayswestco.com.
People can vote once
per day through Monday,
Nov. 22. To vote, go to
www.10best.com/awards/
travel/best-ski-hotel-2021/.
The winners will be an-
nounced on Dec. 3.
Many of the Patriot Hope
Riders founders were friends
with Blount, and his death
helped prompt the group’s
formation, Griffi n said.
She said one of the orga-
nization’s goals is to have one
major fundraiser each year to
specifi cally benefi t a family
that has been affected by a
motorcycle or car crash and
authority to take additional
steps, such as forcing the
residents of the home to
allow police to search again
for Kaitlyn, Duby said.
Michelle said she has
her daughter’s cellphone,
and has been able to access
Kaitlyn’s email account and
some social media accounts.
Michelle said she has
found no evidence that
Kaitlyn, who had her laptop
computer with her and uses
it frequently, has used that
computer to access any of
her accounts since Oct. 28.
That apparent lack of
activity frightens Michelle,
and leads her to ponder
“other scenarios” than her
belief that Kaitlyn is sim-
ply hiding, possibly at the
man’s house.
“If she’s not there, where
is my daughter?” Michelle
said. “Who else would she
be with?”
Michelle said she had a
call on Tuesday, Nov. 2 from
an acquaintance who re-
ported seeing a young girl in
south Baker City who might
have been Kaitlyn. The
caller wasn’t sure, however,
and the girl was not wear-
ing the clothes that Kaitlyn
was wearing on Oct. 28.
Michelle said the sight-
ing was not near the home
where Kaitlyn went after
running away last year.
At this point, Michelle
said, she would be satisfi ed
just to know that Kaitlyn
is safe.
“If she called now and
said, ‘mom, I’m OK but I’m
not coming home,’ it would
be hard to accept, but it
would relieve me so much,”
Michelle said.
has fi nancial needs.
Patriot Hope Riders is
working to start a Face-
book page.
In the meantime, Griffi n,
who grew up in Baker City,
lived elsewhere for 14 years
but returned eight years ago,
is the group’s main contact.
Her phone number is 541-
519-6617.
Jay & Kristin Wilson, Owners
2036 Main Street, Baker City
541-523-6284 • ccb#219615
Rachel Pregnancy Center
2192 Court Avenue, Baker City • 541-523-5357
Services Provided:
Free Pregnancy Tests
A resource
center for
Referrals for Free Ultrasounds
families
Pregnancy Options Counseling
Adoption Referrals
Prenatal, Infant Care & Parenting Classes
Maternity & Baby Clothing
Post Abortion Recovery
Helping women & men in an
Open Tues -Thurs
unexpected
pregnancy.
unplanned pregnancy.
All services free & confidential.
10 am - 5 4 pm
(closed for lunch)