Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 28, 1963)
HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES, flMKIIHtlMMII THE GAZETTE-TIMES MOHBOW COUNTY'S NEWSPAPER - PHONE 676-9228 The Heppner Gazette, established March 30. 1883. The Heppnei Times established November 18, 1897. Consolidated February 15 1912. WESLEY A. SHERMAN Editor and Publisher 54 rkal NIWIPAPIB PUILISHIRS ASSOCIATION Subscription Kates: Morrow and Grant Counties, $4.00 Year; Else where $4.50 Year. Single Copy 10 Cents. Published Every Thursday and Entered at the Post Office at Heppner, Oregon, as Second Class Matter. OFFICE HOURS: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hlltlllllll(IIIIMIIMIMIIIflllMIIIIIIIIIIMIIItllll(IIIIIIIIIMIIttlllllllltll IHIIIIHHHIHIIIIfHIItHMHIMMMIMIIIIIHI Former Editor Writes Of Paper's History O. G. Crawford, now of Ncl scott but whose name is closely linked with Morrow county newspaper history, has written an Interesting letter to the editor on the occasion of the Gazette Times' 801 ii anniversary. It is published here with the know Indue that many will be inter ested in the paper's background and In the personalities assoc iated with It. It Is as follows: Reading of your forthcoming observance of the 801 h anni- 'itim bii iini ij iiiii un ii ii', i nir'iMiiaiiirfy O. G. CRAWFORD versary of the Heppner Gaelte, and later (he Gazette-Times, I was Intrigued with the idea that, although I had not been ap proached on the matter, I might add something of interest Inas much that for 50 years I was from time to time identified with the publications as recounted above. To begin with, the Crawford family controlled the newspaper field in Heppner and Morrow county for a period of 10 years. Going back farther than that, my brother, Vawter Crawford, joined the mechanical staff of the Gazette In 181)0, when Otis and Alvah Patterson were the publishers. He worked for the Gazette until he took the office of County Clerk in 1898, a post which lie held for eight years, then joined Hie Hank of Heppner staff as assistant cashier. In 1910 lie had an opportunity to buy the Gazette from Fred Warnock and two years later took over the Times from E. M. Shutt and COMMUNITY BILLBOARD i i Coming Events LEGION MOVIES Saturday. March 30, 8 p.m. "The Screaming Eagles," a U. S. Air Force picture. Plus one-half hour of car toons. 4-11 BEAUTY CLINIC Saturday, March 30, 1:30 p.m. Multipurpose room, Heppner Elementary school. All 1 11 gills, leaders and in terested mothers welcome. BLOOD BANK DRAWING Wednesday, Apr. 3, 2 to 5:30 Catholic Parish Hall "Give that others may live. MORKOW COUNTY HUNTERS and ANGLERS CLUB Morrow County Courthouse Wednesday, Apr. 3, 8 p.m. In terested public invited to at tend. BAND CARNIVAL Fair Pavilion BUIg., Sat., Apr. 13. Full evening of fun, starting at 5:30 p.m. SPONSORED AS A TUBLIC SERVICE BY C. A. RUGGLES Insurance Agency P. O. Box 247 PH. 676-9625 Heppner Thursday. March 28, 1S63 IIMIHIIIMIIHHIUIMIIIHIIIIIIIIHIH HEPPNER HELEN E. SHERMAN Associate Publisher NATIONAL EDITORIAL -T ttmHMI.'.H.'J:H:B changed the name of the com bined papers to, Gazette-Times. It was a few days before I attained my 15th birthday that my brother Garfield came home for lunch one day and asked me if I would like to learn to "stick type," that being the method of composition of the day. I accepted the offer and accompanied him to the Times office after lunch. Garfield had been identified with both papers from time to time since 1890. E. M. Shutt was editor and pub lisher of the Times and the paper was published from a small two-story frame building located just about at the rear of the present Gilliam and Bis bee hardware store, being one of a group of several small frame buildings that were con sumed in the 1919 fire which was responsible for wiping out several blocks of business houses and residences. Adjoining the Times building on the south was the Willis Stewart livery barn and yard, and beyond that was he Gazette building. thus, Ileppner's two newspapers were relatively close neighbors for a number of years. This condition was changed by Fred Warnock, who abandoned the original Gazette building for a location on May street, about midway between Main and Chase streets. The Gazette re mained in that building until In 1912, when the Times was ac-1 quired by Vawter Crawford who decided that because the Times had a typesetting machine, a Unitype, it would be better to dispose of some of the equip ment of both plants and occupy the Times building. This ar rangement stood until after the 1918 fire which started in the "Club" building on the comer of West Willow and Gale streets and spread out to include several buildings in that immed iate vicinity. Frank Roberts, who built the stone building at the corner of West Willow and Main, owned some of the lots left vacant by the 1918 fire and Vawter pre vailed upon him to put up a shop building tor the Gazette-1 lines. An agreement was reached and that part of the present Gazette Times building housing the printing equipment was ready for occupancy and the plant was moved prior to the July 4, 1919, fire. It seems almost unbeliev able to me, but since figures are not capable of lying, it must he seen that the G-T has spent more than one-half of its exis tence in the location on West Willow street. In 1919, Vawter and son Spen cer, who by that time had be come associated in the publi cation of the paper and was al ready a "lop hand" in the print ing department, found it nec essary and advisable to re place the old Country Campbell cylinder press with something more modem. They decided upon the Optimus 41 as the type of press best suited to their needs and placed an order for the press that lias served for almost 41 years. And (his was where the writer came into the picture. Having worked off and on for two papers and then the G-T after consolidation from 1901 to 1911), I moved from Heppner to La Grande where I worked for a short period in a small job shop and then joined Hie job staff on the La Grande Evening Observer, then published by the late Bruce Dennis. After 1 had been there three or four months, Dennis sold the paper and the new publisher concluded that wages were too high and cut nearly all of the back shop tone back $2 a week each. This was hard to take in face of the fact that World War 1 was on and the cost of living was advancing almost dally, so when an op portunity came to work for the Wallowa Chieftain at Enterprise I accepted. I The vears immediately follow ing World War I were prosperous ones tor tne i.azouo-1 nues umi the publishers decided that was the time to make long-needed improvements in plant equip ment. Chief of these was the inuchase of the Optimus press. Through the kindness and un derstanding of George P. Cheney, ! publisher of the then Reeord ! Chieftain at Enterprise. I was granted leave to spend the sum mer at heppner and serve as printer-pressman until such time as the regular members of the shop personnel had mastered the RV AX---r y J '' ' Jff V f i i j F . - Jmmm - . Af ' THE OLD ONE MOVES OUT. Shown being pulled out of the Gazette Times shop is the faithful old Babcock Optimus press, which printed the paper for more than 40 years. Standing at right is Jack Jewell, editor of the Wallowa Record, who bought the press for his paper. (G-T Photo) THE NEW ONE MOVES IN. Coming through the front of the Gazette -Times shop is the No. 3 Miehle press which was pur chased from the Woodburn Independent. This press printed most of the Gazette-Times Welcome Edition in June, 1961, but this issue of the Gazette-Times is the first printed on the Miehle here. (G-T Photo) feeding and handling of the new press. To the more sophisticated nrescnt-ihiv nressmnn. addition of a two.revolulion press capable ol turning our j.uuu impressions per hour might not warrant more than a hint of elation, but to printers of the old Country Campbell press days it was a revelation. The old Campbell had served the industry for more than one-half of a century and its departure from the Gazette Times office to take up service elsewhere until the junk man would take over was not as joy ous an occasion as the office personnel had anticipated. How ever, with it off the floor and on its wav to its new home, at tention centered upon erection of the new nress. an activity in which I was privileged to par ticipate. The Barnhart & Spindler com nanv. I h much which the Opt imus was purchased, sent a com pany machinist by the name of Smith to erect the new press and the day he got it in shape to be tested he asked me to preside at the feed hoard. I was not familiar with the five-speed con trol and Smith said for me to attend to the feeding and he would take care of the control. He started on No. 1 and grad ually Increased the power until it finally h.