Pioneer Portraits

Ten Years Ago

July 16, 2009

Some of the Spring Valley Ranches ground was once owned by William G. Preston, who spent several years in a variety of enterprises before landing in Waitsburg and becoming one of the most prominent landowners. The Smiths farmed the ground for several decades on behalf of Preston heirs. Preston and his brother Platt, came to the Touchet Valley, arriving in Waitsburg around 1865 and soon buying a stake in the flour mill built by Sylvester M. Wait.

Two new spring wheat varieties that offer high levels of resistance to stripe rust will soon be available to state growers, thanks to scientists at Washington State University. "JD" is a new soft white; spring white club variety and "Babe" is a soft white common spring wheat.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 14, 1994

Pam Beasley of Waitsburg is a dedicated and talented teacher whose contribution to her profession was recently recognized when she became the finalist for Washington State Teacher of the Year. Beasley has been an educator for 11 years. From 1983-86 she taught in the Waitsburg school system

Photo caption: Volunteers, from left, Bill Zuger, Roy Leid and Jim Davison move file cabinets and chairs from elementary school July 9 in Waitsburg. Remodeling of school is scheduled to begin in October. At right, Orville Branson carries box from kitchen of school. It was crucial that the move begin before the harvest. It did.

Join the fun this weekend when the 1994 Festival at the Depot kicks off Friday, July 15, in Dayton. Beginning at 11a.m. on Saturday at the Depot, hats, gloves, purses, shawl, umbrellas and other accessories from the early 1900's will highlight an old- fashioned style show.

Fifty Years Ago

July 17, 1969

Photo caption: The candid camera caught Dan Statton enjoying a large plate of watermelon in a shady spot near a tree. We suppose the trash can was there so that no one could tell how much watermelon had been eaten by the amount of rinds that were left on the plate.

Photo caption: As harvest draws near for valley ranchers, the Times lens took in this assemblage of equipment on the flat near the Charles V. Zuger farm west of Waitsburg. Seven combines and a fleet of trucks wait at the ready to begin the huge job of taking the wheat out of the field and into the elevators in the area. An abundance of moisture plus near ideal growing conditions have made prospects this year excellent for a bumper crop. Kenneth Smith and the Zuger ranch are cutting together this harvest which gives them a seven-machine capacity. This outfit pictures here is capable of putting a lot of wheat in the bin in one day.

A news release as it came to the radio station was: "The (Highway) Commission told the Highway Department informally to stop preparations for construction of State Highway 121 near Waitsburg. The proposed route has aroused substantial local opposition because of fears that the Highway Department route will increase flood danger and will damage valuable soil."

Seventy-Five Years Ago

July 21, 1944

Thunder clouds and a few drops of rain on Wednesday brought some relief from the intense heat of Tuesday which the summer here to date with recordings from 100 to 102.

The Palm Club will be closed until noon every day because of the shortage of merchandise according to Jack West, proprietor.

The first part of July of 1944 marked the closing career of one of the most well-known dogs of our community, named Kaiser Bill. He had been ill for some time prior to his passing.

One Hundred Years Ago

July 23, 1919

The best way to get a thing done is to do it. This was never better demonstrated than the past week when the people of this city, desiring a convenient swimming pool, went to the Touchet River. Just above the Main Street bridge.

L. R. Perrine, of the Perrine-Jonas Co, and family left Sunday for Spokane and vicinity where they will spend a few days outing.

A party of girls chaperoned by Mrs. O. O. Roe, went into camp Sunday evening on the Wolf Fork of the Touchet above Mountain Home Park. In the party are the Misses Lauretia and Celestia Loundagin, Lillian Taggard, Mabel Van Slyke and Charlotte Neace.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 20, 1894

A bonnet covered with birds does not sing but it makes a man whistle when the bill comes in.

J. D. Laidlaw and wife entertained the music-loving and music making portion of our city Thursday night and in turn were themselves highly entertained.

Despondency caused by a diseased liver, can be avoided by taking Simmons Liver Regulator.

To convince you of the benefits of strawing roads, we ask you to take a drive in different directions and compare Whiskey Creek road, where it was strawed last year, with other roads not strawed.