Pioneer Portraits - October 8, 2015

Ten Years Ago

October 13, 2015

The plan to dress up downtown Waitsburg got a huge boost this week after the Main Street Revitalization Project was ranked first among 15 communities vying for state grant money. The news means the Waitsburg Community Revitalization Committee (WCRC) will put the work out to bid by spring, 2006, and citizens should be seeing the ground being broken next summer with completion slated by September or earlier. “This is very good news for the Downtown Streetscape Project,” said Ross Hamann, chairman of the WCRC.

In other City business, Councilman Mark Shively received support from a number of citizens who appeared in person and wrote letters. Shively, who is coping with a condition that results in a loss of vision, began a 10-week training program in Seattle this week to learn how to function without eyesight. Speaking on Shively’s behalf was Lois Winchester, Kathy Baker and read into the record was a letter from Jan Cronkhite. Shively thanked those who spoke in his behalf. “It means more than you can imagine,” he said.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

October 11, 1990

Waitsburg City Council accepted the revised draft version of the new animal code at the October 3 meeting. Marshal Tom Longo and Deputy Michelle Long had worked to draft a new code which Michelle told the council members changes the penalty for a dog at large, and consolidates some of the material in the code which makes it easier to read.

Photo caption: Waitsburg High School homecoming court members lined up at the halftime for presentation of flowers and hugs to the young women. Mr. Football, Josh Wood, Homecoming Queen Jenny Jameson, Dwight Penner, Tisha White, James Ryckman, Angel Adams, Jeff Braman, and Sandy Conover.

Marshal’s Memo: Possible fisticuffs behind local tavern on October 7. Seven young men located, no fight in progress. Men stated there was not a problem. Six went back into bar, seventh went home.

Fifty Years Ago

Oct. 14, 1965

There has been a lot printed about how people in cities have ignored the pleas for help of people in trouble. We got stuck Sunday on the road out of Eureka, and every car that came along the road stopped to help. Mr. and Mrs. Roy Frazier drove out of their way back to the ranch to get help, and Lewis Dunn came out and rescued us with his 4x4. That’s real, old-fashioned helpfulness – Western style!

Photo caption: Eight year old Keith Brodhead watches Jim Mikkelsen, installer-repairman for Pacific Northwest Bell, hook up a new telephone. On November 7, the Brodhead family will be connected to PNB’s new Waitsburg switching center.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

October 11, 1940

Abe Gross, pioneer resident of the Touchet and Walla Walla Valleys, has just purchased a cottage from W. H. Burch, located on East Sixth Street.

The Commercial Club voted to cooperate with the schools in the Armistice Day program, Nov. 11. They also voted to sponsor a dancing party on Thanksgiving Eve.

Mrs. W.J. Keve entertained at cards Friday afternoon with the two Friday Clubs as guests. High score went to Mrs. Victor Hirsch and second to Mrs. Gene Ray. Mrs. Frank Zuger won a prize.

Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Johnston of Seattle are the parents of a daughter born last Friday, Oct. 4.

“Club Soda” owned by Craig Tull of Prescott, won the featured $300 Ellensburg purse by two lengths Thursday at Playfair race track, running in hock-deep mud.

One Hundred Years Ago

October 15, 1915

“Old Bones” chief of the Palouse Indians for many years, died some days ago and was buried Monday on the Palouse reservation, near the mouth of the Palouse River, about seven miles from Starbuck.

Several hundred people Monday took part in the dedication of the new Knights of Pythias Hall in Prescott, without doubt one of the best arranged and most modern lodge buildings to be found anywhere.

E. H. Leonard of Prescott is arranging to erect a modern bungalow on the lots recently purchased at the corner of 5th and Orchard.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

October 3, 1890

Born near this city, Oct. 3 to the wife of Burton Jessup, a son.

The run-away train on Tuesday came near running over W. J. Brockman as he was driving a team across the track. There was no one on board, no bell was rung and no whistle tooted.

City Council failed to meet on Wednesday evening. By the way, that body fails to meet at almost every meeting lately.

The Harvest Home Dinner and entertainment by the M. E. Aid Society on Thursday evening was a grand success. The dinner was an elegant one and all the exercises splendid. The receipts were about $55.00.