FOUR-The Heppner Gazette-Times.
Sifting
Fifty Years Ago
University of Oregon Pres
ident Dr. Arnold Bennett Hall
addressed a group of forty
parents at the Episcopal
parish house Monday evening.
Dr. Hall headed a group of six
who visited Heppner on a tour
to promote mothers and dads
associations. The meeting was
arranged by Mrs. W. P.
Mahoney. representing par
ents, and V. R. Poulson.
representing alumni.
"Heppner s winter egg sup
ply went up in smoke." Thus
announced Arnold Pieper,
who farms in Pieper Canyon
northeast of the city, in telling
of the fire which consumed a
new chicken house and lfio
pullets on his place about 10
o'clock Sunday morning, net
ting him a loss of $1,000.
W. Claude Cox, manager of
the Morrow County Creamery
and Clair Ieannah Cox. his
wife, have awarded the con
tract for construction of a
modern reinforced concrete
building to house the cream
ery on the lot recently
purchased from the city of
Heppner on the corner of
Center and Chase streets, to
Harry Johnson and Henry
Crump, local contractors.
Work will start immediately
on the building. 40 x 60 feet,
with a boiler room. 20 x 24 feet,
a total of 2400 square feet of
floor space.
The Pomona Grange met
Saturday with Rhea Creek
grange as host. Dinner was
served to 200. Disappointment
was felt because of the
inability of Julius L. Meier to
be present.
Twenty-five Years Ago
Bids for the construction of
i
NOW IN STOCK
Men's &
earroams
Heppner, Oregon. Thursday,
through
two new foot bridges across
Willow Creek were received
by the city council which plans
to replace the old wooden
bridges. The lover's lane
bridge was condemned and
closed to all traffic early last
summer
Apparent low bidder is
George E. Beard. Beaver ton.
who bid $9,287 for the two new
concrete and steel bridges.
Residents and city officials
of lone watched with pleasure
last Thursday and Friday as
water poured from a newly
drilled city well and flowed
down Main street in a gener
ous stream.
The new well, drilled hy
G.M. Jannsen. lone driller
only about loo feet from the
old citv well, completed its
24-hour test Friday morninu.
checking out at over T.non
gallons per minute. To make
things even nicer, the 7.000
gallons were the maximum
capacity of the test pump. The
well appeared to have an even
greater capacity.
The Chamber of Commerce
field hunting fund was richer
by more than $.150 as a result
of the special non-conference
game between Heppner and
Burns last Friday, which
Burns won 27 to 11. Over "no
witnessed the first game held
under the new lights and
heard R G "Nig" Borleske.
former Whitman College
coach, praise the chamber
and the people of Heppner for
getting the lights installed
Five Years Ago
Roh Ewell. Tri -Count y
Health Service officer, ann
ounces that a survey of the
three counties (Gilliam. Mor
row and Wheeler i is planned
nr mi
Women's
SOFT, warm;
STYLISH
n ! 1 f
i ' 0 ' I i
i J V. x --r
We, at PGE, would
like to thank all of our new neigh
bors in Eastern Oregon for your
friendly cooperation and hospi
tality during the building of the
Boardman Power Project. More
than 1,000 of you attended our
Open House. Thanks for coming.
If you missed the Open House,
you are cordially invited to visit
October i, mso
the TIMESfl
With Jtistinr ttpathvrjora
Residents will be asked to
complete a simple toini and
return it to the health st ice
department
October marks the first
anniversary of the Heppner
Child l)e elopment ('enter.
Monica Swanson. director of
the center, commented on the
yroulh ol the center, "from,
not quite twenty live dollars
and one lareo h,re room to
this " The empty room now
has been decorated into a
brightly-painted center that
cares for almost thirty chil
dren. The original board of
directors included Linda
Johnson. Carol Goodyear, ed the Heppner Mustangs 19-6
Heppner, Arlington
visit with college reps
Students Irom Heppner
High School will go to Pendle
ton High School lor a meeting
with represent. lines of the
seven state colleges and
universities on Thursday. Oct
It;, at 9:. in a m
And on Friday.- Oct, 17 at
(f lu a m students from Arl
ington High School will go to
The Dalles IlieJi School for the
same program
This program supplements
the counseling programs of
Heppner and Arlington High
Schools hy giving students
first hand information about
program of stmh ofterings.
