PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago

December 6, 2012

[Photo Caption] Kindergartner Jessika Lambert chooses just the right spot for her gingerbread man ornament last Thursday. The Waitsburg Elementary School students got to hang their handmade ornaments on the large tree on Main Street in front of the Plaza Theatre.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

December 11, 1997

Waitsburg City Council voted to begin the process with the Highway Department to make the intersection of Coppei and Preston Avenues a right turn only for vehicles traveling north on Coppei Ave. “I would like to cancel the ability to make a left turn there completely,” said Councilwoman Karen Peters in the Waitsburg City Council meeting last week. “It’s a death trap. It’s scary.” Peters added that proceeding straight through the intersection would also be abolished. Councilman Mark Lambert agreed. “I stood at that corner selling smoked turkeys and I’d have to agree with you. It’s a dangerous intersection.” If the plan is approved, vehicles traveling north on Coppei Avenue would have to turn left at Third Street or make the turn to Preston Avenue.

Fifty Years Ago

December 7, 1972

The massive double doors on the Bruce House have been replaced with sheets of plyboard. The doors themselves have found a place in the farm shop of Lee Mantz, Jr., who plans to use some of his winter hours re-finishing them. Larry Gorsuch spent the weekend trimming the nineteen fir trees that are on the lot. This work included the removal of dead limbs and cutting others so that they are all a uniform height above the ground. A big improvement. Memorial donations for Mrs. Jennie Abbey were received this past week from Ruth and Gladys Eaton, Dr. and Mrs. S. R. Hevel, and Mr. and Mrs. David Roberts. Latest membership renewals came from Mrs. Della Brunson, and Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Jessup, Spokane.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

December 12, 1947

Construction of the new Eureka-Burbank Road was approved by a resolution adopted by the county commissioners at their meeting Monday.

Bert Symmonds and Floyd Stovall of Spokane have opened a diesel and equipment company in Waitsburg located back of the Touchet Valley Hardware. They are specializing in tractor and combine repairs.

Ernest Mikkelsen was renamed president of the Racing Association when the group met at the second annual Night of Real Sport last Friday evening. Homer Reed was again named secretary and Robert Butler again named treasurer.

One Hundred Years Ago

December 15, 1922

Miss Leah Sayers has returned to her home here from Walla Walla where she has been staying with her grandmother, Mrs. Mary Denney, for several weeks.

An enjoyable party was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Zuger one evening last week. Fifty guests enjoyed the evening dancing and card playing. Refreshments were served.

Lawrence Michelsen, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Michelsen, left Wednesday evening for Los Angeles, Ca. to spend the winter with his sisters, Mrs. Joe Free and Mrs. Glen McCaw who recently went there to make their homes.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

December 10, 1897

The Preston – Parton Milling Co. received their new dynamo on Monday and in a few days, they expect to have an electric light plant of their own. Electrician G. N. Tuttle is doing the work of setting up the plant.

J. S. Houtchens is building another Bowling Alley to be used by ladies. We can see no reason why girls shouldn’t have a little fun once in a while.

The Milton post office in which there is a store was robbed last Thursday morning and the burglar captured just as he made his exit from the building. The thief, who gave his name as John Warren, had in his possession cutlery to the value of 28.50. Milton is different from Waitsburg in that Waitsburg seldom catches the burglar.