PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago

November 25, 2004

"The First Feast" is an annual tradition for Waitsburg Elementary First Graders, part of the curriculum that includes American History and the story of the Pilgrims at this time of year. Mrs. Lindsey's students prepare for the feast by creating costumes like those worn by the Pilgrims, then at the appointed time, they follow turkey tracks to Mrs. Bickelhaupt's room in the high school where students have prepared a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. This year, the seniors in Bickelhaupt's class noted theirs was the first class to enjoy "The First Feast" 12 years ago.

The Aylwards, Bert and Linda, and Mrs. Stevenson, all Waitsburg residents, spent several weeks this fall as Red Cross volunteers in Florida following the hurricane season there.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

November 23, 1989

Jack Otterson, Walla Walla Community College sophomore, was named to the first team defensive unit of the Northwest Community College Conference all-league unit last week. Otterson, who was a multiple-sport athlete at Waitsburg High School, red-shirted at WWCC for a year, and has played for the Warriors two years.

George Wood and his wife Becky, or Dayton were recently honored as the Outstanding Tree Farmers of the State of Washington. He and his wife, Becky (Broughton) Wood, will compete on the regional level, and if successful there, go to national competition.

Fifty Years Ago

November 20, 1964

The 43rd Annual Conference of the Washington State School Directors' Association will be held in Seattle, December 10-12, with headquarters in the Olympic Hotel. Sam Hall, Lee Mantz, Jr., Denney Neace, Dr. S. R. Hevel, and Bill Payne, members of the Waitsburg School Board, and Superintendent Gerald Maib will attend the conference.

Bill Wardrip started a feed business at his home at 145 West Third Street back in 1948. It was widely known as "Wardrip's Feed Store." After sixteen years in this business, Bill says he is quitting at the end of this year. The main reason, he states, is that the sacks are getting heavier all the time and that his health is not too good. His main regret in quitting is that he will miss having, and seeing his many friends and customers driving in for some feed and a short visit.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

November 23, 1939

Mr. and Mrs. C. N. Eaton gave a dinner on Sunday November 19, in honor of their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Covers were placed for eight. Out-of-town guests were Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Blount and sons, Billy and Tom of Walla Walla.

Striking loose gravel while passing a car Sunday evening just west of town, Pat Estes, Jr. and Fred Zuger upset their car, breaking Zuger's nose and the small bone in Estes' arm near the wrist. Zuger's car was considerably damaged.

Speedy construction of a new home was definitely determined Friday night by Waitsburg Grange No. 1. Dick Bode, Harry DeWitt and Ralph Danileson were named to the building committee.

Captain A. Leppaluato of the Columbia Snake River Towing Col, stated last week, the upper Columbia's most powerful tugboat, the 2500-horspeower "Keith" would be launched at Portland Saturday.

Mr. and Mrs. Dennie Schnell of this city are the parents of a son born at Brining Hospital in Dayton.

One Hundred Years Ago

November 20, 1914

Geo. M. Lloyd came near meeting with a serious accident last Saturday while driving to Walla Walla when his car struck a down telephone wire. But for the fact that the wire just happened to be the right height to catch on the windshield of the car demolishing that before the car could be stopped. Mr. Lloyd would, have undoubtedly been struck in the face.

The Misses Genevieve Buff, Arline Hart and Emma Laughery spent Sunday at the Casebolt home. A very pleasant evening was spent.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

November 22, 1889

One of our great needs is an opera house. The one adjoining the City Hotel would answer for a crossroads village, but is entirely inadequate to the demands of a growing city like Waitsburg. Let us work together for a first class opera house.

C. W. Wheeler's buggy horse, which has been in pasture with a badly cut leg, presumably the work of a barbed wire fence, the greatest nuisance of the last part of the 19th century.

About forty Eastern Star members from Dayton, visited the lodge in this city on Thursday night. The twinklers all had a royal feast and a good time generally, tarrying at the hall till the arrival of the east bound train at four on Wednesday morning.

Frank Parton now owns what he pronounces the best buggy horse in Waitsburg. Frank is a good judge.