[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 25, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE TO TIMBERLINE LODGE ON ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY

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                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 25, 2005

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to 
Timberline Lodge on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary under the 
management of the Kohnstamm Family and their business, RLK & Company, 
and to commemorate the important historical events that have 
contributed to the lodge's status as one of the great landmarks in 
Oregon. Timberline Lodge is a National Historic Landmark and treasure 
of Oregon that provides abundant recreational activities on Mt. Hood 
and the Mt. Hood National Forest, providing Oregonians and Americans 
alike with a special place to enjoy the natural beauty of the Pacific 
Northwest. As I commute each week from my home in Hood River to our 
nation's capital city, I am warmly greeted by the sight of Mt. Hood and 
thus frequently reminded that Timberline Lodge is a very special place 
in our very special country.
  100 years ago the U.S. Forest Service was established by President 
Teddy Roosevelt to maintain and sustain the diverse, healthy, and 
productive management of our national forests. Since its establishment 
in 1905, the U.S. Forest Service has been an integral part of the 
history of Mt. Hood and Timberline Lodge.
  Timberline Lodge sits 6,000 feet above sea level on Mt. Hood, the 
tallest mountain in Oregon at 11,235 feet above sea level. Mr. Speaker, 
the lodge itself is a testament to the trials and tribulations that our 
nation faced during the Great Depression. It can be seen as a symbol of 
our strength and resolve, as well as a past generation's struggle to 
overcome adversity. President Franklin D. Roosevelt commissioned the 
construction of Timberline Lodge in 1936, a project many at the time 
called the ``American Experiment.'' Through the Works Progress 
Administration, Roosevelt employed numerous craftsmen throughout the 
country who had fallen onto hard times during the depression. Over 500 
people worked diligently for 15 months while battling the cold of the 
Cascades as they worked to construct the lodge by hand, even through 
the heart of winter. They did so with remarkable skill, style, and 
substance, and they did so very quickly and efficiently. In September 
of 1937, President Roosevelt opened the lodge to great fanfare.
  Today we see Timberline Lodge as a fantastic success story and a 
shining example of the self-determination that helped propel a nation 
and a generation from the hardship and difficulties we faced during the 
Great Depression. This was not always the case. There were times when 
it appeared that Timberline Lodge would not succeed. Soon after the 
dedication in 1937, it fell on hard times. Mismanagement and poor 
decisions by numerous operators left many wondering if the toils of the 
labor that went into the construction of Timberline Lodge would be left 
for future generations of Oregonians to enjoy. It was closed 
temporarily during World War II, and just 18 years after its inception 
the future of the lodge appeared bleak.
  Then a remarkable young man named Richard Kohnstamm arrived on the 
scene from New York City and brought hope and enthusiasm to the region, 
albeit with little experience in the hotel and lodging business. During 
his travels, Richard had seen how great lodges and castles were woven 
into Europe's cultural fabric and envisioned that Timberline Lodge 
could one day mean the same for tourists from all over the world in our 
beautiful state of Oregon. Through his creativity, perseverance, and 
steadfast entrepreneurship, he fulfilled the promise of the lodge and 
the plentiful recreational opportunities that were previously untapped. 
Not only did the Kohnstamm family repair the damages that existed at 
the time they first assumed management of Timberline Lodge and create a 
sense of permanent stability for it, they also established a world 
class tourist attraction and state of the art ski lift and trail 
system.
  Mr. Speaker, on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Timberline 
Lodge's management under the Kohnstamm Family and RLK & Company, I 
would like to highlight the tremendous job that has been done to make 
the lodge one of the premier destinations in the Pacific Northwest that 
all walks of life enjoy year round. The Kohnstamms are great hosts and 
great neighbors to all of us in Oregon, and to outdoor enthusiasts 
around the world. Oregonians are fortunate to have them as our 
neighbors.

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