Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Ten Years Ago

December 23, 2009

The Pomeroy Pirate wrestling team claimed the 2009 Down River Challenge team title in Cathlamet, with three Pirates bringing home champion’s belts. Tory Knebel at 160, Klyntin Bott 189, and Mat Slaybaugh 215 earned first place in their weight brackets.

Members of Pomeroy FFA Alumni hope that Pomeroy residents who don’t have plans will join them for the annual spaghetti dinner and silent auction at Spinners Hall.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

December 21, 1994

The Garfield County Public Hospital District board and other community members finally achieved their goal of bringing a physician to Pomeroy when Dr. Nancy Rodway signed a contract to become a full-time physician for the district.

Pomeroy School District board of directors approved a resolution to place a levy request of $396,000 before voters next February.

Fifty Years Ago

December 18, 1969

Gary Slaybaugh, 19, was killed instantly Tuesday evening when the car he was driving struck and sheared off a power pole in east Pomeroy. The lone passenger, Robert Trescott, 18, was taken to Garfield County hospital by local ambulance, the extent of his injuries as yet unknown. State Trooper Max Rich said the car was heading east when the accident occurred. After striking the pole it traveled about 48 feet, landing on its top at the intersection of 25th Street and Highway 12. Several transformers were on the pole and the crash put the city and surrounding area out of light for over two hours until PP&L crews could make repairs. The roadway was icy at the time of the tragedy. Rich said the 1968 Plymouth sedan was totaled.

Alex L. Cabbage, of whom hundreds of county residents from ages 30 to 80 can say “he once was my teacher”, died Tuesday at the age of 88.

Three Pomeroy east end burglaries coupled with wanton vandalism occurred sometime Saturday night at the state highway garage, Pomeroy Seeds and Pioneer Farm Chemicals.

Pomeroy United Methodist Youth Fellowship will have a hayride-caroling party Tuesday evening. All high school students are invited to attend.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

December 21, 1944

Pomeroy high school athletic coach Chuck McBride is engaged in shaping his boxing team into “fighting” trim and thus have them ready to meet their opponents for eight scheduled bouts. Boxing is the most popular sport at the school from the standpoint of attendance, the public in the past having patronized such events usually with capacity crowds.

A Christmas dance sponsored by the Jaycees will be given at the Maple Hall on Christmas night with music provided by a Lewiston orchestra. Another entertaining feature for that evening will be the showing of the motion picture, “Going My Way” at the Seeley theatre.

One Hundred Years Ago

December 20, 1919

Because Ray Watson and Olen Humphres, recently sentenced to five to ten years, have been exposed to smallpox, the warden of the state penitentiary refused to admit them and they were to be held in the county jail for a while. After breaking jail by digging a hole through the north wall in the bathroom, the two men made it to Hay station, where they boarded the train but were arrested by the Colfax sheriff. A third man, Edgar Dale, confined at the jail with Umphres and Watson, is ill with smallpox. Dale, in a weakened condition and too ill to keep up the pace only made it as far as Len Jackson’s.

Snow from 18 to 24 inches deep covered Garfield County Wednesday night and more was coming. Minimum daily temperatures for the last week have ranged from 3 below to 11 above zero. Stock men are beginning to complain. No hay is on the market.

The effects of the coal strike at last have made themselves felt in Garfield County. Many households and some business houses are entirely out of fuel. Others have narrow margins from which to draw.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

December 22, 1894

Jim Oliver says his 2800 bushels of wheat just about paid expenses when sold at 31 ½ cents.

The churches are all making preparations for grand Christmas entertainments and for appropriate exercises.

Some depraved wretch has been spitting tobacco on the show windows about town. We recommend that he be treated to a few application of the celebrated Elder boot cure.

The people are talking of Christmas trees in various parts of the country. That is right. Have a good time anyway. If you can’t go in as expensively as formerly, that is no reason why you might not have something. The good cheer, and sociability of the thing, is the most valuable part anyhow. It don’t pay to go moping around dreaming and brooding over the hard times. Make the best of things, and have a happy Christmas. You can do it. It don’t take much money.