PIONEER PORTRAITS

Fifteen Years Ago

August 26, 2010

Kim Hamann has presented pigs at local fairs before, but her favorite animal to raise and show is a sheep. One of the reasons is that the 14-year-old Future Farmers of America member has raised sheep on her family farm since she was five. The other reason is that she feels "the best connection" with sheep from the time they're still lambs to well beyond the yearling stage. This year for instance, she brought her 1.5-year-old sheep Todd to the Junior Livestock Show in Waitsburg just to enter in the Fitting and Showing category and won the Grand Champion ribbon. Hamann is one of dozens of kids from the Touchet Valley hoping to win more ribbons and sell their animals at the upcoming fairs in Walla Walla and Dayton next month.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

August 24, 2000

[Photo Caption] Summertime in Waitsburg brings out the nicest days and it also brings out people who make good use of the pleasant weather for morning exercise. [...] And three cyclists chug past Wait's Mill on their way to Huntsville during a brisk morning jaunt. A significant number of people get out each morning for their exercise in Waitsburg.

Fifty Years Ago

September 11, 1975

The Historical Society Board have started the count-down for the Pioneer Fall Festival scheduled for September 14. The doors of the Bruce House, which have been re-finished by Lee Mantz are due to be hung during the current harvest break caused by the rains of last weekend. Mrs. Howard Smith has contacted local clubs and confirmed their participation. Demonstrations are being arranged which will include churning, tatting, wood carving, apple head dolls, spinning and lots of needlework. New this year will be a display of old guns prepared by Frank Bramlet, and an antique car display. Also participating for the first time will be the Waitsburg Grange and the rainbow Girls.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

September 1, 1950

Dolph Egelston was surprised at a birthday party Friday evening when friends came in for birthday cake and canasta. Guests included Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Baines, Mrs. Ira Bloor, Mrs. Wes Lloyd, Mrs. Jessie Light, Mrs. Floa Hillis.

Ready to "tie down" crowds at the Southeastern Washington Fair this weekend are Fairest Farmeritte Mary Anne Shaffer and Farmerettes Erma Lee Kessler, Carold Brown, Laure Rathrock and Peggy Johnson.

George Lloyd has been chosen to play in the FFA band at the National Convention in Kansas City in October.

One Hundred Years Ago

September 4, 1925

Will Volmer and family, Oscar Abbey and family, C. E. Shaffer and wife, and Will Harris and family left Thursday morning for Wallowa Lake to remain until Monday.

A small crew is now operating the packing house of the Waitsburg Fruit Growers Association using one grading machine on a few cars of the early varieties.

Billie and Lee Mantz Jr. sons of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Mantz of Walla Walla, have been visiting their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. T. V. McKinney this week.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

September 7, 1900

The City Council, at their regular meeting on Wednesday evening, purchased from J. W. Moragan, for a city park, the 15 acres of land formerly owned by the Waitsburg Driving Park Association.

A fire started on Mrs. Mary Abbey's wheat ranch several miles northwest of this city Tuesday burning about 100 acres of stubble field and 300 bushels of sacked wheat.

Dr. R. E. Butler and wife, J. L. Smith and wife, S. G. Marvin and son Donald, Platt Marrow, James Schaffer, J. L. Keiser, W. C. Smith and wife, J. D. Laidlaw, and Arthur Roberts were among the Waitsburgers who went to Portland Wednesday afternoon to attend the street Fair and Carnival.