PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago August 2, 2001

The East Eighth Street Project featuring new sidewalks, a wider street and parking by the athletic fields, wrapped up last week. A definite improvement for the community.

For the first time, the 2001 Days of Real Sport Court will be a special guest at the Emerald Downs Race Track in Federal Way on August 10. The four young women on the court - Queen Chelsey Murdock and princesses Corrine McKinley, Trista Flores and Amy Smith won't be "riding in," so the journey will be without their four-legged partners.

Twenty-Five Years Ago July 31, 1986

Waitsburg's resident state patrolman Mike Murphy has accepted a promotion to be in charge of a detachment in Kelso, Wash.

Attorney Vaughn Hubbard is the new chairman of the State Transportation Committee.

Marvin and Hazel Langdon will be honored with a reception for their 50th wedding anniversary at Ye Towne Hall in Waitsburg.

Used car salesman to prospect: "There isn't a dent on it. It belonged to a little old lady whose little old husband wouldn't let her drive it."

Fifty Years Ago August 4, 1961

Strong winds spread a roaring fire over an area of nearly four and one-half square miles Thursday in the biggest fire of the summer. Starting at the ranch of William Bowe, it burned to a stop at the Zuger ranch near Bolles Junction.

Bob Wright will supervise the outing at Camp Wallowa for nine Boy Scouts from Troop 36 who will leave Sunday. Scouts who plan to attend are Dick Baker, David Hevel, Jack Keve, John Payne, Stan Pearson, Tom Mock, Gary Segraves, Joe Watson and Jim Wills.

Seventy-Five Years Ago August 7, 1936

Mrs. Ralph Knudsen, Waitsburg's Centennial Pioneer Mother, was in Walla Walla last Friday. She was a guest at tea, in the Mrs. Nat Webb garden, given in honor of the pioneer mothers of the surrounding towns. The Whitman Centennial starts next week.

Miss Hazel Buroker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Buroker, is to become the bride of M.E. Landgon of Eureka. August 2nd, was the incentive for a delightful party and shower last Thursday afternoon. The hostesses were Mrs. Lester Milligan, Mrs. Ira Chew, Mrs. Floyd Rhay and Miss Bernice Hillis.

One Hundred Years Ago August 4, 1911

Samples of Bluestem wheat, with heads nine and onehalf inches in length were obtained Tuesday afternoon from the Russell Creek district by L.M. Brown, publicity manger of the Commercial Club who is gathering samples to send to the National Land Show in Chicago.

We announce to the general public that we have purchased the Home Restaurant from George McBoyle, and commencing Saturday, August 5th at noon, the price of meals will be reduced to 25 cents from 35 cents. All home cooking and the best the market affords.

Mrs. Frank Jonas and Mrs. Theresa Breeze left Thursday for Long Beach, Wash., where they expect to spend the month at Rose Cottage and enjoy the cool sea breezes.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago July 30, 1886

Would like to know what has become of Charley Buck's prospective wife. Ever since the advent of the "new suit and fine Havana" we have been anxiously awaiting Mrs. Buck.

The ladies of Prescott are enjoying baths in the Touchet River. "It is just too funny for anything."

The Presbyterian Church was crowded last Sunday with persons anxious to witness the dedicatory rites.

The girls of Vassar are said to be so modest that they will not work on improper fractions.

Jack Schumann, a Dayton saloon keeper, sold beer on Tuesday and was arrested for violating the local option law. He was bound over in the sum of $500 to appear before the Grand Jury. The case will be used as a test of the constitutionality of the law.

Dayton's saloons were closed and the doors barred Saturday at noon, that being the time set by the Commissioners. A fight in court will be made concerning the law.

This Week in Washington History

During the Civil War Centennial, it is interesting to note that 100 years ago Washington Territory might have been the focal point of war with Great Britain. The idea was conceived in the mind of Gen. W.G. Harney whose plan was a patriotic attempt to divert the issues of civil strife then looming toward war between sections of our country.

When the general saw the American flag flying over the disputed territory of the San Juan Islands, he disembarked from the U.S.S. Massachusetts and learned of the threats of the Hudson's Bay Company men to arrest the American citizens because one of the their stray pigs had been shot as it was destroying an American garden. Gen. George M. McClellan was responsible for the statement that the saving of San Juan was not the only motive of Gen. Harney at the time. Capt. George Pickett arrived there July 27, 1859 with 60 men.

McClellan said: "It is a fact not generally known, that the movements, which are referred to herein the occupation of San Juan, had their origin in a patriotic attempt on the part of Gen. Harney, Gov. Stevens, of Washington territory and other Democratic federal offices on that coast with the knowledge and zealous concurrence of Capt. George Pickett to force a war with Great Britain, in the hope that sections of our country would unite in a foreign war, and so avert the civil strife which they feared and saw approaching.