Powell Rifle Donated to Waitsburg Historical Society

WAITSBURG-In August 2017, while many people were traveling elsewhere to see a solar eclipse, Barney Powell and his wife made a point to travel through Waitsburg.

"We stopped because I was interested in my ancestor, E.L. Powell," Barney Powell said. "We got a copy of the July newspaper with an article in it about E.L. Powell."

The article, "Fun with History," by Dena Martin, describes a colorful character who had many interests. He was the youngest man in the state to hold the position of Odd Fellows Third Grand Masters, at age 29. He pitched baseball well into his fifties. Among other things, Powell operated a general store, the first brick building, in Waitsburg for 18 years. At one point he was the mayor of Waitsburg and he was the longest owner of The Times.

E.L. Powell was also here, armed with Winchester rifles, during the Nez Perce war of 1877. He not only defended his own home and storefront, but he provided weaponry to locals to defend themselves from Chief Joseph. So many, in fact, he was the recipient of a special award.

"If you sold 1,000 rifles, the company would give you a Winchester Special 1876," Powell said. "My great grandfather, E.L. Powell, got one of those guns. It went to his eldest son, Percie, and to his only son, Pierce, and to his eldest son, Pierce Powell Jr., my brother. Pierce Jr. had no kids, and at 80 years old has decided to donate it to the museum."

Barney, from Santa Barbara, Calif. and his two brothers, Pierce from Virginia City, Nev. and Frank, from British Columbia, made a special trip to Waitsburg.

"It's a bucket list thing," said Barney. It was something special they could do together.

Waitsburg Historical Society president Tom Land received the prized rifle, with an estimated value of $28,000, onstage at the Pioneer Fall Festival.

"I can't tell you how pleased we are to accept this," he said.

The Powell brothers met with Anita Baker to tour the house and learn more of their own family history. In 1874 William Bruce and E.L. Powell formed a partnership in the general merchandise business. Powell later went on to be associated with the Preston Brothers.

"He was quite a guy," said Anita Baker of Powell's ancestor.

"We don't do much, we look good and have our pictures taken," insists the eldest brother Pierce Jr who, at 80 years old, is walking history.

"I was in Germany in 1963," recalls Pierce Jr., "I watched De Gaulle and Eisenhower shake hands."

The Bruce Mansion complex tour takes about an hour and features many clothing and furniture donations from local families which, together, complete the historical context of the impressive mansion's heyday.

"You've done amazing things," noted Frank of the Historical Society's restoration efforts. "Yeah, I like what you've done with the place," the Powell brothers agree.

Photographs of the farmers at harvest in the Wilson-Phillips House exhibit got Barney Powell's attention, because of his interest in farming history. "I enjoy seeing the evolution of machinery," he said, "from a plow and horse to these gigantic machines we see today."

The tour is available by appointment only. Those interested in touring the museums can make an appointment by calling 509-337-6157 or by visiting http://www.waitsburgmuseum.org.