PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago

August 21, 2014

[Photo Caption] Waitsburg resident Pam Conover studies a scale model of a proposed sculpture of Waitsburg's founders by Walla Walla artist Jeffrey Hill. The sculpture represents Waitsburg's three founding fathers: Sylvester Wait, William Bruce and William Preston. Hill was one of four artists to present proposals last week to the Waitsburg Arts Commission for two public art pieces to be placed on Waitsburg's Main Street next year.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

August 19, 1999

A pair of new businesses have recently opened their doors in Waitsburg and a pair of existing establishments have moved to different locations. For one of those businesses, moving to the larger, Victorian-appointed storefront will mean a higher profile among Waitsburg's business district. Waitsburg will soon have its own Internet Service Provider (ISP) and computer repair shop thanks to John Stacy's Computer Rx, located in the Plaza Building at 210 Main. Coffee-holics can satisfy their caffeine cravings with an espresso from Waitsburg Station, which has a potpourri of offerings in addition to espresso and copies, located at 130 Preston.

Tomlinson-Black Blue Mountain Realty's branch office is now in the Plaza Building at 208 Main, in the space previously occupied by Linda Hermanns' The Crossroads, which has moved at 141 Main, formerly Mountain Charm Art Gallery. Tomlinson-Black was formerly located at 214 Main.

Fifty Years Ago

August 22, 1974

The spirit of helping one's neighbor is not yet dead in America – at least not in rural America. Sunday, August 18, friends and neighbors of Mike Thompson, Dayton area wheat farmer who died of cancer last week, gathered together for a harvesting bee. A host of 24 combines, 30 trucks and 75 people took part in a massive one-day cut of wheat for the benefit of Thompson's widow, Delores, and her three children.At 8 a.m. the combines and trucks drove into the fields, by 8:30 a cutting pattern, a system, had evolved, and by 1:30 p.m. all hands were answering the cowbell for dinner at the Tim Donohue home just adjacent to the wheat fields. In 5 ½ hours the entire 360 acres had been cut and trucked to a nearby elevator. Jim Turner, who along with Roy Eslick, organized this neighborly army, said that 84 truckloads had been harvested and he estimated yield at about 70 bushels per acres.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

August 26, 1949

Miss Sue Elizabeth Collins will represent Waitsburg at the Southeastern Washington Fair on Sept. 2,3,4 and 5.

Bobby Webber, with 8 fish, received the prize for the most fish caught in the local fishing derby Wednesday.

Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Anderson of Walla Walla announce the engagement of their daughter Corleen to Donald Pittman of Athena, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Jack West. The wedding has been set for Sept. 2.

One Hundred Years Ago

August 29, 1924

Forrest Conover of Wilson Hollow, lost two rather valuable milk cows Monday night, death being presumably caused from eating alfalfa on which had been sprayed "tree killer dope."

The Godman Springs-Toll Gate road is now completed to Table Rock according to Forest Ranger W. H. Kendall.

J. H. Adams, John Barnes, Alpha Fox and Clarence Eaton returned Sunday from a short fishing trip over the Little Joe. They report a fine catch.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

August 25, 1899

Mrs. M. H. Keiser, Mrs. Smith Hoops and Mrs. C. W. Wheeler took their blankets and went to Saddle Mountain last Thursday to pick huckleberries. M. H. and Jerome Keiser joined the party on Friday evening. The ladies heard a real live cougar too but didn't get a bit frightened. They will probably tell you about it.

Marshal Prescott fined a fellow $5.00 last Sunday for riding over the Main Street bridge faster than a walk.