A2 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
THREE MINUTES WITH …
COMMUNITY
WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2022
HERMISTON HISTORY
Construction in 1997 modeled future buildings
25 YEARS AGO
May 13, 1997
MARK ROSE
Hermiston
You’re the executive director of the Hermiston
Public Library. How long have you been here?
I arrived August 16, 2016, so it’s been nearly six
years now. During that time, we survived COVID
and a few windy days.
How do you like the job?
I like the job. I like the work that public libraries do.
To me what’s important about it is that anyone who
walks through the front doors, and behaves them-
selves, is welcome. We do have standards and expec-
tations. We don’t want people yelling and screaming.
You have to have respect for others.
What is the worst thing you have caught some-
one doing in a library?
Honestly, I think the worst thing that happened once
is that someone tried to steal someone’s purse. This
was years ago, shortly after 9-11. The patrons were
so infuriated, they caught the person. Someone sat
on them, waiting for the police to come. They just
decided it would not happen while they were there.
That happened at a diff erent library though. At that
same other library, I had to clear the building once
because of a bomb threat. What I fi nd here is that
most people who come here are happy with the facil-
ity, and they’re pretty good.
What resources are available at this library
that people may not consider?
I don’t think people often think of our librarian staff as
a resource. So much is online, and you think you can
fi nd everything you want, but there is no one check-
ing for quality on YouTube or diff erent sites. You have
an issue not knowing what is a reasonable source of
information. At the library, though, we have people
who can direct you to the best sources. We aren’t law-
yers, for example, but we can show you where to go if
you need legal information, or medical information,
that can seem very deep. We can help you better than
someone’s uncle on Facebook or something like that.
Can you tell me what’s coming up for the
library?
New construction is going to happen as we develop,
but the city hall is going to come fi rst. Once it’s com-
pleted, we’ll see if the necessary funds are available
to turn the library’s basement into library space. It’s
on the agenda, but we need to see if the dollars are
available.
What’s the best new book that’s out right
now?
The best book is the one that’s interesting to the
reader. The fun thing is that we have a newsletter that
the public can sign up for. It’s on our website, and it’s
called Wowbrary. It tells you the new books that are
out each week. From that newsletter, you can fi nd a
new book and put a hold on it at our library.
What are you reading right now?
I’m often reading something for the book club. I read
“The Fortunate Ones,” by Ed Tarkington, recently.
Have you ever thought about writing a book?
I thought about it very briefl y, but decided it
wouldn’t be for me. When I was a teenager, I thought
about writing a historical fi ction novel. Then I
started thinking about all the levels of information
and details I would need; it was enormous. You have
to replicate a time period very accurately and then
weave in fi ctional aspects of it. As a history major,
I would have to write 10-page papers frequently.
That’s what we did, and it was a lot of work. I love
to read, but I never had enough of something that I
wanted to tell to write a book about it.
“No fi re danger, no rodents, no
dry rot and no moisture,” contractor
Mike Carlson said about the new con-
struction now available to Hermiston
residents.
Brad Rozema grew up in Herm-
iston and founded Concrete Special
Ties in Gresham in 1986, a company
that builds sturdy concrete structures.
With branches in Wilsonville, Vancou-
ver and The Dalles, Rozema was more
than happy to bring his services back
to his hometown with the opening of
a new branch in Hermiston on May 1.
Rozema predicted his special con-
struction techniques and products
would soon replace wood construction
due to the scarcity, high costs, poor
quality and environmental concerns
surrounding lumber. One of the main
advantages Rozema identifi ed was the
absence of gaps; in wood construction,
joints or air gaps let in outside mois-
ture and other elements. In addition,
Rozema’s partner Duane Bowden
highlighted the better heating, lon-
gevity and fi re resistance of concrete
buildings.
While these buildings would cost
a little more, the price might be con-
sidered worth it. After all, look around
and you are sure to see many concrete
houses today.
Hermiston Herald, File
After its branch establishment in Hermiston in 1997, Concrete Special Ties
got right to work constructing a house for Glen and Joyce Rohde on a hill
overlooking Pendleton.
50 YEARS AGO
May 11, 1972
Joe Garcia’s unique collection of
historical artifacts brought to life the
history of Eastern Oregon. And it all
started with a newspaper in an attic.
An Arizona native, Garcia became
fascinated with searching for and col-
lecting antiques when he moved with
his wife, Dorothy, to Echo in 1949.
In the attic of their new house, Gar-
cia discovered a few old newspapers
and other memorabilia that piqued his
interest. Since then, he asked local res-
idents and searched abandoned home-
steads for other antique objects and his
collection expanded exponentially.
Among his collection included an
1811 and 1869 Bible, a 1900 Victrola
in playable condition, shoe skates used
on the Columbia River when it was
shallow enough to freeze over, a 1848
prayer book, a 45.7 caliber Springfi eld
Army rifl e with the bayonet attached
and much more.
While Garcia regretted quitting
school in the seventh grade and not
pursuing a career in airplane designing
and construction, he was thankful for
the opportunity to build his a collection
of more than 150 antiques.
75 YEARS AGO
May 15, 1947
Edward D. Jones and Ralph Dix-
son of San Francisco made a grand
entrance when they landed their
twin-engine Beachcraft plane in
Hermiston.
