PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago August 1, 2002 The Waitsburg Downtown Revitalization Committee (WDRC) has raised $25,000 to initiate planning on a proposed downtown streetscape renovation in just its first year of existence. Revitalization efforts got a big boost with a $15,000 grant from the Washington Office of Trade and Economic Development (OTED). The $25,000 will be used to hire professionals to create a phased plan that can be a springboard for qualifying for other grant money. When the next step is complete, the WDRC will be eli- gible to apply for "eight-tenths" money, funds earmarked for economic development from sales tax.

Twenty-Five Years Ago July 23, 1987 Two fires were reported to Waitsburg on Tuesday after- noon. Local trucks responded to a fire at the Ron Klassen place on Corkrum Road. The original call apparently went to Walla Walla dispatch. Waitsburg dispatch said that Walla Walla dispatch did not know the exact loca- tion of Corkrum Road, so District 8 was sent to the fire, which was in Fire District 2. The call was received here at 4:55 p.m. The second call was for a railroad right-of-way fence fire near Jim Wood place on the Bolles Road. Fire was reported at 5:45 p.m., and local trucks answered and extinguished the blaze.

Fifty Years Ago July 27, 1962 Members of the Waitsburg swimming team are Jack Gulleckson, David Hevel, Gary Segraves, Dick Finch, Jim Leid, Jim Langdon, Jim Sevanger, Dick Bennett, Mary Leid, Lorie Duckworth, Joe Gulleckson, Robert Maib, Eddie Charbonneau, Jill Cyr, Karen Peters and Maria Rankin. Mrs. Frances Smith won three blue ribbons, one red ribbon and one white ribbon on lily arrangements at the lily show at the World's Fair last week. The 100-degree weather of the last few days has rip- ened the grain in this area and harvest is in full swing with nearly every one of Touchet Valley Grain Growers' elevators open.

Seventy-Five Years Ago July 30, 1937 Four cases of smallpox have appeared in the Carl Dunn family and are under quarantine. One case is quite severe while the others are very light. This is the first caseof smallpox to break out for a number of years and every precaution is being taken to prevent the spread of the disease. Jack Starr, of this city, spent Sunday in Yakima where he played with a fife and drum corps at a Townsend Club picnic. The hot spell of the last four days seems to be effec- tively broken by a severe thunderstorm Tuesday night. Trees were uprooted, window panes shattered, the city flag pole knocked over and the town was plunged into total darkness by the high wind.

One Hundred Years Ago July 26, 1912 Wilma Shaffer and Frances Fender are visiting Ruth Talbott this week at Elmer Stonecipher's. Harold Denney had a fine crop of barley of 3,200 sacks and sold it for $24 a ton. A.G. Loundagin and family and Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Duncan left Wednesday morning in Mr. Loundagin's auto for a huckleberrying expedition on Green Ridge. They expect to be absent until Sunday. Huckleberrying by auto is certainly "some class". Mr. and Mrs. D.P. Hayes, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hart, John Roberts and family went into camp at Thayer's Mill Wednesday. The women folks expect to remain for sev- eral weeks, the "boys" taking a week off now and then.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago July 22, 1887 Last week on Jasper Mountain, Charles Darden killed a huge lynx, measuring five feet, four inches in length. This is said to be the first lynx ever seen in this part of the country. Dr. J.H. Hudgin has this week fitted up a nice office upstairs over the city drugstore. Work on the foundation of the Waitsburg Academy commenced last Monday morning. The recent hot weather has created a mountain fever in this city which is liable to prove a contagion. Some have gone and others will go into camp to remain till the summer is ended. The Northern Pacific has announced a rate of $5 a ton on wheat to Tacoma from all points on its lines in Eastern Washington. Walla Walla is afflicted with real ghosts.