Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 7, 1996)
♦ * Lesley celebrates M CGG Customer Appreciation Day his 100th birthday By Merlyn Robinson HEPPNER îmes VOL. 115 NO. 6______ 12 Pages Wednesday, February 7, 1996,______ Morrow County Heppner, Oregon Fire destroys home on Chase Street Firemen drag burned furniture out of house. Fifteen Heppner Volunteer Firemen and three pumpers responded to a house fire at 465 S. Chase Street in Heppner around 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5. Heppner Fire Marshal Forrie Burkenbine said that the fire call was turned in by a neigh bor and the fire department took only three minutes to res pond to the scene. Burkenbine said that the house was “totalled” by smoke and heat damage that ruined the wiring, walls, paper, paint and floors. Burkenbine said that the pro bable first source of ignition was the upholstery, but officials are not yet sure what caused the upholstery to ignite. “The cause is undetermined," said Burkenbine. Heppner Fire Chief Rusty Estes said that the house had been purchased by the Hender son family from Sweet Home several days earlier. Estes said that Henderson had been weatherizing the house when a window broke and he got glass in his eye. Apparently Henderson was just returning from the hospital around 5 p.m. when the fire broke out. Estes said that all the Hen derson family's large appli ances were destroyed in the fire. HE DC honors board members Green, Spicer and Hyatt “ Seen it all" aptly describes Huston (Hoot) Lesley's life dur ing the past 100 years of monu mental changes. This centen arian turned 100 on Feb. 1. Perhaps hard work, clean liv ing with high moral standards, plus a peppery temperament has helped endow this man with longevity. Best of all, Huston and his young 94-year- old bride, Marie, share over 76 years of married life and they continue to live at their Hard man residence where they have been since 1945. Bom in 18%, this World War I veteran began life on the fami ly farm near Monument where his Scottish ancestors had settl ed. Ranch youngsters in those days were a vital part of the farm labor, all done manually using horse and mule power. Huston's education began in the typical one-room school- house of those days. Like others, he quit school and went to work full-time at age 15. In addition to ranch work, he be came a protege on the county : road crew. When a road was carved through the narrow Heppner High School seniors, Dodie Givens (left) and Colin Ander gorge of the John Day River, son, help prepare Morrow County Grain Growers for their annual Customer Appreciation Day, Saturday, Feb. 10, from 8 a.m. to Huston had attained "powder noon. monkey" expertise and set dynamite blasts in the sheer The Morrow County Grain with dealer displays and de rock walls of that area. Growers will hold its annual monstrations. You can also take Huston also became a self- taught mechanic as automo Customer Appreciation Day your chance at winning one of this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 the many door prizes to be biles became prevalent. He also noon. given away. Everyone is wel operated stage routes over The day starts off with a free come to attend. primitive roads of that era. Huston was 21 when he enter pancake breakfast, followed ed the Army during World War I in 1917. He became a corporal in charge of training younger Money-Hi, local old-timer, passes away men. His unit was transferred to Hawaii and the war ended before he was engaged in active combat in Europe. Perhaps it was the sight of a tall, dashing figure in a uniform that helped him to meet his future bride when he attended a dance following military ser vice. He and Marie Legler were married on Labor Day 1919. Their honeymoon trip was a campout in the mountains via a secondhand Model T Ford purchased for $85. A rainstorm and a car that lacked power for climbing hills might have dampened the honeymoon, but not their marriage. In those difficult times, ranch hands earned a dollar a day. , ‘ ^ — Marie helped by cooking for crews. When Huston drove Money-Hi saw last winter. stage route between Long Creek and Kimberly, they Money-Hi, a 36 year old him at the Spray and Fossil bought a home in Canyon Ci thoroughbred horse belonging rodeos. "Many friends, who remem ty for $400. to George and Anna Mae bered him from his racing days, The Lesleys also lived in Mt. Steagall of Heppner, succum- have often asked about him Vernon for five years where ed to old age and a bitter winter and passers-by in the last two they owned a service station this past week. to three years began to notice and garage. A home on the out Money-Hi was a member of "The Old Fellow on the HU1" skirts of town accommodated the Steagall family since he was and marvelled at his longevity home-grown produce and two years old. He was a famil helped to provide necessities iar sight to the public on the of life ," said Anna Mae. for their family that included Steagall's mini-ranch outside of "Though not a record for age, three daughters. They also liv Heppner for the last 27 years. he was unique." Money-Hi had the run of the ed for a time in Moscow, Idaho The Steagalls moved to Hepp where Huston worked at ner from Lexington in 1968, ranch and daily made himself welcome to the lawn by open machinery maintenance. bringing Money-Hi with them. ing the gate and helping The prospect of making more Steagall raced Money-Hi in money lured them to the Port his younger years at the Hepp- himself, she said. His many land and Vancouver shipyards ner/Morrow County rodeos years of friendship and fun he during World War II. Eventual and the Morrow County Der gave to his master earned him ly they became tired of the "rat by (long since dropped from this privilege. "H e will be missed," said race" as the Portland area grew the show). Steagall also raced Anna Mae. and they decided to return to their rural roots. Before crossing the Blue Mountains, they ran out of gas at Hardman. The opportunity An Oregon Department of pilot car. to purchase the combination Transportation (ODOT) con Construction will consist of store, gas station and post of struction project is scheduled to an emulsified asphalt concrete fice building came their way and they decided to stay. Marie begin at Ruggs approximately leveling, emulsified asphalt oil was postmistress for 21 years 10 miles south and west of mat, produce stock pile mate until rural mail delivery routes Heppner on Highway 207. The rials (sanding rock) and the in stallation of guardrail and metal closed the Hardman Post Office project will extend for 15 miles in 1968. Huston pumped gas and end at Anson Wright Park. snow fence. ODOT has awarded the con and did vehicle repairs. Closure The contract completion date struction contract to Vail Con of the store at this later date for this project is Sept. 30. struction of Pasco, Washington. When construction begins, allowed them time for travels. Val Construction was the suc However, they have continued the public can expect minor cessful bidder for the project to live in their cozy home inside traffic delays and one-way traf with a total bid of $883,114.50. this building with only minimal fic controlled by flaggers and a outside help. . -, i« .i . , ** . - • ■ ■ • • -V i • - • - * .. ■ ■ **■ > -* ' J *.-• x*>V'Va -■ ■' • ■ ,*• vi • y i ■• ■ 'H .‘- J Road construction to begin at Ruggs t ■ • V , - - • '» • ;* .V .*•» FREE Pancake Breakfast (L-R) Cliff Green, Pat Hyatt and Anne Spicer. Three retiring members of the Heppner Economic Devel opment Commission board of t directors were honored at the annual HEDC meeting held in Heppner last Wednesday. Cliff Green, Anne Spicer and Pat Hyatt were presented with plaques of appreciation for their past work on the board of directors. C u s t o m e r A p p r e c ia t io n D a y Saturday, February 10th 8 a.m. to Noon Lexington, Oregon Morrow County Grain Growers Lexington 989-8221 1-800-452-7396 Ä -v l« :