admission i eqinrcments.
housing, oki- to attend,
financial aid. scholarships,
and other infermaiion impor
tant to post higi- school pl.-tort
ing
Parents at encmirag
ed te, at'eed tl-c program
which v. ill ii'.iturt- informal ion
ses-am v, oh f -j i! , .on f , i i os
from Kasie? n t cg.n State
College, (ii eg. e College of
Muir rfln'.'titors
to inert nt EOSC
iiio'ii;! Mii-ti Fdiieators
Assoi i at ton I ii -' ' i. ,, ,
spolisnr a ' l,li't,.WT,,i; li.iv"
OP )ctlU-r , lii I , ,),
in the IIom ( i.!.-. . I 'enter at
E.-kIohi i ,...., yi.g,. ( , ii,..-,.
The :ii't" it'i- ..-m to all
llllei (-!. ! , ii . ;, I 'i;c,l I T-.
Ke'JI-t' !, v..! I -,., ;,- a
a te at tin- I liii -i.tnri! 1 1 ion
He-k III J! -Ira! , . -.-.ill be
SI i
"Silv to i'jofu people
representing almo-i that
mam fin-con ,,l usualK
attend ' -aiH 1 1 .lames
Ri.lrt.ii !' r assistant
prnb-ssor n h i,-. .
(llH'-l . pi ,1,1 i . ir, illlje
Keith f-.i.t. .,! !..-.. , . Clark,
w ho vs 1 1 ! 1 1 i i i r in ! i no.
Sam s,,i-i!- ,.t f..,.,i.,. ni!-,,.r
an I 'ta or -g -. . ... i ,m .11 t,, k oil
choral ems ii- a i i. n ..-I liinn . a twl
Adrianne Hat a i- e! la e- erlon
who v.il! talk .... .a, fui-.-tai v
TOIIsje
I' or Inn" ii Ii .1 .- n a ! ton . eon
tact 1 )i !o-i i . .... at ; 7i
our Visitor's Information Center
for a plant tvnr 1 ( r? Center is open
9 am to 5 prn Mondays through
Saturdays and from noon to 4 pm
Sundays. Gail 481-9356 to make
an appointment for a tour. Again,
we say thanks (or making us feel
so welcome.
Anno Doherty. Joyce Grasser.
Don Cole and Cathy Peck.
Hal Whitaker. who was
responsible for huilding the
partitions, lockers and fence
lor the center, received a
'Voluntary Service Award'
Irom the 4'Cs Council.
Seventy five people attend
ed the first annual meeting of
the Morrow County Historical
Society, Sunday. Oct. 5. in the
Loxiimtnn Grange Hall. Guest
speaker was Larrv Smitton.
Pendleton historian
The Riverside Pirates con
tinued their unbeaten football
winning streak as thev defeat-
Education. Oregon Institute of
Technology. Oregon Stale Un
iversity. Portland State Uni
versity. Southern Oregon
Stale College, and the Univer
sity of Oregon.
The Oregon State System of
Higher Education college con
ference program extends in
vitations to all public and
private high schools in Ore
gon. Time to plan
for Artifoctory
Its time to begin thinking
about the "Artifactory" a
gam This year's ninth annual
arts and crafts fair, sponsored
hv the Heppner-lone branch of
the American Association of
University Women, will again
be held at the Fairgrounds
This year it will he held on .
Sat . Dec fi. from 10 a.m. to 4
p.m. One card-table space
costs $" for the day.
Local artists and craftsmen
interested in selling, demon
strating or displaying their
hand crafted items or Christ
mas baked goods should con
tart one of the following
f women to reserve a space
Please let them know if any
special arrangements need to
lie made isuch as electrical
outlets, backdrops). Please
call Bobbette Hednian. tdaysi
i;7('e.V578. Inez Erwin. fi7fi-506
or Marie Boor, (evesi 422
t'H. BMCC Board to
meet in Heppner
The Blue Mountain Com
munity College (BMCC)
Hoard of Directors will meet
in Heppner on Wed . Oct. 15. at
".in p.m. at the Heppner High
School Library.
