Poster & Writing Contest Rules and Entry Forms

Contest Rules

Topic: Tell or show us your story about being an Oregonian.
General: The Umatilla County Historical Society will have the right to edit, publish or otherwise duplicate any essay or poster entered into the contest without payment to the author. 

Who Is Eligible? All students (public, private or homes-schooled) in Umatilla County 3rd-12th grade may submit one entry for one or both of the contests.

Format for Poster Contest: Entries must be submitted on white, 81/2 X 11 paper with the entry form taped to the back. Posters must be able to hang on the wall. You may use any medium, except chalk or char-coal, to design your poster.

Format for Writing Contest: Entries must be typed or neatly handwritten in English with a minimum of 300 and a maximum of 400 words. Stories may be in an expository or personal narrative format but they must be true and represent you or your family’s experience as an Oregonian. Any quotes or copyrighted
material must be identified properly. Failure to recognize non-original work may result in disqualification.

Scoring: Any entry not meeting one or more of the above requirements will be docked in points or disqualified. Scoring procedures at all three levels will be identical. Judges will use the Oregon Writing Scoring Guide to score written entries. A grand prize of $50 will be awarded to the first place finisher for both contests in each of the following categories: 3rd-5th grade, 6th-8th grade, and 9th-12th grade.

Thanks to Oregon First Community Credit Union for sponsoring the prizes in 2009!

The next contest will be held in January, 2011.

Pioneer Trails

For a good read, you can't beat Pioneer Trails, the Umatilla County Historical Society's historic journal. Published three times each year, it is brimming with fascinating stories of the people, places, and events of days-gone-by. Pioneer Trails is the organization's most popular membership benefit.  Extra copies are available for sale in the Museum Store.

Umatilla County: Pioneer Schools

This book takes a nostalgic look at the one-and two-room schools that provided educational settings for so many Umatilla County pupils. The schoolhouses also served as community centers for the "neighborhood".

In 1874 there were four log schoolhouses, six frame schoolhouses with weatherboard or paint, and twenty-two buildings which were neither weatherboarded nor painted. Between 1875 and 1894, 11 rural elementary schools were built; 39 were built between 1899 and 1914; and 26 were added between 1915 and 1934.

Handwritten letters and reports detail the daily rewards and challenges encountered by teachers and students in the rural schools. Photographs of classmates,  teachers,  and their schools and memorabilia saved for generations,  help tell the stories.

Umatilla County: The Early Years

Photographs from the archives of the Umatilla County Historical Society and the East Oregonian newspaper depict life in the region by topic: schools and education, transportation, street scenes, business and commerce, religion, major events, sports and recreation, industry, agriculture, government, and Round-Up. It's a great read for a relaxing break or serious research.

There is much to see at Heritage Station Museum and guided tours help make your museum experience even more memorable. Well-versed docents will provide extra insight, and you'll learn 1890s-style in classroom exercises taught by the school marm. Groups of 10 or more can pre-arrange tours at the special group price of $3/person.

The 4th Grade Museum Experience is a program organized to coincide with classroom studies of Oregon history. All 4th grade classes in Umatilla County are encouraged to participate.  Guided tours, schoolhouse "classes", and extra activities are included in each 2.5 hour visit.

Call the Museum to schedule your visit., 541-276-0012

Need something to spark lively conversation and enthusiastic learning in your group? Consider checking out a "traveling trunk". These self-contained teaching units will appeal to students of all ages, 4-H'ers and Scouts, and adult study groups. They are also popular in retirement settings.

Trunks currently offered relate to genealogy and pioneer schools.  They are filled with hands-on activities, a teacher's guide and group exercises, books and other resources.

There is no charge for use of the trunks, except for transportation. They may be shipped to you or you may transport them to and from Heritage Station Museum yourself. Call 541-276-0012 for more information and to reserve your dates.

Terrific Tuesdays

Since 1985, diverse topics have been explored in a free-to-the-pulic program series entitled "Terrific Tuesdays". Though not always scheduled on Tuesday as they once were, each one is surely terrific! The subjects are appropriate for the curious of all ages. One or two of these events is offered monthly. The following sampling of past programs is indicative of the never-ending possibilities:

• Private Collections such as campaign buttons, stamps, nodders, tools, dolls
• How-to Programs such as pine needle basket weaving, assembling and operation of windmills, repairing old furniture
• Scholarly Presentations on Indian beadwork, Chinese in the Pacific Northwest, Major Lee Moorhouse's photography, Lewis & Clark Expedition medicines
• Ask-the-Expert discussions about identifying cut glass and Pendleton Woolen Mill patterns, how to maximize your auction experience
• First Person Interpretations
• Celebrations of Century Farm honors, the Oregon Sesquicentennial, President Lincoln's 200th birthday, Pendleton Woolen Mills 100th Anniversary, 100th Anniversary of the OSU Extension Service, the 100th Anniversary of the Pendleton Roundup and Happy Canyon, and milestones of all kinds.
• Oregon Council for the Humanities Chautauqua programs

  For current offerings, check the Events Calendar.

 Old Iron Show

Since 2003, the Umatilla County Historical Society has held this annual event, which has grown each year.  The first weekend in June brings a wide variety of vintage equipment including single cylinder engines, horse drawn equipment, pre-war automobiles, vintage trucks, and a great selection of antique tractors.  Steam engines have yet to arrive, but are always welcome.  Lots of things for kids and adults alike to enjoy!  Equipment demonstrations are on going daily.  Food vendors are on site for those who wish to stay all day.  Come and listen, watch, and learn about the transition from horse and buggy to the mechanical age.

Place:     Roy Raley Park, SW 10^th and Court, Pendleton (Next to Round Up grounds)

Dates:      1^st weekend in June (Annually)    Hours;     8AM-dusk Sat. – 8AM-1PM Sun.

No charge to the public, although donations will keep us coming back!

Food vendor on site Sat. and SunFREE DINNER ON FRI. AND SAT. FOR EXHIBITORS!

Exhibitors can unload all day Friday and Saturday.  All equipment must be removed from the park by 4PM Sunday.  Forklift operator on site.

RV parking for exhibitors is available in the park on a first come-first served basis as space allows.

For more specific information please call Jack Remillard at 541-276-5949, or Bill Dawson at 541-276-6624

 Special Events

Special events vary from year to year and have included antique appraisal events, Century Farm Tours, a Salute to Veterans of World Wars, tours of historic areas, and branding parties to document livestock brands used in Umatilla County--just to name a few. Some events are fundraisers; most events are open to the public.