PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago

September 12, 2013

When it comes to pumpkins, Charlie Brown's got nothing on Waitsburg gardener Gail Broom, whose very own 'great pumpkin' placed first in the weight class at the Walla Walla County Fair. Broom can't wait to compete again next year and is hoping to have some area youngsters join her and step up the competition. "I decided to plant a pumpkin patch because I thought it would be neat for kids to be able to grow big pumpkins and enter them in the fair," said Broom. While schoolteachers were notified of the opportunity and a couple of children initially expressed interest, the project never quite got off the ground. Broom, an experienced 4-H, Girls Scout and Pathfinders leader says she knows how to teach and work with kids, but didn't quite know how to go about getting something organized from the ground up. She's hoping her personal success this year will rouse some interest and that she'll have a group of children ready to join her when it comes time to start seedlings this spring.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

September 17, 1998

When Adda Beckley was in her first semester at Cheney Normal School, (now Eastern Washington University), she still clearly remembers correspondence from her mother, Emma: "I don't know what to do about the money, Adda. We can't sell the wheat. There is no market." "What else is new?" queries 91-year-old Adda Beckley Roberts, Pioneer of the Year for the Waitsburg Historical Society's 25th annual Pioneer Fall Festival. She will be joined by her family, including numerous grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, and greatgreatgrandchildren, nieces and nephews, during the afternoon recognition. What else is new? A lot of things people take for granted nowadays were once new to Roberts and members of her generation. She has seen some remarkable things in her lifetime.

Fifty Years Ago

September 13, 1973

[Photo Caption] Ken Gohlman, left, and brother Herman, celebrate their 35th year in the grocery business in Waitsburg. The two men have been a vital part of the community for all those 35 years, and a listing of their activities would reach to the bottom to the page. We take this opportunity to congratulate them for their loyal service to Waitsburg – both in the civic and business area.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

September 17, 1948

Mrs. Hellen J. Long was probably the oldest voter at the local polls on Tuesday, having celebrated her 90th birthday Monday.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Tracy of Emmett, Id. announced the engagement of their daughter Sherrill Jean Morris of Dayton and Ellsworth Conover, son of Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Conover.

Robert and Victor Langdon have taken over the Spokesman-Review route in Waitsburg beginning Sept. 1. The route has been handled by Otto Nelson for the past four years.

One Hundred Years Ago

September 21, 1923

Little Miss Helen Bain entertained the neighborhood children Monday evening in honor of her birthday anniversary. About fifteen kiddies were present and they had a fine time with games and a lunch. The party was held from 5 until 8 o'clock.

George Dose has a crew of men digging a well on his place just west of town. The well is 8 feet square and George is attempting to develop enough water to irrigate his acreage by the aid of a rotary pump and electric "juice".

The Main Street bridge has been put in a good state of repair and the decking covered with a thick coat of asphalt and sand. Looks pretty fine now.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

September 23, 1898

The Waitsburg Academy opened on Monday morning with most excellent attendance. The outlook for the school year is most promising. Prof. J. A. Keener is rapidly bringing the Academy to the front and at its present rate of development, will soon be one of the leading educational institutions in the state.

Mrs. Anne McKinney, mother of our William McKinney, died on Wednesday at her home in Portland, Oregon at the exact age of 92 years – dying on her birthday. The old lady had a stroke of apoplexy several days ago and her son William started to see her Wednesday. She died before he reached there.