Multnomah Falls Centennial Anniversary

Yesterday was a big day!  I served as the Event Chair for the 100th Anniversary of Multnomah Falls as a public park.  Can you imagine that this amazing waterfall was once the home of a woman whose father homesteaded it?  It was also owned by others who wanted to harness it's power or use it for other commercial uses.  I'm so glad it was saved and shared with the public!  Below are the Centennial Chorus ladies that I organized for the event - members of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  We had a great time!

The day began early as we set up tables with membership forms, event programs, commemorative pins, postcards and posters.  Our event committee members worked together to get everything done.  A great team!

There was a big banner on the lodge.

Our board member Charlie White, Christine Meadows who sang several 1915 era songs for the event and Rick Buck, manager of the Multnomah Falls Lodge, Co.  

Our Centennial Chorus posing on the stage.

The Mt. Hood Pops band playing for us.

Our Master of Ceremonies, Hal Meyerdierk, introducing the chorus - and then we sung the National Anthem.  What an honor!

Hal did a fantastic job introducing all of the honored speakers.  Hal and I were both part of the group who started the Friends of Multnomah Falls and worked together 25 years ago to put on the 75th Anniversary of Multnomah Falls becoming a public park.

Soprano Alexandra Erickson sang "I Hear You Calling Me" - wow, she did a great job!

Mike Abbate - Director Portland Parks and Recreation - reading the speech given in 1915 of Portland City Commissioner George Baker as he accepted the park on behalf of the City of Portland.

Chet Benson - Simon Benson's Great-Grandson - reading the 1915 speech given by Simon Benson as he donated the park.

Rick Buck reading the speech by Henry Dodge Estabrook commemorating Lafayette's birthday.

They had reserved the front row of the audience for the chorus, so I had a wonderful view of the event.  My eyes wandered to the beautiful sunshine on the cliffs above the lodge.. the smell of the smoke from the wood fire in the big rock fireplace in the lodge great hall dining room.. I was trying to soak in the wonderful feeling of the day to enjoy as memories in days to come.

The sun was shining on the forest canopy.  Do you see the maple leaves turning gold?

Christine Meadows singing "A Perfect Day", then "Home Sweet Home".

A favorite photo of the day for me is Hal Meyerdierk, left, who worked tirelessly to help me organize the event and did such a fine job of MC, to his right is Steve Terrill, my old friend, who is a famous photographer of Oregon, who did the poster design for this event.  We share a birthday!  In front of them is Mike Abbate, who looked VERY dapper this day in period dress.

Don Clark, former Multnomah County Commissioner and Columbia River Gorge Commissioner giving Rufus Holman's 1915 speech.

We then moved on to our "NOW" portion of the event, Lynn Burditt, Area Manager - US Forest Service, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

After the event we headed into the lodge for a wonderful Reception in the Falls Room - Rick Buck had his chef and kitchen prepare a wonderful buffet of delights.  Below is a huge carrot cake.

Also was a cake done by a friend of two of the committee members.  Unfortunately the cake wasn't cut while I was there so I can't tell you how it tasted.  :-)

Some photos of the buffet.

Deviled eggs with caviar!

Bacon wrapped figs.

Fruit, cheese and ham.

Many enjoyed the buffet on the open air deck with the sound of the waterfall in the background.  

Friend's president Sharon Quade, Hal and I presented a framed poster to Rick Buck, which will be hung in the lodge.  :-)

Rick was very pleased with the gift.

It was a wonderful day, one I will never forget.  A day to celebrate a most magnificent natural wonder that I am very involved in - and now I'm off to volunteer in the visitor center for the afternoon!  I hope you enjoyed seeing photos of the event.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)