Ten Years Ago

January 10, 2008

The Waitsburg Fifth Grade Ski Program begins this week at Ski Bluewood and according to teacher Pam Conover, the students are “quite excited” about going skiing. Before they went, however, Deb Callahan brought two sewing machines to the classroom and with Stacia Deal as her dew-worthy assistant, made fleece neck warmers with the kids.

A terrific wind storm pounded Walla Walla and Milton-Freewater last Friday, January 4, but Waitsburg and environs survived the windy onslaught with relatively minor damage. No deaths or injuries have been attributed to the storm. Wind speeds reached 78 iles per hour in the Walla Walla area, uprooting trees, toppling power lines, stripping shingles and leaving an estimated 60% of Walla Walla homes without power.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

January 7, 1993

Lynn McCambridge couldn’t shovel them out the door fast enough. On Monday, the owner of Touchet Valley Hardware said he had already sold a dozen snow shovels by 2 p.m. While snow started falling days ago, residents of Waitsburg waited until after the New Year to come in to buy that new shovel.

The name of Waitsburgh was changed officially by the U.S. Post Office on Jan. 4, 1893 when the “H” was dropped, thus establishing the official spelling as Waitsburg. The settlement established in 1865 went through a series of names, Horseshoe City, Delta and finally Waitsburg. Sara Wilson, OIC at the local post office, relayed the information to The Times after receiving letters from collectors in Colorado asking for the Waitsburg cancellation on Jan. 4, 1993.

Fifty Years Ago

January 4, 1963

More than a hundred Masons, Eastern Stars and their families enjoyed a ham dinner on Wednesday night in the elementary school when they met in observance of Sts. John Night. Dinner arrangements were handled by Mr. and Mrs. Ervin Ely, Mr. and Mrs. Ken Jantz, Mrs. M. L. Weaver and Jack McCaw. Dave McConnell introduced Miss Linda McKinney who played a piano solo; and Miss Loravee Bowles who sang three numbers accompanied by her sister, Miss Jeannie Bowles. Rainbow Girls served the dinner.

The Hi-Lo Pinochle Club met Friday afternoon December 29 at the home of Mrs. Pete Ganguet. Prizes were won by Mrs. Frank Brown, Mary Leibermann, Mrs. John Leibermann, and Mrs. Ed Mock. The next meeting will be with Mrs. Clifford Hermanns on January 12.

Sixty Years Ago

January 10, 1958

Kenneth Smith, Dave Roberts and Jim Cresswell, Jr., are attending the W.S.C. Farm Shot Course at Pullman this month.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Webber are parents of a daughter, Alice Rachel, born Jan. 7.

Gerald Vollmer has been active in teaching young boys of the community the hunter safety course under the sponsorship of the Rifle and Pistol Club. Boys qualifying for certificates were Jerry Fulton, Charles Nettler, Don Lyman, Ernie Duckworth, Walter Vennum, Walter Hodgen, Jim Hersh, Joe Speelman, Lee Fisk, and Mike Speelman.

Bob Butler was named president of the Commercial Club Tuesday evening.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

January 8, 1943

Mr. and Mrs. Will Tucker entertained at a New Year’s Eve party. Bingo was played during the evening. Mrs. Will Hawks and Mrs. R.D. Roberts won prizes. Refreshments were served and the group watched the old year out and the new year in.

A lovely tea was held New Year’s Day at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Anderson on Coppei Avenue to announce the engagement of their niece Miss Virginia Rinehart to Denney Neace.

Miss Ruth McGovern was married to Delbert Hansen last Wednesday in Tacoma. The ceremony was held at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph McGovern in Tacoma.

One Hundred Years Ago

January 11, 1918

Lewiston High School will play Waitsburg High School for the first time in the history of the two schools Friday night at Preston Hall.

Little Miss Marion Bailey entertained a number of her little friends and schoolmates Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 2, the occasion being her 6th birthday.

The Red Cross met at A. J. McLaughlin’s and family Friday for work.

Little Ronald Barnes has now recovered from a serious sick spell of the past week.

Just a light touch of winter. A sprinkle of snow Tuesday night with light frost.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

January 13, 1893

Water was turned into the reservoir on Wednesday evening, Jan. 11, 1893 at exactly 5 o’clock.

The county commissioners are asked to make a liberal appropriation from the county funds to sink an artesian well on Eureka Flat. Go slow with the people’s funds, gentlemen.

It is reported that D. G. Ingraham will be employed to do the surveying for the water works at Bolles. M. M. Kent is going to have a water ditch running from Clarence Masons ranch past Mrs. Woodruff’s, then on down to A. N. Brown’s where the water will be turned back into the Touchet. So you see Bolles Junction is bound to be in the swim along with the rest of the great cities.