Pioneer Portraits

Ten Years Ago-October 30, 2008

Waitsburg Commercial Club opted to purchase lighted garland from a local business after hearing a proposal from a Tri-Cities company regarding Christmas decorations for downtown business. At a board meeting Oct 23, the Senske bid was considered and it exceeded C-Club's budget. The Board opted to buy about $1800 worth of lights and garlands from Waitsburg Hardware & Mercantile.

Waitsburg native Beth Abbey finished the Nike Women's San Francisco Marathon first in her age division (25-29), ninth among female athletes and 14th overall. The 26-plus mile event was held Oct 19th. Beth, 27, is the daughter of Bruce and Barbara Abbey of Waitsburg, and the granddaughter of Joe Abbey.

Twenty Five Years Ago-October 21, 1993

The ag mechanics class at Waitsburg High School is about to restore a piece of automotive history. A 1951 Ford pickup that has been owned by the school for at least 30 years will be mechanically repaired and painted by 18 students in Scott Branson's ag class. The banana-yellow Ford was commonly driven by the late Berger Chase and other school employees on school business until the 1980's.

The state Supreme court recently ordered a timber company to pay a Dayton landowner $90,000 as payment for timber the company bought from the landowner in the Wolf Fork area of Columbia County in 1988. The state highest court ruled on Oct 7 that Alpine Resources, Inc. must pay George Syrovy, who is in his 80s, $90,000 plus 12 percent interest on that amount for two years to meet requirements of a timber-purchased contract between Alpine and Syrowy. "I am really pleased," Waitsburg attorney Michael Hubbard said, "he has had to wait a long time."

Fifty Years Ago-October 24, 1968

Cub Scouts don't always run around wearing blue shirts, yellow ties, and beanies while leading a frantic den mother a merry chase. Last Monday Den 1 used their excess energy to pick up rocks on the Coppei Avenue parking which is being readied for seeding by Ralph Rankin. Mrs. Don Richardson is the den mother for the group, which consists of Carl Smith Jr. den chief, Billy Samson, Tom Keeney, Jimmy Brown, Pat McKinney and Kevin Richardson. Mrs. Bill Brown is assistant den mother. Ralph says, "Thanks a lot, boys."

Seven valid nominating petitions were receive by State Directory of Agriculture, Don Moos, naming candidates for the Wheat Commission post to be vacated by Ed Lawrence. The nominees who consented to have their names listed on the ballots to be mail to producers on November 1 are: Richard Harper, Waitsburg: Robert Lonneker, Prescott: Gary Strohmaker, Touchet: Ray Small, Jr. Lowden: Harold Oliver, Walla Walla: Carl Ausman, Asotin: Dick Juris, Dayton.

Seventy Five Years Ago-Oct 29, 1943

Fire broke out Wednesday afternoon about 3:30 in the wash house on the Marcus Zuger ranch near Bolles Junction. Apparently started from a defective flue, it was well started before help arrived.

It has been decided to complete the organization of a branch of the School patrol in Waitsburg, and a large membership has been recruited from the elementary school student body.

Mr. and Mrs James C. Hodgens are the parents of a son born Tuesday morning, Oct 26 at the Walla Walla General Hospital.

The Denova Club met at the home of Mrs. Luther Carver last Thursday. It was decided to buy a new flag for the city and roll bandages for the Red Cross.

One Hundred Years Ago-Nov 1, 1918

The gauze masks appeared in this city Saturday when they were donned by the employees of the barber shop. Monday the post office employees put them on. Waitsburg does not seem to have a single case of influenza at the present time but our people are trying to observe safely first precautions.

Ad line-Two pounds of fruit cake with a ten-cent loaf of bread at the Model Bakery.

Glenn Conover and family accompanied by Miss Blanche Stonecipher went on a pleasure trip to the Spokane country last week and returned the forepart of next week.

A. Hansen and wife went out and hunted a cider press on Tuesday preparatory to making up the waste apples into cider and later into vinegar, which is better than letting them go to waste and pay 45 cents a gallon for vinegar.

One Hundred Twenty Five Years Ago

Nov 3, 1893

D. W. Ramseur made us a pleasant call on Tuesday. To that man our latch string always hangs out for he is a man whom to meet is a pleasure.

Another crank has done his deadly work, and Carter Harrison, five times mayor of Chicago, lies dead at his home in three bullets having entered his body

Petty thieving is reported in different parts of the country. Keep a look out on your valuables and eatables.

R. M. Breeze met with the misfortune of having a horse fall on him last Saturday so badly hurt a leg as to render him unable to walk.

Emerson Wheeler now resides the finest wheel ever in this city. It is a "Victor" an advertisement of which appears in The Times. It is acknowledged to be the very best wheel made, and is as pretty as a picture.