PIONEER PORTRAITS

From the pages of The Times

Ten Years Ago May 24, 2001

After a blustery Saturday, those in attendance enjoyed horse racing at its finest at the 88th running of the Days of Real Sport. The handle was off by about $7,000 compared to 2000.

A captivating photo of Coppei Falls reminds readers of the beauty of our area at this time of year while the popular series of interpretive programs centered around the Lewis & Clark Expedition at the state park this summer promises participants hands-on experiences with the scientific instruments, weapons used and the kinds of foods the expedition corps utilized.

Winston Coleman of Waitsburg received his 50-year pin for membership in the Masonic Lodge. Coleman first joined the lodge in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He became a Life Member in Othello, Wash.

Twenty-Five Years Ago May 22, 1986

Leann Whalen, Margret Hagerman, Brenda Gales and Gennie Adams will be the commencement speakers for the Class of '86 when they receive their diplomas on May 28.

Informed sources in the vicinity confirm reports that the notorious Jasper Mountain Gang is back from a 20- year hiatus.

Wedding vows were exchanged April 26 in the First Christian Church when Karen Huwe became the bride of Kelly Mohney in a double-ring ceremony.

Fifty Years Ago May 19, 1961

An honorary life membership was awarded to Mrs. Berger Chase at the Waitsburg PTA meeting Wednesday night. Mrs. Larry Broom made the presentation.

First hail damage of the season in this area was reported last week on the Ed Bachtold place south of Walla Walla. Birdseye has 15 acres of spinach that is considered a total loss from the same hailstorm near the Bachtold place.

In the 4-H livestock herdsmanship last weekend, blue ribbons for outstanding pens were Gwyn Ferguson, Joe Gullekson, Janice Bloor and Ricky Ferguson.

Seventy-Five Years Ago May 27, 1936

The Commercial Club has selected Miss Roberta Stonecipher, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Stonecipher, as Princess to represent Waitsburg at Dayton Days, June 5-6 .

Born Thursday, May 14, at Walla Walla Sanatorium to Mr. and Mrs. Miles Collingwood of this district, a daughter.

The Priscilla Club reports a pleasant time at the all-day meeting Wednesday with Mrs. Dave Barnes. A potluck dinner was served at noon to 16 members and Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Barnes who were guests.

One Hundred Years Ago May 19, 1911

Eighteen young men and women, the largest class in the history of the local school, completed the high school course this year and will get their diplomas May 25. In the class are May Callahan, Carrie Clark, Jessie Danielson, Grace Everheart, Ethel Fudge, Jesse Harkness, Flo Hawks, Flossie Hawks, Grace Houtchens, Mae Jonas, Garl Kinder, Margaret Leid, Emerson Loundagin, Chester Martin, Cyril McClean, Lester McDonald, Annie Morse, and Louella Ross.

Mrs. H.V. Grubbe in company with several other women leaves this week for the Freewater district to assist in the big strawberry crop.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago May 21, 1886

Last Saturday G.M. Thayer met with a painful and almost serious accident in the following manner: He went up on the mountain side near the mill of Fields Thayer & Co. to catch a horse; the horse kicked him over a precipice several feet, cracking a bone on the left leg and dislocating his right shoulder. Dr. Allen was summoned and Mr. Thayer is getting along nicely.

D.N. Smith this morning started a gang of "heathen chinece" to moulding brick in the yard south of the city. He will mould and burn a kiln of 150,000.

Waitsburg is destined to be lighted with coal oil "only a little longer." Brand and Smith are now making arrangements to put in electric light machinery to be run by their water power. It will furnish lights for our business houses on Main Street.

This Week in Washington History

An unusual coincidence of dates marked the second arrival of Capt. John Mullan at Fort Dalles on May 15, 1859. He had left New York on that same date in 1858 as he did in 1859, and arrived on May 15. The War Department had instructed him as a topographical officer to build a wagon road from Fort Walla Walla to Fort Benton. The earlier Indian war that had converted each man's home in Oregon and Washington into a blockhouse, caused the upper Columbia region to be opened wide, and though quelled, the Indians east of the Cascades were not subdued. As Capt. Mullan marched toward Fort Walla Walla news reached him of the defeat of Col. Steptoe on the Spokane plains, a point directly on the route of his intended construction work.

He then was assigned to Col. Wright's staff and remained with him until his successful campaign terminated with the approach of winter. Mullan returned to Washington City to personally solicit the aid of friends of the wagon-road project to further legislative action for additional funds necessary to complete the work.