The Case of the Mysteriously Legendary Mt. Adams Cougar

In line with this year’s theme “Rooted in Tradition, Growing Together, I thought it would be fun to try and uncover the true origins of Mt. Adams taxidermied Cougar. When I accepted the role of superintendent at Mt. Adams School District, I expected to tackle budgets, curriculum, and maybe the occasional snow day. What I didn’t expect was to put on my metaphorical detective hat and embark on a quest worthy of Sherlock Holmes, tracking down the origins of our most mysterious resident: the Mt. Adams Cougar.

Armed with a magnifying glass and a stack of old yearbooks, I set out to solve the riddle that has stumped generations. What follows is my official case file, pieced together from the cryptic clues and legendary tales of those who came before me.

I have discovered that these origins are a delightful tangle of local legends, shifting decades, and colorful characters, making it a uniquely Mt. Adams' story is worth celebrating as the district seeks to restore this beloved beast to its rightful place!

The Clues: A Walk Down Memory Lane

Clue #1: The 1930s/40s Livestock Avenger

Source: Sarah Cripps, library aide (1980)

Sarah who was a senior in 1980 and worked as a library aide (which is where the cougar sat proudly) reported that the cougar was a notorious livestock menace in the 1930s or 1940s, ultimately dispatched by a local hero. She shared that there was once a pamphlet and a mini scrapbook about the event, but both have vanished, presumably into the same black hole that eats up left socks and overdue library books. All that remains is a single photo of the cougar in the library, staring back with an air of “You’ll never know my secrets.”

Clue #2: The Chicken Coop Caper

Source: Frank Mesplie (via Ruben Brotts/Brost)

Frank’s tale moves the timeline to the late 1950s or early 1960s, where a Toppenish rancher/farmer found the cougar lurking near a chicken coop. The rancher, displaying either remarkable foresight or a flair for interior decorating, decided this big cat would look perfect in a school hallway. The exact date of donation? As mysterious as the rancher’s chicken recipe.

Clue #3: The Sun Willows Gun Club Plot Twist

Source: Jan Whitefoot (via Paul Cottrell)

Jan’s account introduces a new suspect: a local doctor, who allegedly shot the cougar at the Sun Willows Gun Club. The doctor’s name and the year have been lost to time, but Jan may have this information somewhere in her memory as she did plan on interrogating Burl Thomas at the Art show. (Because where better to discuss taxidermy than between watercolor landscapes?)

 Clue #4: The Bridge and the Double Cougar Theory

Source: Bernard Scott

Bernard ups the ante: Dr. Gilmore from Wapato shot the cougar under a bridge one mile east of town. But wait, there were TWO cougars! One was found in a chicken house, and the mounted specimen spent time in Dr. Morefield’s basement office before being donated to the school. The year? Still a mystery. The number of cougars? Possibly double. The intrigue? Off the charts.

The One Confirmed Fact: The Lettermen’s Club

Source: Vic Wood

   

Finally, a solid anchor in this sea of speculation: Vic Wood accepted the cougar on behalf of the Lettermen’s Club in 1968. A year! A name! A club! For a moment, I felt like Indiana Jones discovering the Holy Grail, if the Grail were a slightly moth-eaten mountain lion.

The Verdict: A Mascot for the Ages

After sifting through decades of shifting stories, one thing is clear:

Our cougar was definitely killed sometime between the 1930s and 1960s, by either a local man, a rancher, or a doctor, possibly near a chicken coop, under a bridge, or at a gun club. There may have been two cougars, and at least one spent time in a doctor’s basement before being accepted by the Lettermen’s Club in 1968.

Is the story a little fuzzy? Absolutely. Is it gloriously, uniquely ours? Without a doubt.

 

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The Next Chapter: Restoration and Return

Today, the Mt. Adams School District is on a new quest: finding the right company to restore and repair our beloved cougar so it can once again preside over our halls. Whether it was a rancher’s trophy or a doctor’s prize, this cougar has become a symbol of our school’s pride, resilience, and community spirit.

When it returns, restored and resplendent, future generations will walk past, wonder about its origins, and feel a sense of pride in the mystery that binds us all.