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THREE MINUTES WITH …
COMMUNITY
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2022
HERMISTON HISTORY
Tin man resurfaces in Hermiston 25 years ago
25 YEARS AGO
April 1, 1997
ANDREW LAMB
Umatilla
If there’s one thing that I know about you, it’s
that you love movies and you’ve been to several
opening night showings. What are some of the
most memorable ones?
I’ve been to most of the Star Wars movies for mid-
night showings, same with Harry Potter and others.
The biggest one I remember is “Star Wars: Episode
1,” which we saw 13 times in theaters. On the 13th
viewing, we walked out after the pod race scene,
because we realized it was too many. It’s a good
time, and I like to go with family.
You’re a family man. Can you tell me about
them?
Absolutely. I have an amazing, wonderful soon-to-be
wife. I have a beautiful daughter who turns 10 in
April.
You enjoy being a dad?
I love it. I love it.
What’s the best thing about being a dad?
There’s so much, I don’t know where to begin. I see
my daughter grow up, and I see similarities. I see
how she experiences life, and it’s great. It’s a cool
feeling, and I don’t know how to explain it. If you
have a kid, you’d know. It’s just one of those feelings
where you’d do anything for them, anything. You just
want to make sure they’re happy and safe.
How is it watching movies with her?
Watching movies is a tradition in my family, and she
likes it. It’ll probably be something that continues
long after I’m gone, and it’s nice knowing that I’m
sharing something that can be passed on.
Have you seen “The Batman” yet?
No, not yet, but I have seen “Spiderman: No Way
Home.” I loved it, and my daughter loved it, too.
She’s somewhat into superheroes. She’s more into
anime, though.
Can you tell me about your store, Infi nity
Watch Collectibles?
Absolutely. I’ve been open for a little over a year. I
was closed for a while because of COVID, so I don’t
really count that. We sell a little bit about every-
thing, so keep in mind that we are a collectible shop,
not just a card or comic shop. We have everything.
My whole thing about being a storeowner is that I’m
not in it to make a million dollars. I’m not going to
be the next Jeff ery Bezos. I’m just trying to put food
on the table, live somewhat comfortably and give my
customers a good deal. I want everyone to get good
deals, have a good experience and come back.
Can you describe your customers?
They are great. I have some amazing customers.
When most people come in here, they will see some-
thing that makes them light up. To see them get
excited, it’s a good feeling.
You’re a collector, too. What is your Holy
Grail — that one item that you don’t have that
would make you smile?
A fi rst-edition Charizard or Blastoise. These are
Pokemon cards. Pokemon is the fi rst card game
that I ever collected, and so I have a nostalgic
connection to it. If I could ever get my hands on a
fi rst-edition Blastoise, I’d probably faint.
When Wayne Hamilton sold his
metal scrap shop and the giant tin
man he had made for advertising, he
did not think he would end up seeing
it again 50 years later.
After returning from WWII,
Hamilton completed his metal
apprenticeship and started a busi-
ness. To attract customers, he cre-
ated a giant tin man.
“I needed some sort of adver-
tisement and this is what I came up
with,” he said. When he retired in
1971 and sold his shop to a business
in Prosser, the tin man went as well.
Since then, Hamilton lost track of
its whereabouts — until it was some-
how returned to him one day. Ham-
ilton decided to give his tin man to
Road Runner Steel Metal in Herm-
iston, where he had been teaching an
apprentice program.
Co-owner Dale Rincker said they
would use it for its original purpose,
but it was decided to create a new
tin man due to all the wear and tear
it had endured. However, there are
still plans to display the original tin
man on the roof it stood half a cen-
tury ago.
Hermiston Herald, File
In 1997, Wayne Hamilton’s original tin man fi nds its way back to his metal shop
after 50 years.
50 YEARS AGO
March 30, 1972
The highly talented, Herm-
iston native musician, Martha
Leib Cermark will present a pub-
lic concert here in preparation for
her audition to the San Francisco
Opera.
The singer, now 24, began her
musical career at the young age of
four. She continued studying under
numerous teachers, including Rex
Harmon of Hermiston (1963) and
Ted Roy of Pendleton (1964 to
1966).
Martha also sang in the Walla
Walla Symphony in 1965, and after
graduating from Hermiston High
School in 1966, began four years at
the University of Oregon where she
majored in applied music in voice.
Martha traveled to Europe
with her professor, Exine Bailey,
during the summer of 1968 and
studied Mozarteum in Salzburg,
Austria, under Franz Osterburger.
This is also where she met
and married her husband, Brad
Cermark.
Upon returning to the States,
Martha was accepted into the
Portland Opera Association cho-
rus in 1970.
The program to be presented will
contain four sections: music from
1685 to 1750s, a heavy-classical
song cycle, an opera aria group of
two songs in Czech and a medley of
American folk songs.
