150 years ago
1874
Buggy smash-up: On Monday last, as Charles McLane, of this place, was driving through the country, near Philomath, with that bewitched buggy of Sol. King’s, he inadvertently drove over a cow, that was lying in the road, which getting up, ran one of her horns among the spokes, tearing out one and stopping the vehicle so suddenly that Mr. McLane and a lady companion, Miss Beck, were thrown violently to the ground, the former receiving injuries so severe as to render him insensible for several hours. The horse then ran away, but was finally captured, unhurt. The demoralized remnants of the buggy were towed into town by a farm wagon, on Tuesday, and turned over to the wagon maker. (Published June 27, 1874, in the Weekly Corvallis Gazette).
125 years ago
1899
For sale: 44.33 acres, known as the Felger Mill property, one mile west of Philomath, in Benton county. Good residence, outbuildings and orchard. Fine place for flouring mill. $1,500 will take it. $250 cash, balance on ten years if desired at 8 per cent interest. This is a bargain. Enquire of Geo. F. Eglin, Corvallis, Or., or F.M. Johnson, Rooms 13 and 14 Sherlock Building, Portland, Or. (Published June 30, 1899, in the Corvallis Union-Gazette).
100 years ago
1924
Bridge work: W.H. Newton, A.K. and Floyd Crawford have completed the bridge work at Alsea and have commenced work on the Mary’s river bridge near Noon station. (Published June 28, 1924, in the Corvallis Gazette-Times).
Broken arm: Merle Bethers, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Bethers, had the misfortune of breaking his right arm just above the elbow, Tuesday morning, while he was with his mother and a party of berry pickers on the Alsea road a few miles west of this city. Merle and a few other children were playing not far from the pickers when he fell from a log, striking another log and thus causing the fracture. (Published June 28, 1924, in the Corvallis Gazette-Times).
75 years ago
1949
Marys Peak Trek: There will be no dusty roads to the summit of Mary’s Peak this year when several thousand persons take in the fourth annual Mary’s Peak Trek on August 7. That is the conclusion set down at a recent meeting of the Mary’s Peak Shrine Foundation group which is meeting each week in preparation of the event for the benefit of the Shrine hospital for crippled children. Representatives of the Corvallis, Linn and Lincoln county and Dallas Shrine clubs have held a series of meetings the past few weeks working out details of the event that should attract 10,000 persons to the peak on August 7. Another item of importance beside the decision to oil the road to the peak was the improvement of sanitary facilities in the area. (Published July 7, 1949, in the Benton County Herald).
40 years ago
1984
On the ballot: Benton County voters Tuesday will be asked to approve an $809,512 levy outside the county tax base. The levy carries an estimated tax rate of 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed property valuation. Added to existing county rates, the levy will produce a total rate of $3.19 per $1,000 of assessed value. Also on Tuesday’s ballot … Philomath voters will be asked to approve an operating levy of $66,018. Philomath School District will ask for approval of a serial levy of $1,115,027 a year for two years. (Published June 24, 1984, in the Statesman-Journal, Salem).
Hammer throw: John Thomas, Philomath, Ore., won the hammer throw Saturday in the finals of the U.S. Junior Track and Field Championships (at Los Angeles). Thomas threw the hammer 176 feet. (Published June 24, 1984, in the Statesman-Journal, Salem).