PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago

July 21, 2011

Susan Hosticka always wanted to do a "bee beard" to prove the hard-working insects are really quite gentle and harmless despite their reputation to the contrary. Late last month, during a field day for the state's beekeepers association at Washington Sate University, she finally had her Fear Factor moment when 4,000 bees crawled and buzzed around her shoulders, neck and head. "Not a single sting," said the co-owner of Octopus Garden Honey on South Touchet Road near Dayton. "It kind of felt like a scratchy wool sweater."

Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 25, 1996

The Pettyjohn Family picnic was held Sunday June 30, 1996, at the home of Sam and Georgene Grant, west of Prescott. Nearly one hundred members attended. Elda Grant and Blanche Martin Fletcher, both 95, were honored as the two oldest present. Hope Grant-Harriott, two years old, was the youngest.

Jonathan Pettyjohn was the first of the family to settle in this area. He and his wife Hannah Warner Pettyjohn, established a home for their family near the north bank of the Touchet River in Washington Territory. They built a log cabin home in 1858 five miles west of the present site of Prescott. The cabin stood until it burned during a wheat fire in 1944. Much of the original Pettyjohn land is still in the family and the subject of two Washington Centennial Farms, The Pettyjohn-Sanders Centennial Farm and the Pettyjohn-Grant Centennial Farm.

Fifty Years Ago

July 22, 1971

LeRoy "Bud" Todt, long-time law enforcement officer for Waitsburg, has retired from active police work, and submitted his resignation to the Waitsburg City Council. "Bud" plans to stay in Waitsburg, and told The Times "I will find something to do around here." Mayor Roy Leid said that the Council has received several applications for the newly-opened position, and will probably act on them Wednesday night, July 21. In the meantime, officer Jim Anderson will take over Bud's responsibilities, on a temporary basis.

Four trucks from the Volunteer Fire Department answered a call Friday afternoon to the Sweazy ranch farmed by Bill Payne, and located in Whoop-em-up Hollow. A trash fire was endangering the wheat, but no damage was done.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

July 26, 1946

Miss Virginia Bloor became the bride of Lt. Frederick Nichol of Boulder, Colo. On July 23 at the First Christian Church with Rev. Paul Koper officiating assisted by Rev. Harry Anderson.

Marilyn Collingwood, Joan Carson, Betty Anderson, Jean Gibson and Jacqueline Archer are vacationing this week at Camp Fire camp at the Kiwanis Camp in the Blue Mountains.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Buroker are the parents of a son born Sunday afternoon at St. Mary Hospital. The new arrival, Michael Dean, weighed 8 ½ pounds.

One Hundred Years Ago

July 22, 1921

C.A. Hales, well – known sheepman of this city, has just returned from a business trip to Chicago. He says spring lambs are looking up and he expects a better market soon.

The fire siren called out the fire department Sunday evening when a blaze was discovered between J. H. Diehls' blacksmith shop and Dr. P. W. Loundagin's veterinary barn. The fire, which threatened much disaster, was soon extinguished with no damage done.

Mrs. Frank Callahan entertained her Sunday school class Saturday afternoon. Mrs. D. P. Bailey brought the children over in her car. Those present were Margaret Cutting, Edith McCown, Celesta Buroker, Marion Bailey, Elizabeth Schmitt, Reba McKinzey, Paul Bailey, and George Cutting.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 24, 1896

Edwin Weary, a prominent pioneer farmer and sheep raiser of this county, died at his home at French Town last Monday. He was about 50 years old and served as County Commissioner with our townsman, J. W. Morgan.

Mrs. John Kirby and O. W. Pollard and children are huckleberrying in the mountains this week.

Petty thieving is going on in and about town almost every night. Mrs. S. Wood's cellar and kitchen have been raided several times. Ditto John James' cellar.

The meetings are still in progress in the tent in the school house yard. The attendance is good every night and quite an interest is being manifested.