Pioneer Portraits

Ten Years Ago

July 30, 2009

Farmers in the Touchet Valley and surrounding environs have all gotten their harvest operations underway and in "full swing." Low protein is a desirable trait in soft white wheat, and McCaw attributed it to the good moisture last winter and timely spring rains. Yields are up a little from last year in the Waitsburg area, he added, cautioning that yield indications are still preliminary and anecdotal at this point.

Photo caption: Nine-year-old Zach Winegar, right, was the winner of the drawing for a DVD at Dayton Liberty Theater Tuesday evening, July 21, while attending the movie, "Ice Age" with his brother Brock and cousin Matt Groom as part of their week long "Camp Grandma." They are the grandsons of Russ and Barb Knopp of Waitsburg, and Matt is also the grandson of Bud and Marilyn Groom of Dayton. Also pictured is Reid Helford.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 21, 1994

Gentlemen (and ladies) start your engines. Ready, set, go! With throttle forward, the 1994 wheat harvest in Walla Walla and Columbia counties is underway with all the determination of drivers in a stock car race. Many growers are predicting lower yields than last year for this year's dryland winter wheat crop because rainfall has been four to five inches below normal in both counties. This is a disappointing prognosis for many growers who reaped near-record or record yields last summer. "Yields are really down," said John Hinchliff of Dayton, a wheat farmer in Columbia County.

Photo caption: Christine Bowles, 2, blows bubbles with help of Kynde Kiefel on July 15 in Waitsburg. Kiefel was among six girls and four boys who visited Betty's Day Care as part of a class on babysitting sponsored by the Readiness to Learn program. Denise Winnett, who taught the class with Cindy Hofer, explained that the class members visited the day care owned by Betty Karl, after studying care of toddlers. Participants included Angie Lincoln, Kelly Lambert, Lisa Pierce, Kristie Tolman, Sarah Leid, Gabe Hofer, Travis Richardson, Bryan Harris, and Lucas Mohney.

Fifty Years Ago

July 24, 1969

Green Giant has harvested close to 90% of its 1969 pea crop and has about 600 acres left in this area. Reynold Richter, Dayton-Waitsburg plant superintendent said he estimates the pack will finish in the middle of next week and that the first beans will be processed beginning Wednesday night, July 23.

Photo caption: Staff members who are giving swim lessons to would-be Waitsburg aquanauts are Mrs. Dick Wright and Sandra Pearson and Louise Brown, Debbie Richardson, Margaret John and Nancy Lucas.

Photo caption: These three gentlemen were "center stage" for the whole world last weekend as the first man from planet earth set foot on the moon. Neil Armstrong (left) command pilot was the first to accomplish the feat followed closely by Edwin Aldrin, Jr (right). Nearly forgotten man in the flight was Michael Collins (center) who kept the command ship Columbia ready for the journey home. Apollo 11 mission is set to end Thursday morning as those men will splash down in the Pacific.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

July 2, 1944

Wm. Wardrip is the new lessor of Union Service Station No. 566 on Main and Preston. He took over the business this week which was formerly handled by Bud Todt.

Mrs. E. L. Wheeler returned Wednesday from a six-weeks trip to the N. E. A. Convention at Milwaukee. She also visited in Michigan where she worked for a month in the newspaper office of friends.

Boy Scouts returning Sunday from the camp of the Blue Mt. Council in the Lake Wallowa district report a grand time, and those scheduled to go by groups during the next few weeks are anxious to be off. Bobby Patton will be one of the fortunate ones setting out within a few days and many others will be going every week until August 13.

One Hundred Years Ago

August 1, 1919

Chet Babcock has resigned his position in the grocery department of the Perrin-Jonas Co. and with Mrs. Babcock went to Pomeroy Wednesday where they have accepted positions in the Hotel Revere.

Harvey Stonecipher, of Spring Valley, has purchased the residence property at the corner of Main and West 6th St. from Mrs. Myrtle Davis of Burlington, Wash. Mr. Stonecipher and family expect to occupy the property this fall after some remodeling is done to the house.

This particular vicinity was visited with a light thunder shower Wed. which while not settling the dust except temporarily, effectually cooled the atmosphere.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 27, 1894

R. A. Angell beats L. T. Parker on the wheat racket this year. He brought in the first load of the season on the 24th and it was pronounced A-1 in grade.

B. F. Simmons of Snake River was in the city last Friday with a load of the finest peaches and apricots we ever beheld. While his peaches were almost double in size any we ever saw before, Mr. Simmons has 40 acres in orchard, and his trees are loaded.

Wheat reached the lowest point ever know in Chicago last Monday – 90 cents a bushel. There is no market here and will be none till the railroad gets down to solid business again, which we hope l will be in a few days.