Jubilee Memories from Baker's Early Days
By Phylis Badgley
There’s a certain feeling of nostalgia, plus anticipation, that
accompanies the Jubilee celebration! No doubt that comes from
childhood parade participation, plus the fact that reunions are held
and I’m privileged to see many former Bakerites return for the July
weekend. During childhood years, I watched the annual Jubilee parade
from a vantage point 3 blocks from our family home. We usually
walked to the corner of 4th and Broadway, but a few times we parked
the car at Miller Bros. Garage. This provided shade.
In mid-30’s Miners’ Jubilee was held during July 4th holiday. At the
time the sun-tanned cowboys came to town, bought a new pair of
Levis, shirt, straw hat, and took the day off from working in the
hayfields, and wrangling cattle.
The Jubilee parade featured beautifully decorated floats, made of
paper mache forms or chicken wire stuffed with tissue paper.
Elaborate entries from Baker’s financial institutions, utility
companies, and fraternal organizations often garnered first prize.
Prominent were mining entries embracing the theme of the
celebration. I recall huge logs in the parade. These products of
nearby forests were of such size that 3 logs made a full load. They
were proudly displayed by the logging companies who made their
living harvesting trees. I was fascinated by the sight of Indians in
full head dress who participated in the parade. They advertised the
Pendleton Roundup.
Not to be forgotten were Jubilee contests of rock drilling and log
sawing. Court street was blocked off between Main and Resort to
accommodate these events. Muscle power, endurance, and precision
marked the winners of these contests. On-lookers cheered
enthusiastically. Efforts of Chamber of Commerce and Leo Adler
brought famous persons to Baker’s celebrations. Phil Harris, noted
Hollywood entertainer came with his orchestra to play for the
Jubilee dance at the Covered Wagon hall on old Highway 30. The
structure later burned. Presently it’s the location of Ward Ranches
potato cellar.
My anticipation mounted as July 5 drew near, for it meant my parents
would buy my sister, Alma, and I a metal cap gun. A roll of caps
threaded through it. All to soon the 5-cent box of caps had to be
re-supplied. The metal gun was definitely more exciting than the
wooden models we made by hand. Those used a clothespin trigger that
released inner tube strips. I had sold several cardboard cartons to
Rapp’s Bakery for 2-cents each, so spent a dime for a box of
sparklers. Hand held sawdust “punks” helped ignite the sparklers. We
learned early the pain of touching hot sparklers wires.
Firecrackers were packaged in decorated tissue, with interwoven
fuses. The tiny “lady fingers” were about the size of pencil lead.
When we lighted bigger firecrackers beneath a can, we had the
approval of all the neighborhood “kids.” From a safe ward, as a
sulphur odor emitted from the mini-explosion. Activity for kids? You
bet! July 3 Children’s parade found participants decorating bicycle
spokes with red, white, blue, crape paper and dressing unwilling
pets in costume. “Dollar Bill Ellis” beloved local merchant
marshaled the lineup at City Hall. His trademark, a 10 gallon hat
was a familiar sight. The parade ended at City Park. Prospects of
cash prizes sharpened children’s participation. In the three-legged
race, one leg of each contestant was secured at the ankle and they
raced to the finish line. In the sack race, contestants placed both
feet in a gunny sack, held onto the corners, propelled themselves in
jumps to the finish line. A few spills inevitable occurred. Pie
eating contestants sat at wooded tables. Hands behind their back. At
a given signal they ate as much pie as possible without the aid of
fork or utensil. Blackberry stain quickly transferred onto the faces
of the participants. Much laughter flowed from nearby observers.
Printed here with permission of
Record Courier
