The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Ten Years Ago

May 12, 2005

As a board member and officer of the Days of Real Sport, Terry Hofer hasn’t seen a Saturday morning parade in over 20 years because he was working at the track preparing for the race meet. “Now I don’t get to see the parade either,” quipped Hofer, the 2005 DRS Parade Marshal. On the other hand, Hofer, 62, will get to see and wave to those who journeyed to Waitsburg for the parade and horse racing as he leads the parade on its circuitous route from the north Main Street Bridge through downtown and back again. Hofer plans to eschew the usual horseflesh and also won’t be found sitting in a convertible. He plans to ride in a trailered boat belonging to friend Bill Carter – a symbol of his retirement.

What a difference a year makes. A year ago, Bryant Bader, 47, his wife Val Mudry, 48, journeyed over the Cascades to visit friends in Waitsburg and now the former Emerald Citizens and their friends are opening a café in Waitsburg. If all goes well, they hope to be open before Days of Real Sport weekend. Bader and Mudry, with the friends they came to visit, Ross Stevenson, 40 , and Leroy Cunningham, 52, both of Waitsburg, are partners in the business, located in the former Flour Mill Bakery building at 120 Main.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

May 10, 1990

Turk Ely came in the office this week to tell us about a former Waitsburg resident who has become famous because of a local winery. It seems that every year, Richard Small of Woodward Canyon Wineries, honors a historical figure from the area, and the 1987 Cabernet Sauvignon, Dedication Series #7, was to honor Col. E. F. Babcock, a former Waitsburg orchardist.

Photo Caption: Spring is when the swallows come back to Capistrano, and Days of Real Sport time is when J. W. “Buffalo Bill” Thompson and his trusty crew get out in the middle of Main Street and put up the flags. Helping as usual, are Bill’s two trusty sidekicks: Berger “Buckshot’ Chase and Sam Wills. The banners are in place, the flag isup and “There they go.”

Fifty Years Ago

May 6, 1965

Plaza manager Phil Monfort reported that last Saturday evening when projectionist Eddie Lambert flipped the switch to warm up the 40-year old machine one machine refused to go. A frantic call came over the intercom from helper Joe Cyr. Inspection of the usually dependable machine revealed that some teeth had fallen out of one of its many gears (the kind of teeth, incidentally, that Dr. Pearson can’t help.) A rush request for a replacement gear has been phone in, and everything should be back to normal this weekend.

Albert Land, mayor of the City of Waitsburg, will perform still another duty on May 29, when he will act as Marshal for the Days of Real Sport annual parade.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

May 10, 1940

J. E. Butler, R. Rinehart and Frank Zuger were each presented 25-year jewels at the regular session of Delta Lodge No. 70, Knights of Pythias, Thursday night.

Miss Adelle Conover entertained Saturday evening honoring Miss Joan Hamilton on her birthday anniversary.

Donald Glover and Brick Graham of Pullman, spent a few hours here Saturday with Don’s brother J. V. These Pullman business men were on their way home after a several days fishing trip on the McKenzie River in Oregon. They report excellent success.

One Hundred Years Ago

May 7, 1915

Mr. and Mrs. Martin Weller, and Mr. and Mrs. M. Zuger were among the Waitsburgers who went to Lewiston the first of the week and came down the river Tuesday by boat.

Charley Neace must be expecting to harvest a little early this year. We see George Dose is rigging up.

A very pleasant party was given last Saturday evening at the home of Wilbur Bateman to the members of the M. E. Sunday School. Saturday happened to be both Wilbur’s and Grandma Bateman’s birthday. The evening was spent in various games and contests, several prizes being given.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

May 9, 1890

This is indeed an unusual season. We had no spring at all, but a great big jim right from winter to “dog days.”

Last Tuesday was Mrs. James Rice’s birthday, and in honor of the event her husband presented her a handsome gold watch and chain.

A water wheel and pipe has been put in at the Odd Fellows cemetery for the purpose of raising water for irrigating and thus keeping green the graves of departed loved ones.

Three two-year-old horses, a gray, a bay and a sorrel, came to A. G. Lloyd’s place two miles west of this city last January and are there yet. The owner is requested to come and get them.