PIONEER PORTRAITS

Fifteen Years Ago

September 22, 2011

[Photo Caption] Suzanne Fletcher (right), director of the newly formed Washington Tourism Alliance, walks through Waitsburg with Karen Stanon Gregutt of Waitsburg Cottages and Joy Smith of Hugs, Gifts & Collectables and Town Hall.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

September 20, 2001

Waitsburg Mayor Wayne Peterson and other guests cut the ribbon at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, September 13 on the newly improved East 8th Street Project in Waitsburg. The project repaves and widens East 8th Street from Coppei Avenue to the East City Limits. The improvements include new pavement, sidewalks, and storm drainage facilities. The improvements address longstanding safety and pedestrian needs. A grant from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) provided nearly $336,000 for the improvements. The balance of the funding came from the City of Waitsburg. "The Waitsburg East 8th Street project is a great example of a successful partnership between the state and local governments," said Board Chair rob McKenna.

Fifty Years Ago

September 16, 1976

A fresh-off-the-press book, "Waitsburg, One of a Kind," and barbecued buffalo are the featured items offered this year at the fourth annual Pioneer Fall Festival sponsored by the Waitsburg Historical Society, Sunday, Sept. 19 at the Bruce House. The book, a history of Waitsburg told in story and pictures, has been one of the projects of the Society since it was formed six years ago. It traces the formation of the community from its inception in 1865 to the present time. It is a hardback, 8 by 10 inch, volume of family and community history. Vance Orchard, well known journalist from Walla Walla, has correlated all the stories into a fascinating book highlighted by plenty of old photographs. He will be present Sunday afternoon at the Festival to autograph copies of the book which go on sale that day.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

September 21, 1951

Larry Broom and Roy Reed have purchased the Blue Mountain Insurance Agency from the Touchet Valley Grain Growers.

James and Harvey Stonecipher and Walter Hamilton of Walla Walla were salmon fishing Wednesday at Celilo Falls.

The singing Bluebirds met with Mrs. Reed assisted by Mrs. Clodius. Barbara Dye was snack hostess. We went on a bug hunt to start a collection.

One Hundred Years Ago

September 24, 1926

A car of race horses belonging to George Drumheller, the well-known horseman, arrived here Tuesday together with a crew of jockeys.

A crew of workmen are busily engaged this week in tearing down the First Presbyterian Church at the corner of Main and Fifth, preparatory to the erection of a new and modern structure at once.

Oscar and Bruce Abbey and Harry Buroker played with the Milton-Freewater band during the Pendleton Round-up.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

September 27, 1901

Chas Neace and Chas Weller left last week for Portland where they will attend the Bishop Scott Academy this winter.

Frank Maxwell of Alto was thrown from a bucking horse the first of the week and fractured his right arm besides being badly bruised up.

D. W. Stauffer who for the past three and a half years has been employed in a flour mill at Needy, Ore. arrived in the city Saturday to accept a position as night miller at the Preston-Parton Mill.