During the meeting there
will be an open lime for
individuals to ask questions
and voice their concerns
Nancy Brownfield. BMCC ar
ea coordinator, w ill he on hand
lor the meeting.
Native son
HY Justine U'eatherford
The history of Emile Groshens' family, which involves
several other Morrow families, begins in Alsace-Lorraine,
that region along the French-German border which has been
a prize in several wars betwen those two countries. From the
700's until the 1500's it was under German rule, then France
gained control by slow stages. The people fought all efforts to
turn them into Frenchmen but the French Revolution of 1789
brought a change of heart. The inhabitants became so
French in spirit that more than 50.000 moved to France when
Germany took over their territory in 1871.
tThe Germans resented the loss of the prosperous area
alter World War I. but regained control of the area in World
War II The Allies drove the Germans out in 1H44-45 and
France again took control of the entire region.
The Groshens and Hisler families were living in
Alsace-Lorraine when France lost the territory in 1871, They
had been born Frenchmen, but were now ruled by Germany
and the men were subject to conscription in the German
Army. Emile's father, Louis, had to serve in the German
forces for three years ; however, his brothers and many other
young folks eagerly migrated to America to avoid German
conscription. An older Groshens son, Charles, came first to
Portland. Oregon, where he found employment driving a
horse-drawn streetcar. Next Louis came, and soon Helene
Hisler. then 16, and her brother, 17-year old Paul Hisler,
came from the same area to Portland. They came because
their aunt was married to Charles Groshens.
Louis Groshens decided to move to Eastern Oregon. He
came to Morrow County to do ranch work for Jim Hager on
Willow Creek. Paul Hisler, the first of three Paul Hislers
here, also came to Morrow County where he found ranch
work on Little Butter Creek with rancher Ed Day. His son
Paul. Rrandson Paul and great-grandchildren still live near
the ranch where he was first employed and later owned. The
Hislers have added to the original Day Ranch. Marguerite
Chapin, Heppner. is a daughter of the first Paul, sister to the
second Paul, and one of Emile's cousins.
Young Helene Hisler found work in Portland as a maid in
the home of the French Consul Henri Labbe. Louis Groshens
worked on the Hager place for three years when he took out a
homestead claim on Mallory Creek in the Blue Mountains. He
went to Portland and married Helene and brought her out to
the Mallory Creek homestead. This was surely quite a
change from the lovely Portland Labbe home to the mountain
homestead where her husband raised horses.
Before too long the couple traded their homestead for 240
acres on Rhea Creek where they established the home where
their five children were born-Claire, Emile, Lorriane, Odile
and Mae. (Claire in time married Leonard Gilliam.
Heppner's Don and Condon's Louis Gilliam are their sons.
Emile's nephews.
Emile Iuis Groshens was born in 1898 and lived on the
Rhea Creek ranch t until 1936. His family gradually
accumulated more land and ran sheep and cattle. About 15
years ago Emile sold the place to the Reed family who still
have cattle there.
Emile's schooling began at District School No. 3 on Rhea
Creek. After a few years, as their family grew, the Groshens
liegan spending their winters in Heppner and their children
attended the old town school which stood where the hospital
is now. They went through the grades on the building's first
floor and moved upstairs to attend high school classes. While
Emile was in high school. Ihe new high school was built. It is
now called the junior high. He attended the new school until
he left in 1917 to work on the family ranch.
Sheep, wool, cattle and horses sold well during World War I
years, but after the war farming was sort of up and down.
Emile explains that all shipping from Grant County came
through Heppner because the railroad ended here. The town
was quite busy with sheep, wool and cattle trading and
buying of family supplies. Many wool buyers came here from
Boston. Most of Ihe sheep were shipped east, but most of the
cattle went to Portland. Wool was baled and sold at auction.
Emile was only five years old at the time of the tremendous
I90.i flood. The mother and children out on Rhea Creek
weren't really very involved, but the father brought a team
into town and stayed for ten days to help clean up the mess.
