Pioneer Portraits

Ten Years Ago

February 10, 2005

The Waitsburg Lions Club wants to build a 40-foot by 60-foot building that will serve as both a clubhouse and community building at the Days of Real Sport grounds. A letter of intent was presented by Lions Club President Robbie Johnson, who also serves on the City Council, at a special meeting of the City Council held Monday, Feb. 7.

Jaimee Hulce, daughter of Tim and Tonya Hulce, was installed as Worthy Advisor of Waitsburg Assembly NO. 68, Rainbow Girls, Sunday afternoon, January 9, 2005.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

February 8, 1990

Patrick McConnell spoke to Waitsburg Commercial Club Tuesday regarding some of the history of the McGregor Company, and plans for the cannery property which they have taken over in town. Pat said the genesis of the McGregor Family enterprise was begun in 1882 when three brothers landed at Wallula and hiked to Dayton that year.

Waitsburg Commercial Club held its annual election and named Don Wills, Rose Engelbrite and Don Helgeson to the board of directors for the upcoming year.

Bridget Lyons, a student at Prescott High School, served as a legislative page in the Washington State House of Representatives in January. Lyons was sponsored by Rep. Bill Grant, D-Walla Walla. She is the daughter of Juanita and Albert Statler of Prescott.

Fifty Years Ago

February 4, 1965

The Touchet River reached flood stage again last weekend for the second time in as many months, and once again threatened Waitsburg. The rebuilt dike at the bridge on Preston Avenue was cut away to a depth of 6-8 feet in places, but the Army engineers working around the clock arrested the damage and saved the town from a second disaster.

Building a new power line between Waitsburg and Prescott to provide a four-fold increase in electric carrying capacity will be one of the major items in a $1,111,000 construction program Pacific Power & Light company has scheduled for the Waitsburg-Walla Walla-Dayton-Pomeroy district this year. Jack Blessinger, PP&L district manager, said the new line will cost $80,000 and will increase capacity for delivering electricity to users in the Touchet Valley as well as at Prescott.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

February 9, 1940

Frederick J. Baird, a member of the high school faculty and during the present school year, coach of athletics, died suddenly last Thursday afternoon at about 12:30 o’clock.

At the finals in the cribbage tournament held in the Commercial Club, George Allman won first in the final flight with the champions and was presented a very handsome cribbage set of inlaid wood.

Dr. R. L. Bailey has decided to accept the position as a physician and surgeon at the State Hospital at Medical Lake.

H. D. Mills and Chester Keiser attended a planning council at the 99 Christian Brotherhood of Eastern Washington at Pasco Sunday. Mrs. H. D. Mills and daughter Evelyn accompanied them on the trip.

One Hundred Years Ago

February 5, 1915

In honor of its fiftieth anniversary the Preston-Shaffer Milling Co of this city and Athena, Oregon, last week issued a neat little booklet with the front cover embossed in gold and bearing a sheaf of grain. “Fifty Years – 1865 –1915 – Fifty Years of Continuous Grinding,” also appears on the cover.

St. Mary’s Hospital at Walla Walla, one of the oldest in this section of the West, was completely destroyed by fire Wednesday forenoon of last week at an estimated loss of from $25,000 to $50,000.

B. O. Porter, of Porter’s Confectionary and E. R. Butter’s Pressery have moved into new quarters in the Fender building. This big store room has been remodeled into two very neat rooms.

F. J. Aldrich was in town Wednesday from Walla Walla. This was Fred’s first trip here since a recent operation for appendicitis. He is feeling fine.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

February 7, 1890

The wind of Monday was strongly in favor of the “no fence” proposition, and has carried its point by a large majority in many places.

The funeral of Miss Lillie Walker was one of the largest ever seen in this city. She has many friends, and the family have the sympathy of the entire community.

D. N. Smith, who has been quite sick for some time, is able to be out some, but he looks quite “pekid.”

Our excellent blacksmith, MR. Monroe is talking of leaving us. We will miss him, for Dusty Point is a good and convenient place for a shop.

Isaac E. Wilson had a soft time to go to Walla Walla to prove up on his claim, Mud and water.

J. H. Morrow left a few days ago for a big hunt near Hayden Lake. How we would like to go but those mortgages stare us in the face and say emphatically “No”.