We’re Paige and Mason. The Bend Banner is our way of keeping tabs on this wild, beautiful place we call home. To the mornings that start with coffee and mountain air, the trails that somehow always lead to a brewery, and the kind of small-town stories that remind you why you live here in the first place.

Bend’s Helpful Ghost

The Deschutes Historical Museum is in the old Reid School downtown. It was built in 1914 as Bend's first school with central heating and indoor plumbing, which was a big deal back then.

The two brothers building it were George and Ed Brosterhous. They built a lot of downtown Bend. Ed later served on the city council and helped build the Episcopal church and Bend High School. If you've driven Brosterhous Road on the southeast side, that's the same family.

But George never saw the school finished. That summer he was on the roof overseeing work when he lost his footing and fell three stories through the opening where the stairwell was going to be. He passed away right there.

More than a hundred years later, the people who work in the building still talk about him like a coworker. They call him their helpful ghost. The elevator door opens and closes on its own. Things disappear and then turn up again. The staff has a name for these little incidents. They call them "George moments."

The museum's director told the Bulletin about a windy night when she was alone in her office and thought she heard someone say her name. If it wasn't the wind, she figured it was George.

A visitor playing the piano once asked an employee who the man sitting across from her was. The two of them were the only people in the room.

For years, the museum ran a Historical Haunts of Downtown Bend walking tour every October. It started in 2010, and it was one of the spookier things to do in town. Unfortunately, the last year of this was 2024, but maybe it’s something they bring back in the future. It would be a real October treat to have that back!

Bend Senior High Art

The Commons hosts the newest Art vending machine, created by local legend Timmy Crawford. This time, artists from Bend Senior High have stocked it with homemade stickers. Stop by and support local art!

This Week’s Conditions
☀️ Sunrise: 7:00 am
🌅 Sunset: 6:59 pm
High Temp: 80°F
Local Park of the Week: Pine Nursery
Bear Spotted Near Shevlin Park

🐾Bend’s Best Good Boys & Good Girls 🐾

🐶 Polly – 1 Year, German Shepherd
She will be available for adoption shortly. She just looks like the cutest, most playful pup there could be.

🐕 Benson – 2 Years - Mix
Came in as a stray and took a while to come out of his shell. Now he's a total sweetheart, happy to take pets and treats from anyone. His adoption fee is already sponsored.

🐶 Wesley – 2 Years - Retriever/Lab Mix
Although he’s been slow to warm up, he's starting to get super excited to go on walks and play. Wesley will end up being someone’s best friend.