Pioneer Portraits

Ten Years Ago

February 3, 2005

A garage with a bit of history for Bolles Junction-area folks was lost to fire last Friday. The structure was formerly the Bolles Junction School District’s one-room schoolhouse. Firefighters from Joint Fire District Nos. 2 and 7, and a pumper from the City of Waitsburg, responded to the 7:31 a.m. call to 13366 E. SR 124. The fire progressed into the attic, resulting in nearly total destruction to the structure. Firefighters were able to protect the adjacent residence. They were at the scene approximately four hours. The fire is believed to have been started by a heat lamp that was placed for an ailing cat.

Before being delivered, the January 27, 2004, edition of The Times took a circuitous route before arriving at your mailbox. An error at the Pasco mail facility last Wednesday evening resulted in the container carrying The Times newspapers for all subscribers, except those in the 99361 zip code, to be put on the truck bound for Seattle, explained Don Maiuri, postmaster of the Waitsburg Post Office. The papers arrived in Seattle and somehow they were routed to Tacoma, where the mail bags spent Thursday. On Friday the error was realized when postmasters in Prescott and Dixie called Maiuri to ask why the bags for The Times were not received.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

February 1, 1990

Brad Ely was installed as Worshipful Master of Waitsburg Lodge No. 16 on Monday evening, January 22. His father, Ervin “Turk” Ely was installing Master, and his Grandfather, Hesper “Hep” Archer, long-time Treasurer of the Lodge, was present to represent three generations of leadership.

A letter to the Columbia County Commissioners on January 30 informed that board that the Department of Corrections has selected the Dayton area as the preferred site for the minimum security prison.

Jim Wood said this week that he has added an ag automotive parts division to Tinker Company to increase service and supply to the Waitsburg area.

Fifty Years Ago

January 29, 1965

Stories of the Old West always included a tale about a lonesome cowpuncher whose trusty horse would loose himself from the hitching post, spy his owner in an adjacent bar, and push his way rough the swinging doors to greet his companion. This happened recently in Waitsburg. But it was 1965 instead of 1865. And it was a sorrel Plymouth that last Saturday meandered into Ginny’s Grill in search of a rider. Rumor has it that some wag posted a conspicuous sign “Ginny’s Drive-In” on the newly installed piece of plywood where the plate glass window used to be.

Kenny Smith was elected as new President of the Days of Real Sport Racing Association in its annual meeting held on Tuesday, January 26.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

February 2, 1940

Stan Horning was named Commercial Club president Tuesday night. F. C. Wilson who has served as president the past year, took on the post of secretary-treasurer. Miles Brunton was named vice president.

Aldine Smith was installed as worthy advisor of Rainbow Girls Thursday evening at the Masonic Temple. Joan Stonecipher was installed as worthy associate advisor.

Percy Huwe and Wayne Fullerton of Huntsville and an unidentified young woman were the victims of a gunman who held them up Saturday night and took their car.

One Hundred Years Ago

January 29, 1915

At the request of the City authorities, the ministers of the city have agreed to discontinue the ringing of the church bells for a few Sundays. This action was taken owing to complaints made by some of the citizens who have sickness in their homes, that noise of the clanging bells disturbed them.

C. R. James, who always raises a bunch of fine chickens, set a hen with 13 Buff Orphington eggs New Year’s Day and has hatched 10 strong looking chicks. “Such is our climate.”

Murray Winchell, who has been having a long and serious siege with typhoid, seems to be somewhat improved.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

January 31, 1890

The high water of Wednesday did $500 damage to Preston Bros. and Parton’s mill race and flume. Prior to the building of the Hunt road all the surplus water went into the Touchet, but a fill under which no culvert was placed turned it all into the flume and race, hence the great damage.

On last Thursday night a jolly part of Waitsburg young people loaded themselves on a bob sled, and hied themselves all over Waitsburg and surrounding country. When about a mile from town the coupling broke, the sleds parted and the riders found themselves out of town, with nothing to ride home on.

Eph. Smith, who has been attending Bishop Scott’s Grammar school at Portland for the last three months, came up on Tuesday on a short visit to the folks at home.