During Emile's young years, the family, like most other
families living on ranches, only came to town a couple of
times each year. However after their children were all school
age. Ihe Groshens kept a winter home here. Emile recalls
that there was a Catholic grade school here then. When the
Catholic youngsters reached high school many of them went
to Ihe academy in Pendleton. During the winters the
Groshens family went to Sunday school and church at the
Chrislian Church.
In I9i:i Emile's dad bought a car, a Sludebaker. There were
not many other automobiles in Ihe county then. The roads
Squate ance Wessons
BEGINS
6
This Ad Sponsored By
Columbia Basin Electric Co-op
OCT. 19
p.m. 9 p.m.
3om Sfegion 9iaCC
LONTACT
LLOYD AACNARY
422-7569
f
This picture of Entile Louis Groshens was taken in
Portland when he was 211 years old
were just wagon roads and were rough to travel
Emile's father. Louis Groshens. Im1 in I91B. hut his
mother. Helene. lived much longer. Emile recalls that 1918
was a bad year A great fire in Heppner destroyed the old
Palace Hotel and throe blocks adjoining it. Somehow Ihe fire
left the Dr. McMurdo home standing, but the Groshens
winter home next door (where the Dr, Tibbie's home is now)
was hunted completely , "Fires then meant almost a total
loss ns few folks had any insurance Early fire department
were low on equipment and training and were unable to
curtail fires that really got going "
In 19:11 Emile married Hernico Sigsbee (a sister of Elaine
Georgei and Ihey continued to operate the Groshens home
ranch until t9:u; when the ranch home was struck by lightning
and burned completely No one was inpired, but Ihe decision
to sell the land was soon made
Emile and Bernice bought the Tom Iteymer Ranch on
Million Creek t where Floyd anil l.oretui .lones are now l. Me
continued to run sheep and cattle until 19."n. the year Bernice
died Me then sold Ihe ranch to the Joneses and retired
Emile moved into the Lanham Apartments in town for
several years In August I'ltil' Emile and Ola Mae Benson, a
school music teacher, were married Emile iHinght the
Garnetl Barratt home on North Gilmorc where he mid Ola
Mae still reside Ola Mae continues leaching a few advanced
piano pupils
Emile has watched many significant changes in this
county Hi' tells alMitit Heppner's local electrical generating
plant which was fired by wood The powerhouse stood where
the town swimming pool is now. Gradually horse power gave
way to aulos and tractors How exciting were Ihe first radios,
around 1920 It was about I'l.iO win-n the fu st TV came Emile
saw his first airplane when barnstorming flyers came here to
the county fair and offered rides for $in
Asked If the Victor Groshen f.imilv was related to him,
Emile said that Vic's dad, Old Vic. was his uncle. Ins father's
brother. He doesn't know when or why that branch lroped
the final "s" from the family name
Emile said Hint al one time there were seven saloons in
Heppner. Old Vic bad a saloon where the Gilliam A Bisliee
Building now stands His son. now Victor, Sr , served the City
of Heppner many years, and his grandson. Victor Jr., who Is
with the stale police here, now has grown sous
Emile joined the Elks Lodge in Heppner in l!HH and now is
the third oldest member He says that life gets lonesome
after many of one's friends have died He especially misses
Ed LaTraee who was a friend horn early school days, and
Harold Colin and Scott Furlong with whom he enjoyed
fishing.
At 82 years. Emile's health slays good, and he enjoys
gardening and walking about, lie stands six feet tall and still
weighs the same 198 pounds that he has carried for years. He
ami Ola Mae enjoy TV and keep up with current affairs. They
often attend Ihe Senior Citizen dinners.
Iooking back over his lifetime here, in spile of various lips
and downs, Emile Groshens declares something that much of
the world's population can not stale -"! have never in my life
gone hungry."
Umatilla
Ready -Mix
is Still in Business in
Heppner
Cement deliveries scheduled twice
weekly to South Morrow County.
Regularly on
Wednesdays ond Fridays
a if
t
Pi
"WO
for dispatch
call collect
567-6173
o
S.rvlnf M.rr.w, (Milam i
Heppoor 676-9146
lift. .1