Rose Morey Poole (27 May 1880 – 10 July 1963; born Rose Morey; then Rose Torrey prior to her second marriage) was an American businesswoman and politician from Klamath Falls, Oregon. She was a Republican who served two terms in the Oregon House of Representatives, representing a large rural district in southern Oregon. She was also a successful businesswoman who owned a number of movie theatres in and around Klamath Falls.
Early life
Poole was born on 27 May 1880 in Saginaw, Michigan. She was the daughter of Reverend Samuel Livingston Morey and Eleanor (Rodgers) Morey. Her father was born in England and mother came from Ireland. Both immigrated to the United States and settled in Michigan. She was the youngest of nine children and attended school in Saginaw."Well Known Resident Dies", Herald and News, Klamath Falls, 12 July 1963, p. 4."Rose M. Poole", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, 14 July 1963, p. 8."Rose Poole," History of Klamath County Oregon, Klamath County Historical Society, Taylor Publishing Company, Portland, Oregon, 1984, pp. 352-353.
Poole married Neil B. Torrey in 1900. Together, they had two children. Their son, Roger, was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1901, and their daughter, Ellenor, was born a years later in Petoskey, Michigan. Poole and Torrey were later divorced. In 1910, Poole moved from Michigan to southern Oregon.
Shortly after arriving in southern Oregon, Poole filed a homestead land claim on property west of Upper Klamath Lake, near the unincorporated community of Rocky Point in Klamath County, Oregon. In 1911, Poole moved to Klamath Falls where she became the office manager for the Klamath Development Company. She continued in that position for nine years."Vote for Rose Poole", campaign advertisement, Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 17 October 1944, p. 3."Today’s Round", Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 5 January 1945, p. 4. She began her community service during this period as well, serving as a precinct chairman for a county-wide Liberty Bond drive in 1919."Notice for Publication", Oregon Daily Journal, Portland, Oregon, 30 March 1919, p. 18. Later that year, she married Harry W. Poole, a school friend from Michigan."Return from Honeymoon", Evening Herald, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 13 May 1919, p. 4.
Businesswoman
While still working for the Klamath Development Company, Poole helped her husband get started in the theatre business in Klamath Falls. Together, the Pooles bought the Liberty Theatre in 1919. They bought the Pine Tree Theater in 1923, and then built the Pelican Theater in 1929. In 1931, the Pooles acquired the Rainbow and Vox theatres. For a time, they also owned two other Klamath Falls theatres, the Orpheus and the Rex, as well as a theatre in the nearby town of Chiloquin.
When her husband died in 1939, Poole took charge of the theatre business, assuming the roles of president and general manager. In 1940, Poole’s business operation included five Klamath Falls theatres."Klamath Theatres Make Connection with Large Group", Klamath News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 5 May 1940, p. 1."Klamath Falls is Our Home Town", Klamath News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 10 November 1940, p. 13 (Section 2, p. 1). She was an active manager who used her business to support a wide range of community activities. It was her policy to give free movie tickets to anyone in a wheelchair. She also gave free passes to local safety award winners and to young people who helped decorate parade floats."First of Big Daily Parades Set July 4th", Klamath Evening Herald, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 2 July 1940, p. 6."Safety Awards Presented to Local Drivers", Klamath News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 29 August 1940, p. 1. During World War II, Poole provided free theatre tickets to local air raid wardens."Air Raid Wardens to Get Free Show", Klamath News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 25 January 1942, p. 4. As a result of her civic engagement, Poole was a well-respected member of the Klamath Falls community.
Poole was also active in a wide range of local organizations including the League of Women Voters, Business and Professional Women, and the Klamath Falls Library Club. She was also a founding member of the local Soroptimists club, which was organized in 1939. She served as president of that organization in 1943. In 1941, Poole lead the first of several county-wide war bond drives."2 Women's Organizations Will Lead Klamath County To Record E Bond Quota", Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 21 March 1945, p. 1. She was also publicity chairman for the local Red Cross organization during the early years of World War II."Red Cross Notes", Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 12 November 1942, p. 4.Epley, Malcolm, "Today's Roundup", Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 3 February 1943, p. 4.
State legislator
In 1944, Poole decided to run as a Republican for a District 32 seat in the Oregon House of Representatives."Both Parties Uncover New Candidates for Legislature", Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 31 March 1944, p. 1. At that time, District 32 was a large rural district that represented all of Klamath County with two House seats. Because the district had two seats, each party nominated two candidates in its primary. In 1944, only two Republicans and two Democrats filed for the District 32 seats. As a result, all four candidates were advanced to the general election. Poole and Dale West were nominated by the Republican party while incumbent Henry Semon and fellow Democrat, Thomas Bustin, were nominated in the Democratic primary."Legislative", Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 8 April 1944, p. 4.Epley, Malcolm, "Today’s Roundup", Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 11 October 1944, p. 4.
