Pioneer Portraits

Ten Years Ago-November 20, 2008

Dust off that top hat and magic wand or better yet, haul the accordion out of the deep recesses of the closet and polish up on your polka playing for the (first in a very long time) Winter Talent Show. The show hosted by the Waitsburg High School Associated Student Body Officers, will be at 6:30 p.m. December 7, 2008, following the Hometown Christmas Activities in the Waitsburg High School Auditorium. Master of Ceremonies will be Fred Hamann and three "celebrity" judges will provide feedback a la American Idol and there will be prizes for each entry. A prize is guaranteed for every act.

Dayton Depot's Christmas Market is one of many activities celebrating Christmas Kickoff, an annual holiday event held in historic Dayton the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. The Christmas Market is one of the historic Depot's annual fund raising events. Proceeds will go to the Dayton Historical Depot Society and used for Depot operating costs and activities.

Twenty Five Years Ago-November 11, 1993

Chad Gerlitz, 11, of Dayton, is headed for the Kingdome next month to participate in the regional Punt, Pass, & Kick competition and could win a trip to Hawaii. "It will be exciting", Chad, a sixth-grader at Dayton Elementary School, said of competing during halftime of the Seattle Seahawks-Kansas City Chiefs NFL football game in the Kingdome on Dec 5. This is the first time the boy has competed in Punt, Pass & Kick. His total distance –was 236 feet,5 inches-the highest of any 11 year old in Washington. "I just got lucky" Chad said of his impressive score.

Photo caption: Bill Litchfield of 211 E. Patit in Dayton, said the city needed more "characters" and that is why he painted his house white, with red and blue polka dots last month. Said Litchfield,"I wanted it be the most eccentric house in town". Litchfield, who works at Dayton Mercantile, also put a yellow brick road down the middle of the driveway at the house. Times photo by George Gagnon.

It might be an "afterthought" but it's one that the city hopes drivers think about.There is a new solid, double-yellow line down the middle of Main Street in Waitsburg to remind motorists that making U-turns in the business district is illegal.

Fifty Years Ago-November 14. 1968

Hal Oliver, who has farmed in this area all his life, has taken the position of salesman for Brea Agricultural Service in Waitsburg. Oliver began his farming career with his father, James Oliver, who is now retired and living in Walla Walla. Hal is a member of the Walla Walla Wheat Growers and of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers. He is presently serving as a fire commissioner for rural district 7.

Photo caption: JUNIOR MISS HOPEFULS in the second annual Touchet Valley Pageant sponsored by Dayton Jaycees are these eight senior girls from Dayton, Waitsburg, and Prescott. Seated are: Rita Thomas, Prescott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Thomas, and Nancy Hopwood, Prescott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Garvis Hopwood. Standing are: Charlene Scudder, Prescott, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herb Scudder:, Kathy Shema, Dayton, daughter of Mrs. Nellie Carpenter: Aleen Linklater, Waitsburg, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Linklater:, Nita Young, Dayton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Young: Carol Watkins, Dayton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Watkins: and Christy Bond, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Bond. Rehearsals started Saturday for the pageant which will be held at 8pm, Saturday,

November 30, in the Dayton High School gymnasium.

Seventy Five Years Ago-Nov 19, 1943

The city of Waitsburg has been cleaning out the Touchet River channel above the Prescott Avenue bridge this week. A bulldozer has been used. It is to keep high water from cutting away the levees on the southwest side.

Mrs. Craig Vining arrived on Tuesday to visit friends and relatives here and in Walla Walla. She has been employed in the shipyards in Seattle for the past five months and is now on a short vacation before returning to her work.

A discarded clothing and rag collection drive will be held on Nov 22 to Dec 4 sponsored by the Salvage Division of the War Production Board.

One Hundred Years Ago-Nov 22, 1918

Miss Mildred Dickeson, who has been attending business college in Walla Walla, is sick with pneumonia at St Mary Hospital. Her father, W. H. Dickeson, went down Wednesday morning to be with her.

Mrs. F. M. Scott and Mrs. J. B. Loudegin gave a birthday dinner Sunday, in honor of their father, Jas. Wickersham, who was 86 years old on November 16.

One Hundred Twenty Five Years Ago - Nov 24, 1893

Owing to the existence of scarlet fever in malignant form in the city, the school board today ordered the public school closed for at least one week, longer if necessary.

W. A. Kirby and J. N. Todd made a trip to Eureka Flat on Sunday: returned on Wednesday, bringing seventeen geese which went off like hot cakes.

D. T. Mills moved over from Starbuck last Saturday, and he and daughter Lara and son Ed are now at home in a neat cottage corner ,Coppei and Preston Avenues.