This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE.

           How was it in Klamath Falls one hundred years ago?

           This weekend a Century Days will be celebrated with a parade and much activity in the Veterans Park area.

Parade members are urged to dress as though it was 1906 again.

Well…..as a matter of fact 1906 was a big important year in the little town of Klamath Falls.   The little community of Linkville that had grown up around Link River…..had now become a town stretching down Main Street to about where Main and East Main diverge.

The year before the community had entertained government representatives here to determine if an irrigation project was feasible to turn much of the high desert area into productive farmland.   By early 1906 the project was becoming a reality which would produce water for farms a year later.

In addition to the new Baldwin Hotel which had been newly constructed….two other large buildings dotted the landscape.  The Klamath County High School off High Street…..and the Central School down on Main Street.

Already a large paddle wheeler steamboat was being constructed for use on Upper Klamath Lake…..and it would be launched as the Winema in February.    Another large paddle wheeler….the Klamath would be launched on Lower Klamath Lake in June of the same year.

And there was realistic talk of a railroad coming.  There had been many rumors in the past but nothing resulted.   This time two men arrived in the community and announced that a railroad was building from Weed n orth and would be in Klamath Falls in a year or so….it would be three.

So….the population of the community had almost tripled in the previous five years…..and prospects looked great.

That’s the kind of optimism that prevailed as Klamath Falls began the year 1906.

Now….as we head on into 2006….a hundred years later….the area is also very optimistic.    The community population is estimated at somewhere around 60,000 plus.   A number of new subdivisions have been approved.  The Running Y continues to develop as Jeld-Wen remains a solid supporter of the community.

The community is well prepared for residential growth…..and certainly has room for industrial growth.

           Recent projects like the Sports Park have certainly provided a strong emphasis on youth activity.   The downtown area has prospered with the two beautiful county government buildings as well as a busy commercial section.

The Fairgrounds has developed into the community activity center it was meant to be and there’s new construction in the former mall that now houses Gottschalks as well as in Jefferson Mall.

All in all…..as we move on in to 2006…..prospects for a bright future are visible everywhere.

So…...join the crowd and celebrate Century Days this weekend.

This is Floyd Wynne and that’s THE VIEW FROM HERE.