PIONEER PORTRAITS

Ten Years Ago

June 2, 2011

An equine virus cut the number of entries in the Dayton Days parade by more than half, but the community showed up for the annual pageant nonetheless and spirits were high, organizers said about Saturday’s sunny event. “The community support was great,” said Claudia Nysoe, director of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the parade. “It was a small parade but big in spirit.”

Thiry-two kids and five chaperones of the Salt & Light Youth Choir will leave June 18 to go on tour in the Seattle area. Under the theme “Got Hope?” the group of singing teenagers from Waitsburg, Dayton, Pomeroy, Walla Walla and Dixie, will return June 22 for a Home Concert at the First Christian Church in Waitsburg. Directed by Mike and Melissa Ferrians, the choir will perform more than 20 songs divided in two programs with some original songs composed by Mike Ferrians and some covers arranged by him for the group.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

June 6, 1996

School officials and members of the Masons conducted a ceremonial cornerstone laying at the new elementary school in Waitsburg on June 1. From left, Preston Stedman, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington, school superintendent Burton Dickerson, school board members Greg Zuger and Terry Jacoy and Waitsburg City Councilman Delbert Mock at the ceremony.

The Blue Mountain Chapter of Sweet Adelines International recently won two awards, “most improved chorus” and “second place small chorus,” in competition in Tacoma. Fourteen quartets and 15 choruses participating in the regional competition this year. Participants from Waitsburg included Lynn Mantz-Powers and Barb Knopp.

[Photo caption] John Gagnon, left, was named Waitsburg Lion of the Year by club president Glynn Davis at the club’s meeting May 28. Davis, right, said he selected Gagnon, a charter member of Lions, for the annual honor because he is always ready to volunteer his time to help in a Lions community project. “He is the type who brings a shovel when there is work to be done.” Gagnon, 72, was named Lion of the Year in 1964. He lives in Alto, where he farms. “John is very well respected by the Lions members,” said Davis.

Fifty Years Ago

June 3, 1971

Some 203 Waitsburg High School Alumni gathered Saturday night for the 68th reunion and banquet of the organization. Mrs. Cecil Webber presided during the business meeting and Bob Danforth served as master of ceremonies. The welcome was given by Howard Smith, ’51 and the response by Howard Smith, Jr., ’71.

Jan Zuger and Joyce Saxon look over one of the interesting old books on sale at the Bruce Memorial Museum Building. The Historical Society offered all the reading material that has been stored for many years in the house. It included several original Rockwell covers drawn for the now defunct Saturday Evening Post, as well as thousands of other magazines of historical interest. The next book sale will be held in the early fall.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

May 31, 1946

Activity at the Pictsweet Foods plant has been at a feverish pitch this week in preparation for the green pea processing season which will begin with the day shift on June 1st.

Ed Everly, former lieutenant in the Army Air Force, has been elected as instructor at the Touchet Valley Airport.

Four Waitsburg students received their degrees from Washington State College at the annual commencement May 27. They are Helen Hall, Helen Lloyd, Ruth Meiners and Gloria Ray.

One Hundred Years Ago

June 3, 1921

Scoutmaster Nat W. Pritchard is showing at least a part of the Boy Scouts “the time of their lives” this week. Some 14 of them went into camp up the south fork of Coppei Monday afternoon. In the party are John Kingman, Blaine Pasley, Willis Hussey, Donald Duncan, John Milligam, Harvey Stonecipher, Delbert Woodworth, Acy Brown, Gordon Keiser, Roy Wright, Donovan Harsh and Philo Hoxie.

Merrill Buroker, who dislocated his hip, by falling on the gymnasium floor some days ago was taken to Walla Walla Wednesday of last week where it was found necessary to break the bone and reset it. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lert Buroker of Spring Valley.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

June 4, 1896

Our chief pencil pusher is at Vancouver riding in the bandwagon. The kids are at home sawing wood, and if this issue of The Times is unusually bright, you will readily understand why. Two carloads of brick arrived from Walla Walla Monday, and work on the Academy is going ahead. The team belonging to Lloyd and Marvin took fright at an old harrow that was being dragged through the street on Tuesday, and as no one was holding the lines they started at once for the barn which is located on 2nd Street.