NEWS
MyEagleNews.com
Wednesday, October 12, 2022
A3
Memories of times gone by No cause found for mill fi re
Austin resident recalls life in the
old mill town of Bates
according to Averett. There was a service sta-
tion with a small lunch counter called “The Y,”
named after the intersection of Highways 7 and
26.
By JUSTIN DAVIS
“They called it The Y because the road cut
Blue Mountain Eagle
off of Highway 7 on both sides of the service
station and came down into Bates. There was
AUSTIN — Rosalie Averett has seen a lot no road through the mountains yet,” Averett
of change since she moved to Bates in June of said.
1951 with her six-week-old son in tow.
“Really, none of our kids got in any serious
Now 88, Averett was 16 when she moved trouble at all,” Averett recalled of those early
to Bates, a company town in eastern Grant years in Bates. “Things changed, though, when
County built to
the mill in Baker
house loggers and
shut down.”
mill workers for
The community
the Oregon Lum-
was
“heartsick”
ber Co. The town
following the mill
ceased to exist
closures, Averett
after the mill shut
recalled.
down in the 1970s,
“We didn’t ask
but Averett didn’t
for anything from
wander far, mov-
anybody. We had
ing with her fam-
good jobs and we
ily to the nearby
had
everything
community
of
we needed. When
Austin, where she
Edward Hines took
has remained ever
over, that’s when it
Justin Davis/Blue Mountain Eagle all changed. It was
since.
She still has Rosalie Averett sits at the kitchen table of her home in not for the good,
fond memories of Austin on Thursday, Oct 7, 2022. She and her husband either,” she said.
her time in Bates. bought the house for $1 and moved it from the old lum-
The mill in
“My husband ber company town of Bates after the mill closed in 1975. Bates shut down in
was part of the
1975, a little over
woods crew. There
a decade after the
was probably 300
Edward
Hines
Grant County Neighbors
people back then,
Lumber Co. had
and we had a good
bought the oper-
NAME: Rosalie Averett dogs”; cooking on her
school,” Averett
ation — and the
1911 woodstove/oven
said.
town it supported
AGE: 88
“They
had
— from Ore-
FAMILY:
Husband
Tom
RESIDENCE: Austin
a principal, Mr.
gon Lumber. The
Sr. (passed in 2002),
OCCUPATION: Retired
Cardwell,
that
houses in Bates
son Tom Jr. (passed in
was very stern
were put up for
HOBBIES: Watches
2021), son Dan (owner
and strict, and
sale for $1 apiece,
neighborhood dogs
of Grant County Build-
even the big boys
with the require-
because she “likes
ing Supply)
were scared of Mr.
ment that the pur-
Cardwell because
chasers fi nd some-
he’d whip them. In those days nobody said, body to move the houses to new locations.
‘You hurt my baby’ — you know, that’s what’s
The Averetts paid $1 for their home and had
wrong with the world today. It was just a good it moved to Austin following the mill closure.
place to raise kids.”
“They moved some to Sumpter, some to
Averett’s husband, Tom Sr., set chokers on a Prairie City and ours out here, but it just wasn’t
logging crew to support Rosalie and their grow- the same,” Averett said.
ing family. Tom’s wage for that work was 35
Despite all the change, the Averetts
cents an hour.
remained in Austin even when everyone else
One of the funniest things that happened in was leaving.
Bates, according to Averett, involved a half-
“We just like it here,” Averett said. “It’s
blue tick hound, half-Labrador dog that would quiet and peaceful. That’s all we want is quiet
wait behind the store for the meat truck.
and peace. Once in a while somebody makes a
“That driver said he knew that dog was mistake by not giving us peace and quiet.”
going to wind up with something, and Smokey
The changes happening in Averett’s town
would just sit there,” Averett said.
came with life changes that occurred through-
One day Smokey got ahold of a great big out her time in Austin as well. Averett lost her
bone-in ham and took off with it.
husband, Tom, in 2002. She lost her eldest son
“Every bird and dog and even the store almost two decades later, in December of 2021.
owner were chasing that dog to get that ham
Today, Austin continues to shrink. The cur-
back. He ran over to where they had the logs rent residents are all older and no new residents
stacked up across the river, and I don’t know are moving in, creating a situation where all of
what Smokey ever did with it,” Averett said. the town’s history is at risk of being lost — a
“Everybody and the birds and the dogs looked dynamic that isn’t unknown to Averett.
for that ham, and they never did fi nd it. He ate
When asked if she was worried if the town’s
on it for quite a while.”
history will be lost when community members like
Although it’s a well-known landmark now, herself are no longer around, Averett responded
the Austin House wasn’t there back then, with, “Oh yeah. ... We’ll lose the whole thing.”
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(541) 523-2522
PENDLETON — The Oregon State Fire
Marshal has found no cause for the Aug. 10
fi re that ripped through and destroyed much
of the Pendleton fl our mill.
