PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago February 15, 2001

Renovation work on Waitsburg High School and the vo-ag shop is approaching the half-way point.

Responding to a statement from a group of kids, "We don't have any place to go," the Waitsburg Lions Club has completed the first two steps of a process to a BMX track being built on the City of Waitsburg's flood mitigation project ground along West First Street.

Rose Engelbrite and Jake Long are the newest members on the board of Days of Real Sport, Inc. Other board members include Terry Hofer, Dan McKinley and Terry Jacoy. The track is 100 years old this year. The first horse races took place in 1906. Prior to that time, the track had been used for harness races.

Twenty-Five Years Ago February 13, 1986

Former and present Rainbow Girls, Eastern Stars and Masons gathered at the home of Bob and Jeanie Miller Sunday to make plans for the 50th anniversary of Assembly No. 68, which will happen in June.

Waitsburg student body leaders spent part of Monday visiting with Republican leaders in Olympia. Students were Wendy Davis, Bobbie Jo Wilder, Brenda Gales and Troy Larsen. They were accompanied by their teacher Pam Nolan.

DeNova Club met on Feb. 1 at the Legion Banquet Room for a Husband's Valentine Party. Twenty-one people attended and enjoyed the delicious dinner prepared by the Rainbow Girls.

Fifty Years Ago February 3, 1961

Albert Land, Mrs. Wesley Jensen, Mrs. Allene Wills, Mrs. Jack Wright and Fred Zuger were all recipients of the Luther Culick Award for outstanding work in Camp Fire leadership.

Garry Katsel will sing in the All-Northwest Choir which will sing at the closing session of the Music Educator's National Conference March 18 in the Coliseum in Spokane.

Plans for a livestock building to be used during the annual livestock show which would be erected in the area close to the race track grounds was outlined by Ken Milholland Thursday evening.

Seventy-Five Years Ago February 7, 1936

Pete Kinder, high school student and a son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kinder, was painfully though not seriously injured Friday night while on a toboggan party.

The 4-H club held a meeting at the home of Mrs. Walter Wonser on Feb. 4. Ursula Eaton Kanz, vicepresident; Dorothy McCaw, secretary-treasurer; Gwendola Wonser, social chairman; Theressa Wonser, refreshments; Bernice Kanz, reporter and musician.

The snow on the ground during the past week ,while only a few inches deep, brought to mind the big snow of just 20 years ago (1916). During the latter part of January and the fore part of February, it snowed every day. Snow reached the depth of 52 inches on the level. A Chinook on Feb. 7 reduced the snow until only a measurable amount by Feb. 17.

One Hundred Years Ago February 3, 1911

Last Friday afternoon Mrs. R. E Butler, Mrs. M.O. Pickett and Mrs. E.L. Wheeler entertained about 60 ladies, part from 2 to 4 and the other from 5 to 7 o'clock. The affair was quite informal and is said to have been enjoyable. Delicious refreshments were served.

The Passion Play, that wonderful and sublime story of the Christ enacted every 10 years at Oberammegrau, will be presented in this city in its entirety for the first time on Wednesday, Feb. 8th, at Park Theatre. J.B. Caldwell, the motion picture man, announces the purchase of 3,000 feet of beautiful colored film.

Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Mock of Eureka, Wash., were in this city Sunday visiting their uncle, Mr. Louis Mock. Oscar was recently married in Seattle to Miss Mae Wonser.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago February 5, 1886

Curtis Bateman, who had the misfortune of a horse falling on his foot some time ago and sadly injuring it, is able to be around some with the aid of crutches.

Miss Thacker having rented the rooms in Pains' building, formerly occupied by the Pioneer bindery, will move her Commercial School there next Saturday. Her new location is an excellent one.

The Walla Walla Journal of the 29th says that the O.R &N Co. will put on steamers in April on the Columbia, to run within 30 miles of Spokane Falls. The Co. will build portages around Priest and Island Rapids, thereby giving an outlet to the finest country on the globe, the Big Bend country. The president of the O.R.&N. has long been impressed with the mineral and agricultural products of the Big Bend.

A very pleasant dance was given at the hospitable mansion of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Arthurs in Spring Valley. Tuesday evening. There were about 25 couples present and they tripped light fantastic all night till broad daylight.