Bend Chapter History

The Bend Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution took shape formally as a new organization at a dinner meeting in March of 1942, at the landmark Pine Tavern in downtown Bend, Oregon.

Mrs. Howard P. Arnest of Portland, State Regent, installed the Chapter and its officers. Mrs. Albert Eriksen, Organizing Regent of the group, was elected its first regent. In May 1942, the recently organized chapter was officially named Bend Chapter. The Bend Chapter was formed out of the Deschutes Chapter of Redmond, Oregon, which was originally organized in 1919.

In 1945-46, Bend Chapter gave 2042 hours of service to the American Red Cross. They donated clothing to Russian relief and each member entertained service men in her home during the year.

Over the years, Bend Chapter has given many hours of service and donations to many important causes in our community, state, and on a national level, and has participated in many community events.

Our Historic DAR Marker

This historic DAR Marker, which commemorates Oregon's first 100 years, is located in Drake Park in downtown Bend, on the Deschutes River. It is embedded in a slab of native lava rock and marks the site of an Oregon Historic Landmark. This site was the location of a one room log cabin which was first a shelter for travelers, later the home of Bend's first school, and the location of Bend's first church service. Finally, in March of 1903, the first issue of The Bulletin, our local newspaper, was printed here.

The Reid School Building

The Reid School Building was built in 1914, as an elementary school at the head of Wall Street in downtown Bend, in what is now referred to as "Heritage Square." The building was built of blocks of "tuff" stone, a native lava rock, which was quarried nearby at what is now Columbia Park. The school was named for Ruth Reid, the first principal of Bend's first high school, which was started in 1905. Ruth Reid was very instrumental in bringing quality education to the children of Bend in those early years. Reid School operated as an elementary school from 1914 until 1976, when it was closed. In 1980, the Deschutes County Historical Society took over the building and they currently operate a wonderful museum of area history, as well as provide meeting space for our Chapter and other groups.

The DAR Insignia is the property of, and is copyrighted by, the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

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