-ul the little nress going at top speed. My aim at llio fririinf cauees was eood and there was no piling of papers suen as nappeneu merauy uious ands of times in the year to fol low. This I know because I did my full share of it. On this trial Mr. and Mrs. Rod Murray 217 N. Main Ph. 676-3610 Two Registered Pharmacists At Your Service Around The Clock Nights, Sundays and holidays call 676-9G11 or 676-5512 A, M 4 i 4 i there was no ink on the press just a dry run with nothing to create static. I trust this recitation of facts relative to the installation of the little press that has for nearly 41 years performed valiant ser vice in the publication of the Gazette-Times has not bored you. It has been prompted by a de sire to "keep the record straight" so far as those in whose hands the destiny of the newspaper was placed for a little more than one-half of the publication's 80 years as Morrow County's News paper. I am proud that I got my initial bid to the newspaper field right there in Heppner and that it was my privilege, after a lapse of more than 40 years after making that start in March, 1901, to return as editor and publisher in late 1942. With the able assistance of my wife, Viola, we took over a business whose future was as doubtful at the time as was our country's, faced as it was with an all-out conflict to preserve the American way of life. But our eight years and nine months tenancy is a story in itself and has no place in this article. Before closing, permit me to state that I think the newspaper field in Morrow county is being covered in an able manner and to add a word of hope that the community will continue to give the Shermans the support they deserve and must have to carry on the excellent job that is being done. Yours for accomplishment of bigger and better things, O. G. Crawford YOUR DRUGGIST ... a title we're proud to hold. Whatever vour prescription needs, whenever they arise, our service is at your command. Every new health-miracle is at our pharma cists' command ... at your service! All prescriptions promptly filled by registered pharmacists. HUMPHREYS REXALL DRUG STORE Chaff and Chatter Wes Sherman THE BOYS at the coffee shop expected to see the Gazette Times printed by mimeograph this week. Of course, it is still a little early at this writing to predict that they were wrong, but the first run is on the "new" Miehle, and we think that the odds are in our favor to get out on schedule. A few days ago it looked as if our shop couldn't print even a handbill with the disruption caused by moving out the old press and moving in the new one. But with some expert help and the cooperation of many the job was completed on schedule. As soon as the paper was out last week, the work started in removing the Babcock Optimus that served the Gazette-Times for so many years. O. G. Craw ford, former publisher, tells in an article also on this page of the installation of this press when he was editor years ago. Jack Jewell, publisher of the Wallowa Record, was due at 6 p.m. Wednesday to take out the Babcock, which he purchased. However, the truck he had ob tained for the purpose developed trouble soon after he left Wal lowa, and he and his crew were delayed. They had to obtain an other truck, transfer all their gear and then make the trip to Heppner. They arrived at 2 a.m. Thursday and went right to work, sticking with the job through the night. Meanwhile, Howard Keithley had ripped out the front of the shop to make room for moving the presses intact. At about 10:30 a.m. Thursday, just as Jewell and his men were completing the loading of the 8,100 pound Babcock on their truck, the Miehle arrived on a big Wilhelm Trucking Co. truck on the end of its journey from Woodburn. Jack moved his "new" press out of the way, and the job of unloading the 16,900 pound Miehle began. Under the expert eye of George Bent, press erector, and the able work of the trucker and a rigger of the Wilhelm Co. the press was rolled off the truck on wooden rollers and over skids to its position in the shop. Meanwhile, the home staff was moving equipment out of the way and making changes throughout the shop. The new press involved a complete re organization, which should prove time-saving and more ef ficient over a period of time. The electrician was busy making in stallations and general organ ized confusion reigned. Friday found Keithley re placing the front of the build 2 DRAWING to 5:30 p. m. THE BL00DM0B!LE IS COMING THIS MESSAGE SPONSORED MEMBER, ing, the new press was in posit ion and Bent was busy fitting the accessories in place. The home crew was busy rushing around, finding new places for equipment and start ing to mop up. Bent, through the knowledge gained in 27 years experience moving and erecting presses, had the Miehle ready for operation by Saturday, except for the auto matic feeder which is an intri cate mechanism. A chain broke that drives the feeder from the motor, and Sunday morning found him