Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Ten Years Ago

December 2, 2009

Santa Claus rode in the cab of a fire truck to avoid the chilly air but a crowd of kids of all ages greeted him and others in the 5th annual Starlight Parade on Main Street prior to the Festival of Trees fundraiser held afterward in the Spinners Hall.

Chocolate treats and holiday crafts will abound this weekend during the annual Chocolate Extravaganza and Holiday Bazaar at Maple Hall.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

November 30, 1994

In this day, when holding onto anything, especially a job, for more than a couple of decades is a major accomplishment, Phil Crawford’s longevity at Pomeroy Grange Supply is almost awe-inspiring. When he retires at the end of the year he will have put in 39 years with the company.

Earlier this fall, disposal service representatives were at every public meeting regarding the future of Pomeroy’s and Garfield County’s garbage, seeking hauling contracts. Now, the city doesn’t have any of them interested in bidding.

Fifty Years Ago

November 27, 1969

Making Pomeroy a living museum was suggested at a recent Pomeroy Kiwanis club meeting. The speaker, Father Howe of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, said that Pomeroy still has many structures including the courthouse and other items which are living memories of the way life was 50 or 60 years ago, and that the business such a project would bring in would help reverse the long, low, steady decline Pomeroy has been experiencing the last 50 years.

George Burlingame wrote to Wayne Beale this week as follows: “I read in the local paper about your sale of 20 bulls for a total of $10,000 which reminded me of the days my father was a cattle buyer. I enclose a sales agreement made in 1894 for purchase of 4 one-year-old steers for $8 per head and 1 three-year-old steer for $18.”

Associate professor of anthropology at WSU Richard Daugherty visited the Dick Ledgerwood place on Howell grade to inspect an historic log corn crib built in 1900; the John Cardwell farm where prehistoric bones were discovered when taking a soil sample; and Indian Point, 3 ½ miles below Casey Creek to examine a rock with Indian writings or signs.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

November 30, 1944

Sales of war bonds in Garfield County are lagging, and only 19 more days remain in the 6th war loan campaign. As a means of encouraging purchase of bonds, Abbie Thompson, manager of the Seeley Theatre, will admit without charge to the show December 14 anyone who has bought a bond in the present drive.

The Pomeroy Grange Supply, organized in 1934, currently has a membership roster containing 420 names and in terms of volume of business transacted is said to stand in fourth place among affiliated concerns throughout Washington State.

A large crowd attended the dance and bazaar at Marengo.

One Hundred Years Ago

November 29, 1919

Union Hall presented an attractive, animated scene for the three days’ bazaar now in progress under the management of the ladies of the Catholic Church. The first evening raised $460, a sum which far surpassed the anticipation of the most confident.

William Scoggin was surprised to find a two-year-old heifer with her mouth full of porcupine quills. The heifer was roped and with the help of his son, Phillip, and the aid of a pair of pincers, Mr. Scoggin removed more than fifty quills. His familiarity with cattle ranging on the mountain long since convinced him that they will eat most anything, but he declares this to be the first authentic instance showing these animals have the nerve to tackle porcupines.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

December 1, 1894

Somebody says that a certain old-time Pomeroy boy, now a lawyer and who was recently located in one of the Sound cities, will wed one of Pomeroy’s fair daughters in the near future. Don’t mistake the lawyer, there’s two of them, you know.

Frank Storey’s stage team ran away Wednesday, completely demolishing his hack.

The Foresters of this city will celebrate the anniversary of their order with a grand ball at Seeley’s opera house. The Lodge is growing rapidly and now boasts a membership of sixty.

Henry Latigue was arrested at Dayton by Sheriff Dickson this week and brought back to Pomeroy and will be held to appear as a witness in the Estes-Mills trial.

Dr. A.E. Shaw arrived home Monday from Seattle, where he passed a very creditable examination before the State Board of Dental Examiners, being the only one out of six applicants obtain a certificate.

The Mayview Tramway sent the last sack of wheat down the track on Thursday of last week. The company has had a very successful run this season, over 55,000 sacks.

The first visitation of snow arrived on Thursday night, falling to the depth of about three inches.