PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago January 9, 2003

A spectacular New Year’s Eve fire destroyed a historic Waitsburg structure and the homeowner, Kathy McMahon, got out of the structure safely with only the clothes on her back and her three dogs and cats. Fortunately, McMahon had fully insured the 1905 home known ad the :Bloor Man- sion,” on the corner of Willard and Kinnear streets. The fire is suspected to have been started by an electrical problem, McMahon said. Earlier in the day, she had removed a light fixture in the kitchen and experienced problems with the cir- cuit, she said, and she believes the wiring may have begun a slowly smoldering fire sometime that day. The structure was gutted by fire and essentially totaled, McMahon told The Times Tuesday. “The third and second floors came down on the first on the north side of the house,” McMahon said. “It’s totaled.” She carried full insurance with replacement value, offering several options, McMahon said, of rebuilding the house, replacing the house on the same site, or building in a different location. She is unable to decide which option she’ll take until the insurance company presents its numbers in the next couple of weeks, McMahon said.

Twenty-Five Years Ago January 7, 1988

Wes Colley, president of Bank of the West, announced Tuesday that Bank of the West is in the final stages of nego- tiating with Rainier Bank of Seattle to purchase the assets and liabilities of their Waitsburg branch. If the negotiations are successful, the conversion of the Waitsburg branch from rainier National bank to bank of the west should take place in the spring of 1988. The Waitsburg branch is located at the corner of Main street and Preston Avenue in Waitsburg. Bank of the West has branches at Third and Main Streets in down- town Walla Walla, and at Walla Walla and Ash Streets in the Eastgate area. “Bank of the West is negotiating the purchase of the Rainier branch in Waitsburg to better serve its custom- ers in the northeast portion of the country,” said Colley. Col- ley says the Board of Directors seeks to expand the bank’s local base in Walla Walla County.”

Fifty Years Ago January 11, 1963

Fred Klatt has reported that someone, age unknown, threw large rocks at his home New Year’s eve, breaking five win- dows. A flurry of snow fell here Wednesday morning and was soon melted, although further snowfall is forecast for this month. Mr. and Mrs. Jim Hansen and five children returned Friday evening from a three-week vacation trip which took them south to Mexico city, a total of 6500 miles. At the first meeting of PEO for 1963, Mrs. Kenneth Gohlman presented a program on “Hats” when she asked all members to wear a hat of their own creation or one with a story to tell.

Seventy-Five Years Ago January 14, 1938

A beacon light, for use of the United Airways, which recently made Walla Walla a ‘port of call”, has just been completed on the top of a hill on the Glen Smith farm, south of this city. An all-day quilting bee was enjoyed at the John Hart home Thursday with a potluck dinner at noon. Mrs. Hart is bale to be on crutches after spending the last seven months in bed. McKay Grange installation team went to Asotin Thursday evening to install three subordinate Granges. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Roberts, Gladys and Ralph Danielson, Ray Small and Mrs. Lewis Patton comprised the party.

One Hundred Years Ago January 10, 1913

Mr. R.H. McKinzie, of Walla Walla, this week purchased the Waitsburg grange, formerly known as the Waitsburg Mo- tor Car Co. of S.H. Champ & Son. He assumed management Tuesday. Walter Kenworthy suffered an automobile accident on Tuesday of last week that came near to putting an end to the old boy’s earthly career. Through the courtesy of Senator W.L. Jones, this office is in receipt of a quantity of govern- ment seed, from the Agriculture Department. These seeds are for free distribution and if our friends will call or write us we will be pleased to hand the packages out as long as the supply lasts.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago January 13, 1888

A new lamp has been erected in front of the M.E. Church. Good idea; let others follow the example. The new school house at Berryman is completed and is being occupied with a good school under the tutorage of Miss Josie Good, one of the most accomplished young ladies in the county. At the opening of the school an interesting literary program and a big oyster supper was given as a kind of dedicatory exercise by excellent people of that thriving community. Married in this city January 1, 1888, Frank Jonas and Mary Kinder. The Times extends congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Jonas. May their journey be long and pleasant and prosperous. Elder F. Walden, minister elect of the Christian Church, this city, ar- rived safely on last Monday evening, bringing with him his family consisting of wife, two sons and one daughter. Mr. Walden ranks very high as a minister in his own denomina- tion in the state of Iowa where most of his life has been spent.