The two men were on a business
and pleasure trip. Dixson, owner of the
plane, worked in manufacturing heavy
earth-moving equipment and had a
contract at Moses Lake, Washington,
on the Columbia Basin project. Jones
was vice president of the Standard Oil
Company and sales representative for
11 western states.
Dixson and Jones gave their com-
mendations of the condition of the
Hermiston airport, as it had only been
recently constructed. In fact, their
plane was the largest ever to use the
airport — and there was still extra
space each time the runway was used.
Not only did the trip go well for the
pilots, but it was a good tester and indi-
cation of the effi ciency and capability
of the Hermiston airport. With this suc-
Hermiston Herald, File
Twenty-fi ve years ago, Echo students are treated to a traditional pioneer meal
of fry bread, hotcakes and strawberry rhubarb dessert. Echo Parent’s Club
member Tom Lewis is with Juan Reyes, 12; Carl Allstott, 12; Brian Spike, 17, and
Cory Johnson, 11.
Hermiston Herald, File
In 1972, Genevieve Templeton
displays her stunning artwork, a
large peacock made out of tin cans,
at the Hobby Club Show.
cessful example, the airport was pre-
dicted to be utilized by more and larger
aircraft in the near future.
90 YEARS AGO
May 12, 1932
The recent father and son banquet,
the fi rst one held in a number of years,
was quite a success.
Sponsored by the local Boy Scout
troop, approximately 90 people came.
The night began with Boy Scout Mas-
ter Oscar Payne introducing the Com-
mercial Club president; chairman of
the troop committee H.A. Pankow; and
other members of the committee. Last
to be introduced was Robert R. Hayes,
Scout executive of the Blue Mountain
Council.
Following introductions was the
main entertainment of the night, a mock
trial. Here, formality faded and was
replaced by an amusing fantasy where
Hermiston Herald, File
Items from Joe Garcia’s collection of
local antiques as of 1972.
W.J. Warner, the city attorney, acted
as judge; B.J. Nation, the local dep-
uty sheriff , was given the role of the
off ender; and W.L. Hamm and Harry
Kelly served as attorneys for the state
and defense.
According to the trial, Nation was
being charged with attempting to
assault his son with an ax. The “case”
was carried out in all seriousness but
aff ected a continual uproar of laughter
and gaiety among the “jury.”
Judge Warner eventually decided on
a fi ne of $100 to be used in boy scout
work and a banquet to be given once a
month by the defendant. The banquet
soon came to an end, with fathers and
sons enjoying each others’ company
and keeping their distance from axes.
█
McKenzie Rose, a sophomore at Echo High School,
searched Hermiston Herald archives to compile
these article summaries.
BY THE WAY
Umatilla High School Family Night to provide information, fun
Umatilla High School is looking toward the 2022-23
school year and developing improved connection between the
school and its families.
It is planning Umatilla High School Family Night on
Friday, May 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Umatilla Marina,
1710 Quincy Ave. The event is intended to make connections
between parents of UHS students, the students themselves and
high school administrators, teachers and staff .
Marisa Gonzalez, who teaches health, physical education
and weights at UHS, is spearheading the event.
Family Night will include carnival games, a basketball
tournament, a taco truck, music and information tables about
UHS activities.
All ninth through 12th grade students/families are
invited. For more information, call Umatilla High School at
541-922-6525.
• • •
The Boardman Chamber of Commerce shared a mes-
sage from the family of Ryan Neal, former executive director
for the Port of Morrow.
“The family of Ryan Neal has been touched deeply by the
outpouring of love, care and concern after our loss,” family
members said, according to the chamber website. “Thank you
for reaching out, we have been uplifted by hearing from each
and every one of you.”
A celebration of life will be held outdoors Saturday,
May 7, 3 p.m. at the Marker 40 Golf Club, 78873 Toms
Camp Road, Boardman.
• • •
First Thursday is back. This year, it falls on Cinco de
Mayo, which means that Hermiston is ready for a fi esta.
The Hermiston Downtown District invites visitors to a
fun shopping experience in and around Hermiston’s down-
town area, Thursday, May 5, 4:30-7 p.m.
Shops and restaurants are planning to have specials, refresh-
ments and a district-wide drawing for a gift basket.
• • •
Would you like to receive free books for your child from
birth to age 5? The Hermiston Public Library is partnering
with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to provide this
service.
You can visit imaginationlibrary.com to sign up your chil-
dren. Each child will receive one free book in the mail every
month to keep. The fi rst title will be the children’s classic, “The
Little Engine that Could.”
• • •
Be an orc, wizard, elf paladin or anything else you want to
be in Dungeon’s & Dragons. The Hermiston Public Library,
235 E. Gladys Ave., is teaming up with a local game store, Tolar-
ian Table Tops LLC. They will be hosting a short campaign for
new players at the library Wednesday, May 4, 4:30-7:30 p.m.
• • •
The Harkenrider Senior Activity Center menu for
Thursday, May 5, is chicken cordon bleu, baked potato, veg-
etables and dessert. The menu for Tuesday, May 10, is meat-
loaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables and dessert.
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 avail-
able by calling 541-481-3257.
—Hermiston Herald