Getting Personal with The Diaries of George Vause - Regional History Forum

Pictured: George Vause

“The Diaries of George Vause (1887-1983)" is the topic of the third program of the Original Wasco County Courthouse 2021 Regional History Forum. The program begins at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20. Due to COVID-19 restrictions programs are taking place on Zoom and not at the historic 1859 Courthouse.

Access is free at this link: http://OWCCZoomLink.info and those needing help getting Zoom on a computer or cell phone may leave a message at 541 296-4798. There is a limit of 100 participants. Zoom will be available at 1 p.m. and the presentation starts promptly at 1:30.

Local historian Julie Reynolds became interested in the life of a young man through her membership in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. It was over 100 years ago at the old St. Paul’s Chapel on Union Street that George Vause began a lifetime career as a church organist. His keyboard skill also won him a place in the orchestra that played for theater productions at the Vogt Opera House, and Reynolds took part in a 2017 production of music heard long ago at the Vogt.

Vause went on to his life’s work as a professional musician with the help of a local patron who recognized the boy’s talent. After studies at Oberlin and Julliard, Vause held prestigious positions as a church organist, accompanist for famous singers, and head of university music departments.

As a perceptive and sometimes opinionated young boy, Vause began keeping a journal. The earliest three volumes paint an intimate picture of life in The Dalles in the early 1900s. Eventually he typed the hand-written journals, adding comments to the earlier entries and ending up with 27 volumes. A full set is preserved at Wasco County Historical Society’s Moody-Rorick House.

Saturday's online presentation, just like in-person programs over the past 40 plus years, is free. But donations to the Original Courthouse are gladly accepted.