PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago

July 31, 2003

Long-time Waitsburg School District teacher Ken Beasley has accepted the position of high school principal, Waitsburg Schools Superintendent Robbie Johnson told The Times this week. Beasley takes over the job from Jeff Pietila, who resigned the post to return to classroom teaching. Beasley, a district employee since 1968, has instructed middle school science in recent years and has served as the district's tech- nology director. Beasley will bring a record of firm discipline to the job as well as long experience in the community, John- son said.

Twenty-five Years Ago

July 28, 1988

A Vancouver, Washington, man with some fascinating roots in Waitsburg visited The Times last week, and made a generous gift to the Waitsburg Historical Society. Davi Peterson's great grandfather was J.W. Morgan, whose name still graces the building housing Bullseye's Tavern. Morgan built the business in 1892, and was an involved community member. Peterson was in Waitsburg to look up a story from The Times' archives, but brought along Morgan's cash box, which contained several deeds. Peterson donated a few of the deeds to the Society. One of the deeds contains a map detail- ing the blocks and lots of central Waitsburg, and ownerships. Some of the deeds listed lines of ownership, which would help researchers trace who owned what when. Peterson is also related to the Roberts family, since Morgan's wife was Emma Roberts. Her father was Dave Roberts, a Methodist missionary in the area at the turn of the century. Peterson isn't sure how the cash box got to the Brush Prairie, Wash., area, where he lives. Another of Morgan's daughters, Adelle Mor- gan Robinson, who died Jan. 27, 1972, probably had it, he said. He said no other descendents are living on the Morgan side of the family.

Ffty Years Ago

August 2, 1963

Gohlman's Grocery operated by Kenneth and Hermann Gohlman, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of business in the same location in Waitsburg this weekend. They opened the store together on August 1, 1938. Their parents lived in Waitsburg until 1930when the family moved to Walla Walla. Kenneth had graduated from Waitsburg High School and was working for Safeway Stores in Walla Walla when he married Dorothy Call of Waitsburg. They returned here in 1935 to work in the Safeway Store here before opening their own business. Hermann Gohlman was graduated from Wa-Hi in Walla Walla and married Delores Olds of Milton-Freewater. Hermann was employed by Safeway in Walla Walla when they moved to Waitsburg in 1938 to go in business with Her- mann's brother, Kenneth. The Gohlmans have been active in the Masonic Lodge, the Days of Real Sport, Commercial Club and other civic affairs besides operating a successful and difficult business for the past 25 years. The changes in foods and marketing during that time has included the frozen foods, packaged foods, ready-mixes, and now the various types of soaps and detergents which were not even dreamed of 25 years ago.

Seventy-five Years Ago

August 5, 1938

Mrs. Ida Russell Shaffer, widow of William B. Shaffer, head of the Preston-Shaffer Milling Co. of Waitsburg died Friday morning at the family home on West Fourth Street. She is survived by a daughter, Wilma Shaffer Roberts and a grandson, William at Portland. Burial was in the family plot in the Waitsburg city Cemetery following services at the Presbyterian Church.

The Waitsburg Post Office will move from the Wood- worth building in the middle of the block on the west side of Main Street between First and Second Streets to the Allen building, which is situated also on the west side of Main be- tween Third and Second Streets.

The Gohlman Brothers, Kenneth and Hermann, have purchased the Warnstrom Grocery a few days ago from O. F. Warnstrom and took possession on August 1.

Excellent wheat yields have been reported from the growers in the foothills district of Walla Walla County with several reports of 50 and 60 bushel wheat.

One Hundred Years Ago

August 8, 1913

Hail in the vicinity of Turner, destroying considerable grain Saturday evening.

Mr. L. D. Wheatley, who has been proprietor of the City Pressery for the past year or more, has sold the business and fixtures to his brother-in-law, Mr. J. H. Bateman of Walla Walla.

Request has been made by the Northern Pacific Railway that the Commercial Club furnish fruit for processing, since it is the company's plan to install a number of exhibits at vari- ous points in the East.

Born in this city Tuesday, August 5, to Mr. and Mrs. Walter G. Shuham, a daughter.

W. B. Shaffer and family went to the mountains Wednes- day and have joined the Waitsburg Colony at Thayer's Mill on the Touchet. The continued hot weather is making camp- ing more popular here than for several years past.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

August 3, 1888

City officers are P. A. Preston, Mayor; Frank Parton, E. S. Burgan, John Morrow, J. C. Smith and Geo. Brown, councilmen; T. S. Neely, Marshal; H. R. Ormsbee, Clerk; J. H. Morgan, Treasurer.

Waitsburg is today, the most prosperous and enterpris- ing young city in the Northwest.

A man who doesn't love little children and very old people is not fit to live.

Miss Jennie Schaffer arrived in this city from St. Paul last Friday on a visit to her brother, Will and sister Matie.

A.S. Dickinson's residence at the west end of Fourth Street is completed. It is a thing of beauty and a joy forever.

Frank Sweazy last Monday purchased W. A. Mopnt- gomery's ranch near Alto consisting of 240 acres for $3400 cash.

The residence of J. C. Arnold at the west end of Sixth Street is nearing completion. It will be the best residence in that part of the city.