History Mystery Photo The Dalles Chronicle March 20, 2005 (Text Only) A lot of people recognized last week’s picture as The Dalles first Cherry Queen, Helen Spickerman Elton, and her court, Betty Martin and Lillian Phare. The 1940 Cherry Queen pageant was a one-time phenomenon. Plans for an annual event were interrupted by World War II, and a Cherry Princess did not become an annual event until the 1970’s. Bill Elton was kind enough to provide the information and photos. “I know her well,” he said. “I’ve been married to her for 62 years.” The event was a production of the long-defunct Breakfast Club that was once a strong civic voice in The Dalles. Cathy Elton wrote: “The mystery queen is my mother-in-law, Helen Spickerman-Elton and she is still a queen to our family.” Holli Elton added: “Her majesty, historically speaking, is my beautiful grandmother, Helen Marie (Spickerman) Elton.” Written permission to reprint given by The Dalles Chronicle, The Dalles, Oregon Copied and submitted by Earline Wasser Member of Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society c/o The Dalles/Wasco County Public Library 722 Court Street The Dalles, Oregon 97058 http://community.gorge.net/genealogy [Note: new website address] Browse http://historysavers.com/orwasco/ recently updated information regarding Wasco County - Links are at the bottom of page The Dalles Chronicle http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/ http://searches.rootsweb.com/ "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant." Robert Louis Stevenson Incoming and Outgoing mail protected by Trend Micro PC-cillin program