Pioneer Portraits - August 6, 2015

Ten Years Ago

August 11, 2005

Fire fighters from all over the country are streaming into Pomeroy this week to fight the 41,000 acre School Fire, which started last Friday in School Canyon along the Tucannon, and, aided by heavy fuel loadings of timber and grass, ballooned daily while hot, dry conditions, steep ground and an abundance of grass caused the fire to “exhibit extreme burning conditions” which hampered fire suppression efforts. Tuesday will be a crucial day for Camp Wooten, a popular spot in the Tucannon River valley.

The sturdy construction of the Coppei Avenue Bridge was resisting the effects of a 7.000 wrecking ball Tuesday afternoon. Over the past week, the temporary, one-lane bypass bridge was set in place and pavement extended to it. With traffic detoured around the site and local traffic using the by-pass bridge, contractors began the arduous task of busting the 85-year-old bridge into small pieces.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

August 9, 1990

Waitsburg City Council voted to appoint John Lindsey as the newest council member, replacing Denise Winnett who resigned last month. Later in the meeting, Mayor Roy Leid suggested that the council approve the appointment of Ann McCambridge as Municipal Court Judge, with Martha Kenney appointed as court clerk.

Ernest Kison of Waitsburg was pleased to find out recently that he had been awarded an Honorary Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Rhode Island School of Design. He is one of several hundred RISD alumni who attended the 113-year-old art and design school before it was fully accredited in 1944.

Fifty Years Ago

August 5, 1965

New residents in Waitsburg the past few weeks include Mrs. Marie Shea and family who are living in the Rose property on East Sixth Street. Mr. Shea is in the service. The Coleman’s hav purchased the Otto Nelson home also on East Sixth. The Wayne Crowe’s are in the Campbell house on Preston Avenue, and the William Myers’ are living in the Mitchell house also on Preston Avenue. The James Roosevelt have moved their trailer to the Allmon lot on West Third Street. Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Keyes have purchased the Swanger house on East Sixth Street and are getting settled as are the Joseph Bodman’s who have purchased the Dilts home on West Fifth Street.

Waitsburg’s budding inventor, Sam Thompson (3), made some adjustments on the family lawnmower the other day. Then, fully confident that his invention would allow the mower to run on just plain water, he filled up the tank with the garden hose. A slight miscalculation caused the mower to stop. The young inventor got a spanking. Gee whiz, where would the world be today if Thomas Edison had gotten a spanking every time his electric light bulb experiment had failed?

Seventy-Five Years Ago

August 9, 1940

Mrs. Jake Smith and her infant daughter have returned home from St. Mary’s Hospital.

Mrs. Moxie Zuger and daughter, Miss Erma Jo drove to Hood River, Ore., Sunday to visit Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Jones and family.

Newt Sutton of Independence, Kansas stopped a couple of days last week to visit his brother, A. T. Sutton and family. With him were his wife, daughter Grace, son Bill and a friend Dale Fowler,

Mr. and Mrs. Dessni Schnell and children who recently lost their home by fire, have moved into the Arthur Long house on West Third Street.

Miss Martha Lu Benson became the bride of James Butler at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon at the Congregational Church in Walla Walla.

One Hundred Years Ago

August 13, 1915

Chairman Langdon has announced that arrangements have practically been completed for the ceremony of laying the cornerstone of the new county courthouse, the date chosen being Monday evening, Aug. 16 at 7:30 o’clock. The Masonic Grand Lodge of the state will be in charge.

Monday four Indians were arrested on the Tucannon for catching salmon out of season.

Dr. F. H. Carver of Madison, Wis. has arrived in Waitsburg, to take charge of Dr. Hill’s practice as Dr. Hill is going to Walla Walla.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

August 8, 1890

Prof. Merwin Pugh and family came down from their mountain camp last Sunday. They don’t want more campin’ theirin. Sensible people, for this thing of going to the mountains for pleasure, recreation and health, is a delusion and a snare. That’s just what it is.

S. Wilson, this week left at this office eight of the finest potatoes of the season. While they are unusually large, they are also remarkably smooth. Mr. Wilson does not know the variety but he purchased the seed from Geo. Starrett, the Walla Walla seed man. He planted fifty pounds and dug eleven hundred pounds.

Tom Parker has been trying for years to beat Frank McCown on a wheat crop, bus so far has been unable to accomplish his desire.

Milt Jonas was in the city on Wednesday. He was kicking because his wheat is yielding only forty bushels per acre.