As the general election approached, Poole's campaign focused on her support for limited government, economic development, public school improvements, and natural resource conservation. In the general election, Poole got the second-most votes in the field of four candidates, winning one of the two District 32 seats. The other seat went to incumbent Democratic, Henry Semon. Semon won the most votes with 6,942; Poole was second with 4,891; followed by Dale West with 4,709 and Thomas Bustin with 3,682 votes."County Returns", Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 9 November 1944, p. 2."State Legislature Winners Listed", Eugene Guard, Eugene, Oregon, 10 November 1944, p. 12.
When she was elected, Poole became the first Republican to represent Klamath County in the legislature in a decade. She served in the regular session that began on 8 January 1945 and lasted through 17 March."1945 Regular Session (43rd): January 8 – March 17", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed 12 November 2018. Poole served as vice chairperson of the House forestry committee. She was also a member of the highways and highway revenue, game, bills and mailing, and livestock committees."Valley Men Get Important House Committee Positions; Complete List Announced", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, 9 January 1945, p. 10. During the session, she joined two other representatives to sponsor Oregon House Joint Memorial Number 9, an unsuccessful attempt to prevent Japanese Americans and future Japanese immigrants from settling in Oregon after the on-going world war ended.Tucker, Kathy, "Oregon House Joint Memorial Number 9", Oregon History Project, Oregon Historical Society, Portland, Oregon, 2002, accessed 18 November 2018. Shortly after the legislative session ended, her son-in-law was killed in combat while serving with the United States Army in Germany."Prentice Yeomans Killed in Action", Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 30 April 1945, p. 1.
Poole filed for re-election in 1946, seeking to retain her District 32 seat. Poole and Troy Cooke were the only Republicans who filed for the two District 32 seats. As a result, both were nominated to run in the general election against Henry Semon, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary."Woman Legislator Files", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, 22 February 1946, p. 1."131 Candidates are Competing in Primaries for Nominations to House of Representatives", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, 9 May 1946, p. 3."Close Race Ends in Win for Howard", Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 18 May 1946, p. 1. In the general election, Semon received 5,054 votes; Poole ran second, receiving 4,443 votes with Cooke trailing with 3,637 votes. As a result, Poole and Semon held on to their House seats."Official Returns", Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 18 November 1946, p. 10.
When the regular legislative session began on 13 January 1947, Poole was part of a Republican majority in the House of Representatives that outnumbered Democrats 58 to 2."1947 Regular Session (44th): January 13 – April 5", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed 12 November 2018. She was appointed vice chairperson of the billing and mailing committee. She also served on the election and reapportionment, game, and local government committees."Semon Gets Ways and Means Job", Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 13 January 1947, p. 8."House Cuts Its Advisory Units From 37 to 24", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, 14 January 1947, p. 7. The Speaker of the House later appointed her to the natural resources committee as well. That committee was responsible for handling all forestry, mining, and fisheries legislation."Poole Named to Resource Group", Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 17 January 1947, p. 1. During the session, Poole worked with Semon to secure state funding to convert the United States Marine Corps barracks in Klamath Falls into a technical training school (the new school became Oregon Institute of Technology). After the 1947 legislative session ended on 5 April, Poole returned to Klamath Falls."Klamath Bills Fared Well at Legislature Say Solons on Return to Homes Here", Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 8 April 1947, p. 10.
Later life
Back in Klamath Falls, Poole continued to operate her movie theatre business. She decided not to run for re-election in 1948."The State Legislature", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, 15 October 1948, p. 4. However, she remained active in local politics, supporting Republican candidates in Klamath County.Addison, Deb, "Caught in the Rounds", Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 4 January 1949, p. 5. In addition, she served on the Klamath Falls planning committee."Robert Thompson Takes Over as Mayor; Names Committees for City Jobs", Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 4 January 1949, p. 5.
In 1948, Poole sold the Pelican Theatre and then retired. In 1950, she moved to Harbor, a small community on the southern Oregon coast. In 1959, she moved to Lakewood, Colorado to live with her daughter. Poole died in a Denver, Colorado hospital on 10 July 1963, as a result of complications from a broken hip. Her funeral was held at St Paul's Episcopal Church in Klamath Falls. She was then buried at Klamath Memorial Park in Klamath Falls."Farewell Said at Buffet Supper", Herald and News, Klamath Falls, Oregon, 4 January 1959, p. 17.
References
External links List of Oregon Legislators by Session