Pendleton Fire Chief Jim Critchley in
a statement Oct. 5 reported the fi re mar-
shal’s offi ce completed its investigation of
the blazed and classifi ed the fi re as “unde-
termined … accidental in nature.”
During the past eight weeks, Critch-
ley continued, “the Pendleton Fire Depart-
ment has been aware of the impact this fi re
has had on the community, and we are sorry
we have not been able to extinguish the
smoldering.”
The fi re department has been in contact
with the Environmental Protection Agency
and Oregon Department of Environmental
Quality and with Grain Craft, owner of the
Kathy Aney/East Oregonian, File
Flames shoot from the Pendleton fl our mills
the morning of Aug. 10, 2022. Pendleton Fire
Chief Jim Critchley on Oct. 5 reported the in-
vestigation of the fi re could not determine the
cause and called it “accidental in nature.”
mill, about the plans going forward.
“We are looking forward to assisting in
any way we can,” the chief concluded.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
THURSDAY, OCT. 13
will be provided, and attendees are asked to
Meet the candidates
bring a soup, stew, chili or dessert to share.
• 5 p.m., Squeeze-In Restaurant and Deck, There will also be a cakewalk and an Anything
423 W. Main St., John Day
Pumpkin Contest (bring food, artwork or any-
John Day City Council candidates Ron thing else pumpkin-related to enter). Winners
Phillips and Sherrie Rininger and mayoral can- of the Scarecrow Contest will be announced,
didate Heather Rookstool will hold a “meet the community hall’s new tile wall will be
and greet” session to introduce themselves to unveiled, and Dayville student work will be
displayed.
voters and discuss the future of the city.
Triple P Positive Parenting Program
SATURDAY, OCT. 15
• 5:30-8 p.m., Painted Sky Center for the
Free pumpkins for kids
Arts, 118 Washington St., Canyon City
• 3 to 6 p.m., John Day Community Gar-
Free parenting program that combines
four evening sessions with personal phone den, Third Street Extension, John Day
Children are invited to stop by the pump-
calls to help with individual implementation.
kin patch at the John Day
Sponsored by Families First,
Community Garden to pick
Community Counseling Solu-
up a free pumpkin. There
tions and Frontier Early Learn-
will also be a Grant County
ing Hub. Free dinner and free
Library Foundation Story-
child care available. Register
and hot or cold drinks
online at https://tinyurl.com/
HAPPENING Walk,
will be available, depending
bdevzm6s. For more informa-
on the weather.
tion, call 541-575-1006.
W HAT’S
FRIDAY, OCT. 14
Free pumpkins for kids
• 3 to 6 p.m., John Day Community Gar-
den, Third Street Extension, John Day
Children are invited to stop by the pump-
kin patch at the John Day Community Gar-
den to pick up a free pumpkin. There will also
be a Grant County Library Foundation Story-
Walk, and hot or cold drinks will be available,
depending on the weather.
Dayville Fall Festival
• 6 p.m., Dayville Community Hall, High-
way 26, Dayville
The town will hold its annual Fall Festi-
val in the newly renovated Dayville Com-
munity Hall. Cornbread, rolls and apple cider
MONDAY & TUESDAY,
OCT. 17 & 18
CyberMill open house
• 4 to 7 p.m., 119 Front St., Prairie City
Grant County CyberMill will celebrate the
grand opening of its newest location in Prairie
City with tours, refreshments and door prizes.
Like the nonprofi t’s Seneca location, the Prai-
rie City CyberMill will have three public com-
puter terminals, a conference room, a printer,
working space and free WiFi.
Do you have a community event you’d
like to publicize? Email information to edi-
tor@bmeagle.com. The deadline is noon Fri-
day for publication the following Wednesday.
Is the
$0 PREMIUM
MEDICARE
ADVANTAGE PLAN
right for you?
Harvest
Festival
CALL NOW FOR YOUR
FREE PERSONALIZED
APPOINTMENT!!!!
Oct 14th 3pm-8pm,
Oct 15th 9 am - 2 pm.
Please Call
(541) 523-2522
East Oregonian
DONNA STEELE
541-575-3518
Heritage Barn at
the Grant County Fairgrounds.
Multiple Food Vendors, Curbside Cravings on Saturday,
Hot Dig-Ga-Dy Dogs, hot dogs and sausage dogs
with all the fixings on both days. Fire and Ice Ice Cream,
multiple dietary options available.
Live Music
Kids activities- face paintings too!
Drawing for a 8 burner grill
Cider Press available, bring your own apples/containers,
or both available for purchase.
Autumn mini photo sessions
Pumpkins and winter squash, home canned goods,
baked treats & honey for sale
20+ vendors
Sign up to be a vendor:
grantcofarmersmarket@gmail.com
or call 541-620-3152