and the editor not in church but scouring Cornett Green's junk yard for a small size harvester chain. We learned that there are about six million kinds of chain made, of which 5,999,999 are represented In the junkyard of Cornett Green, but this particular kind isn't there. A man was working at Tri County Equipment Co. He could n't find any on the premises there, and another Good Samar itan was busy at Inland Chem ical on this Sunday morn. He couldn't find any either, but he welded the broken link, and we were in business again. However, we decided not to use the feeder this week be cause there are other adjust ments to be made and we will run the press by hand feeding for this week and next week. Monday morning found the shop in pretty good shape (ex cept for a badly needed paint job). We were in full produc tion again by Tuesday, and to day (Wednesday) finds the "new" press rolling. It's surprising how many dif ferent persons had a hand in the move in one way or another,, and we appreciate the good services rendered. The furniture store (Case) even shared in it, cutting glass for the replaced shop front. Others were Nate McBride for some welding, Fulleton Chev rolet for wrecker service, Turn-A-Lum Lumber Co., Anderson Builders Supply, Western Auto, Gilliam and Bisbee, Chief of Police Dean Gilman (who block ed' the streets while the trucks were loading and unloading), Fred Gimbel and PP&L, and heaven knows who all. We were real proud of our sidewalk superintendents. Fig ure we had the best crew of on lookers that has been assembled in a long time. The folks mentioned above are in addition to the principal ones involved George Bent, the ma chinist and press expert; Pen dleton Electric Co. and Pat Cole who rewired the place; Keithley; and the Portland trucking firm. Do Your Part ! Give A Pint At Blood PpH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3 Catholic PARISH HALL HEPPNER CANTEEN SERVICE BY MARANATHA CLUB, IONE If convenient, make appointments in advance by calling Mrs. Orville Cutsforth (Ph. 989-8473). However, an appoint ment is not essential. BY YOUR HOME-OWNED EANK ANK OF pastern Qrecjon HEPPNER IONE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE With all this fine assistance we got the job done on schedule. It really went like clockwork. Most of the benefits that will ac crue from the change will be noticed principally within the shop on labor saving and pro duction helps. However, it should contribute to a better paper and will give us greater capacity for any growth that may come to the area. It does feel good not to have to mimeograph the paper this week! Anyone Interested is wel come to drop in and see our "Iron Monster" but it will be more intriguing when the feeder is in operation. Some day, if and when we get cleaned up, we would like to hold an open house. CONGRATULATIONS to John Wagenblast for winning first place in the state on his first year record book at the FFA convention in The Dalles last week. John was first a district winner, and his fine book went on to cop the state title. That's another contribution to putting Heppner's name on the map. THE LITTLE item in the G-T last week about someone breaking a window in the club house of the gun club brought results. The club received three dollars in the mail with a nice anonymous letter of apology, which stated that it would never happen again. SCHOOL MENUS Heppner-Lexington Week of April 1-5 MONDAY Hamburger cas erole (Mor) carrot sticks, coffee cake, fruit, bread and butter and milk. TUESDAY Potato salad, wien ers, buns, celery sticks, fruit and milk. WEDNESDAY Navy beans wilh butter, fruit, salmon sand wiches, cabbage salad, bread and butter and milk. THURSDAY Hamburger gravy on rice, buttered peas, Jello veg etable salad, fruit, milk and bread and butter. FRIDAY Split pea soup, pea nut butter sandwiches, lettuce wedges, cake, fruit and milk. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Pratt and family spent Thursday through Sunday in Portland visiting rel atives and Mr. Pratt attended the OEA convention. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Dobbs and son Bob went to Portland March 17. Mrs. Dobbs and son, Bob, re mained for a longer stay and Mrs. Dobbs attended the beaut icians' trade show. Ron Gray brought them home Wednesday. Dr. and Mrs. Jim Norene and daughter, Tracey, were in Port land for the week-end to visit his father, Roy J. Norene. Mrs. Connie Cushman. Jeanne and Mike, visited Wednesday through Sunday with her par ents, Mr. and Mrs. Art Watkins. 1 aT A DATE TO GIVE AS A COMMUNITY SERVICE CORPORATION
