PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago July 5, 2001

When a series of dramatic storms passed through the area, thunderstorms clobbered the valley on June 27. The storms carried with them heavy rain, strong wind gusts and three-quarter to one-inch hail.

The Joint Fire District No. 2 received a new fire truck, which has numerous custom features and will save taxpayers about $45,000 over comparable fire trucks.

Local artist Cathy Abel took second place in Walla Walla's Carnegie Art Museum second annual Juried Art Show last week. Her watercolor California Beach was judged second in her class.

Twenty-Five Years Ago July 3, 1986

F.W. "Pat" and Ellen Miller will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary at a reception at the American Legion Banquet Room on Saturday, July 12.

Two Waitsburg girls, Gennie Adams and Dawn Keith, will be competing in the Miss Teen of Washington Scholarship and Recognition Pageant that will be held in Tacoma later this month.

Councilwoman Denise Winnett was busy painting "no bicycles" signs on downtown sidewalks reminding bicyclists to stay off.

Fifty Years Ago July 7, 1961

Al Watson provided leadership for a weekend of fishing on the Tucannon for Troop 36 of the Boy Scouts of America. Participants included Dave Baum; Jack and Bill Bond; Robert Maib and Joe Watson.

Waitsburg is experiencing a mumps epidemic this week. Several people who came down with them included Ann and Jack Hubbard; Dick Baker; Marc Zuger; Sherry and Eddie Sickles; Jackie McCaw; Jeannie Pearson and Stephen and Danny Estes.

Donna Harris was elected 4H camp president from the near 140 members who attended a meeting from Walla Walla County.

Seventy-Five Years Ago July 10, 1936

The citizens of Waitsburg were surprised to find the Macomber Motor Company garage closed Monday. Ill health caused the closure for an indefinite period.

Among the girls from this city who went to Camp Kiwonis were Mary Frances Conover; Helen Lloyd; Laura Lee Small; Ruth Hansen; Betty Vogt; Gloriajean Ray; Wanda Davis; Nellie Joe Rhay and Patricia Hirsh.

Miss Marion Bailey arrived home Sunday from a monthlong visit to New York and the Eastern United States.

One Hundred Years Ago July 7, 1911

Stores were closed all day as a result of a mutual agreement of the businessmen of the city. On Tuesday, July 4, many people attended the Fourth of July celebration on Jasper Mountain near Walla Walla.

Preston-Parton Milling Company's incorporation expired on July 1. The company reincorporated under the new name of the Preston-Schaffer Milling Co.

Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Laidlow fortunately escaped with only a few bruises and were shook up after their Runabout flipped over and went into a ditch on the road to Walla Walla.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago July 2, 1886

On June 28, the majority of people have expressed their feelings about alcohol and voted for prohibition and that whiskey must go.

Waitsburg voters cast 275 votes; 199 for prohibition and 76 against. In Dayton, a majority of the 103 people voted in favor of prohibition. Prescott voters also approved prohibition 25-1.

Never in the history of this country has there been so little feeling of patriotism displayed on July 4 as will be this year.

Jim Filch, from the Colfax area, was shot to death by a woman in a house of ill-fame at Spokane Falls last Saturday.

This week in History

-The great railroad strike occurred in 1894 through sympathy with the Pullman Palace Car Co. The tie-up (traffic jam) was so far reaching that traffic was almost completely blocked throughout the country. On June 28, 1894, the railroad strike hit Ellensburg. Both passenger and freight transportation was brought to a standstill when every train was deserted by its crew. Among the delayed trains were 13 special Pullman tourist sleeping cars containing Brig. Gen. Curry, his staff and 11 companies of state militia en route to attend a state encampment.

The Brigadier General said he had qualified railroad engineers in his ranks capable of bringing in the train. The trainmen were finally released from their obligation and brought the train through and two days later they were able to reach the Woodland camp in three contingents.

A costly bridge at Thorp was burned by railroad strikers, but for the most part work stoppage was conducted in an orderly manner.