COMMUNITY
A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2017
HERMISTON HISTORY
THREE MINUTES WITH ...
Firefighters learn by intentionally burning a home
25 YEARS AGO
MAY 12,1992
• Hermiston was the
hottest spot in the Nation
on May 6, 1992, at 99 de-
grees.
• Irrigon - Celebrat-
ing a “ model of coop-
eration,” the Bonneville
Power
Administration,
joined by five other agen-
cies dedicated the $12
million Umatilla Fish
Hatchery during a windy
ceremony Friday morn-
ing. The new facility, ad-
jacent to the Irrigon Fish
Hatchery, will raise steel-
head, spring and summer
Chinook to help restore
fish runs of the Umatil-
la River. In an unusual
cooperative effort, BPA,
Morrow county, the Con-
federated Tribes of the
Umatilla Indian Reserva-
tion, US Army Corps of
Engineers, Oregon Dept.,
of Fish and Wildlife and
the Northwest Power
Planning Council, worked
together to plan and build
the hatchery.
• Eldon Marcum the
assistant fire chief for
the Stanfield Fire Depart-
ment and his wife, Diane,
donated their house for
firefighting training. “I
lit it,” Marcum said. “I
don’t know if you’d call
it arson or not.” Chief
Jim Whelan said the fire-
fighters get “valuable
practice” from the burn-
to-learn exercises. Three
firetrucks and a dozen
firefighters stand near-
by, no attempt is made to
save the home. The vol-
unteer firefighters occa-
sionally shoot water onto
the advancing flames, but
they all know fire will de-
stroy the house.
LELA LOFTUS
Works at Hermiston Drug
When and why did you move to Hermiston?
I was born here!
What’s your favorite place to eat?
I like Walker’s, Hale’s, Stet’s — there’s lots of good
businesses here.
What is your favorite activity in your free
time?
I love to have people to the house, because I love to
cook! And trivia — I love Jeopardy.
What’s the last book you read?
To Kill a Mockingbird, for about the 12th time. It’s
my favorite book.
What’s the number one app or website
you use other than Facebook
Google.
What surprises you about Hermiston?
The growth. There are so many businesses I
thought would be here forever that aren’t. And
there are big businesses I never expected to
come to Hermiston, like Starbucks or Home De-
pot. I love that Hermiston is a town that wants
to grow.
HERALD ARCHIVE PHOTO
Eldon Marcum (right), Stanfield assistant fire chief, directs two firefighters on how to handle
the erupting flames from the window of Marcum’s old house.
What’s the funniest thing that’s ever hap-
pened to you?
I don’t think that’s printable! Let’s just say,
years ago when I worked at Burnham’s, there
was an unfortunate grasshopper up the dress
incident in the parking lot in front of City Hall.
It’s a good thing no one had a camera phone
then!
50 YEARS AGO
MAY 11, 1967
• Several of Coach
Richard Lowry’s tennis
players are headed to
Districts. HHS “racke-
teers” who will represent
Hermiston are as fol-
lows: Maureen Hoggins
and Miss Truckositz girls
singles; Colleen Hamil-
ton and Kath Owens will
be girls team, and Janis
Schroth and undecided
partner. Boys Singles
Dana Martin and Peters.
Boys doubles will be
Gene Mitchell and Rocky
Hays.
• Umatilla gets new
Spud sorting plant. The
Spada Distributing Co. of
Portland is constructing a
potato sorting and pack-
aging plant just south of
the railroad tracks. The
60-foot by 160-foot alu-
minum building should
be complete my mid May.
In addition to the grading
and sorting machinery
it will house two offices
and a small apartment.
The local crops should be
coming off about the mid-
dle of July.
75 YEARS AGO
MAY 14, 1942
• Temperatures fell to
28 degrees in the Hermis-
ton district Sunday night
and many early gardens
suffered a severe setback.
Considerable
damage
was reported at the LW
Dixson hop ranch where
much of the young hops,
just recently trained, were
killed. Early potatoes and
tomatoes also were listed
among the casualties. Al-
though May 10th seems
late for a killing frost,
weather records show that
one has appeared as late
as June 24.
• Information received
on new projects not ap-
proved was reported from
FC McKenzie from LR
Durkee, regional engi-
neer of the Federal Works
agency at Seattle, indicat-
ed that there is no chance
that government funds for
a city hall or additional
firefighting
equipment
will be available at the
present time. This is due
to the scarcity of essential
materials and the need of
such materials for war
purposes .
If you could travel anywhere, where
would you go?
I’d love to explore the U.S., there’s a lot just right
here that I haven’t seen. Outside the U.S., I’d prob-
ably say Australia.
What’s one of your goals for the next 12
months?
I’d like to see a little bit more growth in myself.
Getting involved in things in the city, doing more
charitable stuff. I’ve done a bit, but it’s time to do
more.
What’s your proudest accomplishment?
That would probably be my marriage of 34 years
to my husband that passed away. That was pretty
perfect. We met the first day of 7th grade. Tears
or no tears, I can’t think about him without smil-
ing.
HERALD ARCHIVE PHOTO
Eldon Marcum (right) directs a hose at the flaming bunk
house on his property as Shane Alford gets to his feet.
The firefighting was part of a training exercise and Marcum
donated his house to the cause.
100 YEARS AGO
MAY 12, 1917
Sunday morning, Fa-
thers Butler and Killian of
the Catholic church were
the recipients of a new
Ford automobile from the
people of the four church-
es, Hermiston, Umatil-
la, Stanfield and Echo.
While not altogether a
surprise, they were not
expecting the car at this
time. Some time ago the
church people told Father
Butler that as soon as they
could do so an auto would
be presented.
• The HHS Graduation
Class in 1917 were 10 Se-
niors: Ruth Chamberlain,
Pearl Sullivan, Margret
Shotwell, Georgia Skin-
ner, Alice Prann, Cleo
Fisher, Alfred Groom,
George Prindle (enlisted),
Harry Chapman and Car-
roll Reeves.
• A general meeting
of the Hermiston Pub-
lic Safety organization
has been called for next
Thursday evening at the
Civic Center room.
This meeting is open to
not only present members
but all in the Hermiston
country who believe in
standing loyal to the gov-
ernment during the war.
L i t t le
D a r l i n gs !
This special section will be fi lled with photos of and
messages for adorable little darlings from Umatilla County.
Families will want to keep this special keepsake for
their child and family for years to come.
PUBLISHES:
June 28, 2017
DEADLINES:
June 08, 2017
Olivia,
t.
I loved you from the very star
heart.
my
ed
rac
emb
,
You stole my breath
un.
beg
just
has
er
Our life togeth
.
You’re part of me, my little one
Love, Mom
Send in, or drop by, a
full color high resolution
photo, your child’s name
and a message to
your child today!
Little Darlings
211 SE Byers, Pendleton, OR 97801
333 E. Main, Hermiston, OR 97838
or email
classifi eds@eastoregonian.com
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Child’s Name:
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