From Our Files: Jan. 22, 2025

The Sweet Home Police Dept. received an unexpected surprise in 1975 when the American Legion Auxiliary presented it with homemade cookies and pastries, and nine pounds of coffee in recognition of Civil Defense Month. From left, Police Chief Chuck Smith measures out coffee while Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Jones and Mrs. Bryant look on.

Jan. 26, 1950

 

President Truman’s estimated budget for the fiscal year includes a requested appropriation of $200,000 for planning of Green Peter Dam, one of three proposed in this area that were submitted for congressional approval by the Corps of Engineers in 1949. The dams were submitted as substitutes for the Quartz Creek dam, authorized in 1938, which would have been located in the area where Sweet Home stands now, but population growth made it impossible. The other two proposed dams were Cascadia (south fork of Santiam) and Wiley Creek.

 

The widening and improvement program for Highway 20 between Ames Creek bridge and just east of 18th Avenue is at a standstill due to reluctance of some property owners to give the state the necessary options on the property.. The present sidewalks were to be replaced by the state without cost to property owners or the city, Main Street was to be paved from curb to curb, and storm sewers were to be installed – thus making it a completely modern city. The plan cannot go forward without property owners donating the frontage.

 

The city’s former jail is being torn down to make room for a parking lot. The jail was built some time between 1910 and 1915, and was later converted into a house after Oakley Benson acquired it in 1929. Located next to Roy’s Associated Service on the north side of Main Street at 13th, it is the second jail the city has had. The 14’ by 18’ jailhouse area was built of solid two-by-fours stacked on top of each other like a log cabin; later it became Benson’s living room.

 

Jan. 23, 1975

 

Winning a bid for the Oregon Log Project, Lebanon and Sweet Home Jaycees will drive a Douglas fir log across the states to the National Jaycee Convention in Miami where it will be a major attraction during the Parade of States there. The prepared 850 year old log that came out of Snow Peak near Scio is 32 feet long and weighs 47,000 pounds with an estimated value of $4,500. It will be shown around Oregon before embarking on a 3,735 mile journey, stopping in major cities along the way for a looksie. The fate of the log is not yet known, but a proposal was made to Disney World to purchase it for display.

 

During a public input meeting on the State Parks and Recreation Dept.’s preliminary master plan for Cascadia State Park, Rev. R.W. Steingrandt criticized the department’s management so far. He said he drank from the springs in the early 1900s when the property was owned by George M. Geisendorfer. Steingrandt pointed out a provision Geisendorfer made in deeding the property to the state, which included no blasting, excavation or other improvements in or about the main soda spring that would disturb the natural flow of water. The area has been bulldozed and a concrete platform with a hand pump put in that returns “soup” instead of fresh spring water.

 

Jan. 26, 2000

 

Looking back at planning commission approvals from 1999, it was revealed there were five subdivision applications. More lots were created than at aunty time in an 11-year history. The city added 109 new lots, which were created. For the first time since 1992, there were no lots approved by the city that were not created by the developer. Last year, some 31 lots were created. About 30 were approved but not created.

 

Several students and parents volunteered over the holidays to cover the track behind the high school. As much as 300 cubic yards of donated bark chips were spread over the track for walking and jogging. Cross country runners Duane Smith and Andrew Allen organized the effort, saying the runners needed a place to run so their legs wouldn’t get hurt.

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