PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago-October 2, 2008

Tomfoolery by Tom Baker: News of the week that kept the talking heads on TV buzzing was the possible melt-down of the economy. With the stock market taking a couple of "down" days in the 500-point range, and a 777-point plunge on the day that Congress was meeting to solve the problems of the economy, it had some of the historians comparing it to the 1929 market crash. You will find about as many folks willing to discuss the roots of the "adjustment" as there are commentators. But one common thread seems to be the sub-prime mortgage fiasco.

Students looking for 2008 Homecoming ideas-theme: the "70's"-need look no further than their parents for the authoritative information on Pet Rocks, disco, toga parties and what is now termed "classic rock and roll". Waitsburg and Prescott high schools will celebrate Homecoming Week Oct 6-11 and will lampoon that fabulous decade in the process.

Twenty-Five Years Ago-September 23, 1993

They stood in line for more than an hour-1052 of them, equalizing the whole population of Waitsburg. A long wait but so worth it. "This is the social event of the year" John Brownell said of the 35th annual Salmon Barbecue sponsored by the Waitsburg Commercial Club Thursday, Sept. 16 at the Community building. The Commercial Club, with an able assist of the Waitsburg Lions Club, served up about 1100 pounds of salmon, covered with that secret recipe barbecue sauce-a recipe said to be locked in a safe at an undisclosed location near Waitsburg.

The results of the third fishing derby sponsored by the Blue Mountain Bass Club Aug 21-22 at Lyons Ferry Marina. Otto and Barb Krouse took first place while Bob and Jan McQuary took second. Third place was taken by George Wright, of Walla Walla.

Fifty Years Ago-September 26, 1968

Photo Caption: No mean feat was accomplished by Waitsburg's Henry McKinney this past weekend. He and his faithful beater, Ron Kenney, are shown with the doe that they gagged on the Tucannon with Mac's trusty bow and arrow. Game department reports on 5 deer taken in this area. Both the hunters admitted that it took additional skills to gag one "Indian fashion."

An old Waitsburg landmark is coming down and Walter Cohoon of Waitsburg provided us with some interesting information about some of the Waitsburg history. The history of a building used as a laundry started in the 1860's when a school house was built on Waitsburg Main Street. It was later moved to where Preston Hall now stands and served as a grocery stor there. Somewhere after the turn of the century, the building was moved to where the City Garage is located, a spot just north of the building that is now being torn down. L. E. Bruch was the original laundry man in Waitsburg and his business was bought by T. E. Cohoon.

Seventy-Five Years Ago-Oct 1, 1943

Mrs. George Bateman of Waitsburg announces the marriage of her daughter Frances to A. W. Perkins of The Dalles.

The pet parade was held on Saturday in conjunction with the school fair. Those in the first division winning prizes were: First, Kay Hawks as a Red Cross nurse: second, Victor Langdon with banty chickens, third Jean Gibson with a baby in a doll buggy.

In the second division, first, Betty Dunn with a dog and wagon: second, Harvey and Charles Danielson as Indians on a Shetland pony: tying for third were John Greigar with a rabbit and Charles Dowell with a bulldog.

Rev. and Mrs. E. W. Hillis were surprised by a group of neighbors and friends Friday afternoon on their 36th wedding anniversary.

One Hundred Years Ago-Oct 4, 1918

Averill and Charley Monnett, Charley Vollmer and James Stonecipher left Friday for Pullman where they will enter the State College this year under the new S.A.T.C. provision.

Misses Helen and Velma Keiser and Messrs. Ivan Bruce, Marvin Hales, Victor Harrington and Mario McAninch were in Dayton for the Saturday night dance.

Postmaster S. F. Patton returned from Vera, Wash. Sunday, where he had been for several days looking after his apple crop on his young orchard. He says that his young trees will have 6000 full boxes of commercial apples this season.

The pupils of the Central school are busy this week collecting fruit pits, net shells, and tinfoil for use in the manufacture of army equipment.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

Oct 6, 1893

The Minnick Bros are among our very best farmers. They have just finished threshing their crop, and with the following results: their barley made an average yield of 101 bushels per acre: their fall wheat between 45 and 50 bushels per acre. Their threshing was done by Feller and Contonwine, who turned out as high as 1962 sacks per day.

The initial social hop of the season was given in Orwary Hall on Saturday evening. The attendance was not large, but pleasant.

A train ran into a bunch of horses between this city and Bolles Junction on Tuesday morning and killed four.

Albert S. Dickinson and Miss Addie Denney were united in holy and divine bonds of wedlock on Sunday, Oct 1, 1893 at the home of the bride's parents in Spring Valley.