PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago

July 24, 2003

Local grain producers have begun the 2003 harvest and preliminary indications are that the crop will be average, but the lack of rainfall in June will adversely affect yields and quality. Precipitation in June in the Touchet Valley and surrounding region was virtually nonexistent. "We haven't heard a whole lot yet," said J. E. McCaw, branch manager for Northwest Grain Growers in Waitsburg. Fall wheat yields are good but quality is down. The test weights are coming back on the light side. Missing that June rain is what kept it from being a real good crop." Elevators were opened July 10 with some of the earliest grain from Allen Ford arriving in Prescott and from Jackie Miller on the Whetstone. Some farmers in the Touchet area were cutting before the Fourth of July, Mc- Caw added. By the weekend, nearly all operations should be harvesting. "It's still going to be a good crop but not what it could have been with one more rain in June," he added. The wheat market as of press deadline Tuesday was $3.21 for white wheat, $96 per ton for barley, $3.87 for DNS and hard red wheat was at $3.29.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 21, 1988

Two Waitsburg farm families and one Prescott family will be hosting families from Western Washington cities in the Farm-City Swap '88, co-sponsored by the Washington As- sociation of Wheat Growers and Washington Magazine. Turk and Jackie Ely, and Jim and Lynn Wood of Waitsburg, and Jim and Penny McGough of Prescott, will be hosting families in the next few weeks. The visits are scheduled to coincide with harvest because "It's the time when there's the most to see and do na a wheat farm," said Dan Hille, Ritzville wheat producer and co-chairman of the WAWG public information committee. The typical swap includes such activities as play- ing with farm animals, inspecting crops, riding the combine, visiting a local grain elevator, touring scenic areas and his- torical sites, and enjoying the good food and company of an old-fashioned neighborhood barbecue.

Fifty Years Ago

July 26, 1963

A group of 20 Boy Scouts from Rilling Bay on Bain- bridge Island, Washington will this week-end get a chance for a first-hand look at area wheat operations. The group of Scouts, along with four adults, will be guests of the Washing- ton Wheat Growers Association. The arrival of the troop will be Friday afternoon when theyw ill camp at the Lewis and Clark Trail State Park. Saturday morning, they will be guests of area farmers to view the harvest activities. According to James Sergeant, assistant Scout Master for the group who has made all of the arrangements for the visit, the boys will return home Sunday. Programs of public relations are being conducted all over the state by the Association with the idea of showing the true farm hospitality and creating increased interest in the state's big wheat industry.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

July 29, 1938

Kenneth Gohlman who has been local manager of the Safeway Store since it came here over three years ago, has resigned his position and will engage in business here for himself. Mr. Gohlman has been with the Safeway orga- nization for the past ten years and is an exceptionally good grocery man. He is a Waitsburg boy and has a large circle of friends here who wish for him every success. Herman Gohl- man, a younger brother of Kenneth, who has been associated with Safeway in Walla Walla for the past three years, will be connected with his brother in business here.

Donald Glover of Pullman, former Waitsburg boy was in town Saturday on his way with a pickup truck carrying materials for the summer home he and his wife are building near Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Mrs. G. G. Bickelhaupt who has been confined to her bed for three weeks, is improving. Her daughter, Mrs. Guy McLaughlin of Walla Walla has been staying with her.

Mr. and Mrs. James Archer and Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Roberts expect to leave Saturday morning by auto for a vaca- tion trip up into Canada which will include Banff and Lake Louise. They will be gone several weeks.

One Hundred Years Ago

August 1, 1913

While it is not our intention to unduly alarm the people of this city, it seems no more than right to inform them that our sister City of Dayton is considerably exercised over a large number of typhoid cases which have developed in that city within the last few weeks.

Born at the farm home in the Whetstone Sunday, July 20, to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Balch, a son.

While Marvin Lloyd was delivering ice Saturday morn- ing, a 50-pound piece slipped and caught his foot, crushing his great toe.

Pete Collingwood, Harman Bros. and Bickelhaupt and Dunlap, all of the Alto district, started their combines Friday, which from reports, is the beginning of the harvest in that locality.

For the next six weeks to two months, idle men about town and harvesters who come to town on Sunday will have a comfortable place to read and write. The rest room will be in the Hillard building on East Man. The Women's Progressive club resurrected this movement.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 27, 1888

In the professional column of the Times there are three physicians & surgeons N. J. Simons, M.D.; J. H. Hudgen, M.D.: C. C. Johnson, M.D.

Also one dentist, W. J. McLean, of Waitsburg, Washing- ton Territory; and two attorneys at law, Richard H. Ormsbee, and L. B. Sanders.

Prof. J. L. Dumas spent Tuesday night in the city.

John H. Morrow and family spent Sunday in the moun- tains.

Studies will be resumed at the Waitsburg Academy on Monday, September 3.

Prof. W. S. Walker of Huntsville, was in the city on Tuesday, and made the Times office a pleasant call.

Lewis Neace will soon begin the erection of a magnifi- cent residence on his fine farm north of the city.

L. B. Sanders will soon begin the erection of a two story brick building on the lot where his office now stands.

The contractors are getting nicely started with the work of grading Main Street. They have finished the north section.

Property values are rapidly advancing with lots in the city selling for $125 as compared to $75 two months ago.