Hermiston Herald, File
The 1997 Easter Bonnet winners were Evelyn Reece, “Prettiest;” Irene Miller,
“Zaniest;” Joanne Fitzgerald, “Most Original;” and Maxine Poulson, “Oldest.”
75 YEARS AGO
April 3, 1947
“St. John” was the name chosen
for the new Episcopal Church that
will serve Hermiston and the sur-
rounding areas.
Negotiations are currently under-
way to purchase a piece of down-
town Hermiston property, where a
church building will be erected as
soon as possible. Regular services
have been held in the Labor Tem-
ple building since last November,
and will continue until this process
is complete.
Rev. J.M.B. Gill of Pendleton,
executive secretary of the Eastern
Oregon district, plans to move to
Hermiston to continue work in the
parish. A bishop’s committee, which
will conduct the mission’s business
aff airs, was also recently selected by
Hermiston Herald, File
The 1972 winners in the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s “Oldest Bible” contest
were Margaret Engelhart, second place, and Elise Jones, fi rst.
the Rt. Rev. Lane W. Barton. Among
its members are: L.C. Kimsey
(chairman), Ladd Sherman, W.W.
Felthouse Jr., Mrs. Royal Conley,
Herbert Guderian and Frederick J.
Mullen.
The name, location and offi cials
have all been squared out. Now all
that is left to complete is the actual
building of the church itself.
———
McKenzie Rose, a sophomore at
Echo High School, searched Herm-
iston Herald archives to compile
these article summaries.
Hermiston Herald, File
In 1972, accomplished opera singer
Martha Leib Cermark will treat
Hermiston residents with a concert.
BY THE WAY
Send Easter event information to the Hermiston Herald
As we’re hopping along getting closer to Easter, we’re
asking local churches, service clubs and community groups to
let us know about your Easter happenings.
Are you hosting an Easter Egg Hunt, is Peter Rabbit
making an appearance? If so, please provide us with the perti-
nent details — including the name of the event, the targeted age
group, the date, time and place (including physical address).
Also, if there is a fee, let us know. In addition, contact infor-
mation is helpful — in case we have questions or if readers
want more information.
Send details to community@eastoregonian.com no later
than Thursday, April 7 (the sooner, the better). We will com-
pile the information for the April 13 edition of the Hermis-
ton Herald — just in time for Easter weekend, which is April
15-17.
• • •
There are still a few days left to order Mother’s Day fl ow-
ers through the Hermiston Lions Club fundraiser.
The orders must be placed by Friday, April 1 via a link
at www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/hermiston or by calling
541-567-8301.
They will arrive just in time for Mother’s Day — avail-
able for pickup May 5, 3-6 p.m. at West Park Elementary
School, 555 S.W. Seventh St., Hermiston.
Options include red or lavender geranium, and mixed fl ow-
ers in a bowl or hanging baskets. They range in price from
$25-$75. Money raised from the sale benefi ts Lions Club proj-
ects, including its scholarship program and providing sight and
hearing needs.
• • •
Don’t forget the annual Arbor Day free tree giveaway is
Saturday, April 2, 9 a.m. in the parking lot at the Hermiston
Community Center, 415 S. Highway 395.
Sponsored by the Hermiston Rotary Club and Hermis-
ton Parks and Recreation, the event is being held nearly a
month before National Arbor Day, which is April 29. The parks
department said they have found people are more successful in
getting the tree starts to grow when they are planted the fi rst
part of April. For more information, call 541-667-5018.
• • •
Pick up “The Healing of Natalie Curtis,” now avail-
able at the Hermiston Public Library, 235 E. Gladys
Ave. This book, by Jane Kirkpatrick, is about a musi-
cian who suff ers a breakdown but then discovers Native
American music and culture and recovers.
The library’s book club, Bookminders, will discuss
the book April 12, starting at 1:30 p.m.
• • •
If you’re a rock music fan, you will be barking up the wrong
tree at an upcoming Hermiston Public Library event. How-
ever, rock hounds will be pleased with the library’s monthly
display, Hat Rock Hounds, starting Friday, April 1.
Rocks will be on display at the library, 235 E. Gladys
Ave., throughout the month.
• • •
The Harkenrider Senior Activity Center menu for
Thursday, March 31, is baked chicken, mashed potatoes
and gravy, vegetables and dessert. The menu for Tuesday,
April 5, is biscuit and sausage gravy, hash brown patty and
fruit.
In-house meals will be served from noon to 12:30 p.m.
People planning to dine in are asked to call by 11 a.m.
For a Meals on Wheels delivery in Hermiston, call 541-
567-3582 before 10 a.m. to place an order. To pick up a meal
from the center at 255 N.E. Second St., call before 11 a.m.
Meals are $5 and can be picked up between 11:30 a.m. and
noon.
• • •
The Boardman Senior Center is open for dine-in
lunches on Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon at 100 Tatone St.
Meals are $4 for seniors and $5 for others. Take-out lunches
are available by calling 541-481-3257.