Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Ten Years Ago

December 16, 2009

Garfield County has been awarded a $1 million grant to renovate the county courthouse through the Washington State Historic County Courthouse Rehabilitation Grant Program. Garfield County applied for the matching funds grant in September, after a $2 million bond request was not approved by voters in August. The courthouse needs extensive exterior work, including a roof, and replacement of major mechanical systems.

Sheriff Larry Bowles is the featured performer at the annual “Christmas with the Sheriff” concert and sing-a-long at Pataha Flour Mill this weekend.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

December 14, 1994

Roger and Norma Powers of Dayton have purchased Pomeroy Steak House from Bob Grim and re-opened the restaurant. They have “lots of plans” for the facility’s future including eventually remodeling the upstairs hotel area into bed-and-breakfast lodging. A new roof on the building will be done immediately.

Pomeroy Service Club is again sponsoring its annual Christmas Food Basket program to assist needy families in the community during the holiday season. The group purchases items for the baskets and also uses food collected during the Boy Scouts’ food drive last month.

Fifty Years Ago

December 11, 1969

Dr. Charles Shumaker received a unanimous appointment as mayor of Pomeroy by the city council.

Park chairman Dick Waldher reminds youngsters that while they are welcome to use the golf course hill for sledding they must stay off the greens or they will ruin them.

The lobby of the Revere Hotel has been volunteered as a meeting place for conversation and rest for the holiday season for all men and women who are 65 years or older. The group stresses that this is a temporary arrangement and if there is sufficient interest a permanent center could be established.

A garage to house the ambulance has been completed at the local hospital. Ambulance association funds including initial donations, memorials and fees were used to build the much-needed structure at a total cost of $2,600. The ambulance is operated by volunteer unpaid drivers and depends on fees, memorials and donations to keep it functioning as a community service.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

December 14, 1944

Fred Weimer, owner of Weimer’s Garage and local Chrysler dealer, completed a remodeling job of the brick building on east Main Street that cost approximately $2,500. The main entrance to the building changed from the east to the west side of building. An office and attractive display room with two large plate glass windows facing Main were constructed in the area formerly used as a driveway.

The Lewiston Bengals come to Pomeroy this Friday to meet the Pirates in the opening basketball game of the season in the high school gymnasium.

One Hundred Years Ago

December 13, 1919

After expressing their willingness to come into court Ray Watson and Olen Umphres pleaded guilty before Judge Miler and were sentenced to from 5 to 10 years in the state penitentiary. The two, it will be remembered, held up a gathering of men at William Ruchert’s home and took $175.

The Pomeroy basketball team took a weekend trip, losing to Asotin 21 to 14 on Friday and defeating Anatone 23 to 5 on Saturday. The return trip was the worst ever made by the team. The cars encountered a snow slide and deep snow, causing about a six-mile walk for those sent to get the returning players, who reached Pomeroy at 3:30 A.M.

Stricter enforcement of the state law and the city ordinance for prohibiting minors from entering pool rooms will immediately become effective, according to instructions issued to the police officers by the city council. The playing of card games for money is also unlawful and will not be tolerated. Some citizens complain that the law in these particulars is being violated.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

December 15, 1894

If you have no coin to pay for a Xmas present take a sack of wheat or barley to N. Berkley at Ilia, who will have a nice line of New Goods opened by Dec. 18th.

Marshal Lakin, with two assistants, laid a new walk across Main Street at the front of the flour mill.

Wm. Dickson took a spin to Owsley’s on his bicycle Wednesday, making the round trip of ten miles or more in 65 minutes.

This is the season of the year when a young lady blows in about one dollar for a young man’s Christmas present and he has to see her and go her about fifteen better.

Attend the entertainment, “Santa Claus on Time,” at Seeley’s opera house Christmas Eve. Get reserved seats now at 15 cents each. General admission 10 cents.

The three young men who went into camp on the McHone ranch a few days ago, may come out from their hiding place. The marshal don’t want them.