Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Twenty-Five Years Ago

February 1, 1995

A banner from the Pomeroy High School Booster Club representing Bob McKeirnan’s 1945 state boxing championship was accepted by his brother Jim last week. Bob, who lives in Pullman, was unable to attend the presentation.

Pomeroy’s Kim John is one of 38 high school seniors from around the state preparing for the Washington State Junior Miss program in Pullman this week.

Fifty Years Ago

January 29, 1970

It became necessary to shut the gates at Little Goose dam Sunday because driftwood, logs and smaller material had begun to clog the outlets in the dam. The resulting rise in the waters closed the old bridge at Central Ferry Monday afternoon and traffic is now routed through Pomeroy or over the Lyons Ferry bridge below Starbuck. The bridge was to have been closed February 2 in anticipation of the scheduled pool rising on February 16. The water level at Central Ferry is now 597 feet above sea level and the final level will be around 633 feet. Construction firms on the river went into action Sunday to remove their equipment from the flooding danger caused by the sudden rise of the river.

Pomeroy volunteer firemen were on active duty last week during the damaging “ice storm” which broke tree branches, raising havoc with utility lines. A tree limb knocked off an entry service at a residence and it shorted into the basement, badly burning the basement wiring and charring the ceiling.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

February 1, 1945

Mr. and Mrs. Roy Wright’s son, S/Sergeant Harold Wright, U.S. Infantry, has been missing in action in Germany since December 16, 1944.

New 1945 license plates purchased for trucks and pick-ups must now be displayed in front and not on the rear of the vehicle. No change is made in placing 1945 passenger car license plate at the rear of the car.

James McMonigle, of Lewiston, announced plans to open McMonigle-Chevrolet agency and service garage in Pomeroy in the McGrath Service Station and the room formerly occupied by McFall’s hardware.

One Hundred Years Ago

January 31, 1920

“Record-breaking floods stop travel; damage bridges and roads in county. The highest water known tears out city water mains and clogs sewers with heavy mud; damage estimated to be more than $10,000. Broken steam pipes cause school to stop.” Pomeroy and Garfield County are gradually settling back to normal after a wild Sunday night of the highest floods ever experienced in this part of the country. A break in the cold spell the preceding Saturday evening brought with it a driving warm rain, which cleared the ground of snow by Sunday evening. Continuing throughout the day the thaw and rain had watercourses overflowing by dusk, and from then until midnight torrents raged destruction in every valley in the county. Many grades along steep hills were so badly washed that they still are impassable. Quite a portion of the hill north of the city slid down onto the Main street pavement, and along Main street as well as elsewhere sewers were clogged with mud and debris.

A locomotive and four cars went through a bridge which had been undermined by high water causing wreckage in the Snake river line.

New plates with distinctive colors are to be furnished to motor car applicants annually in the future. The color selected is of a striking green background with white letters and numerals.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

February 2, 1894

J.W. Rummens this week butchered a hog that weighed 500 pounds dressed. This leads John Ashby’s big porker by 25 pounds. An earlier report erroneously reported Ashby’s shoat as 475 pounds dressed.

Alex Gilmour started for Pullman Wednesday but had to turn back as the river was so obstructed by floating ice that ferry boats could not run.

The boy who picked up that $10 bill on Main street, Pomeroy, at 11:45 o’clock Tuesday morning will please return it to its rightful owner, H.A. Adams.

A small fire occurred at the rear of the Bon Ton restaurant Wednesday night, the result of someone carelessly setting a box of hot ashes, just removed from a stove, against the house. Luckily Nightwatchman Davidson came along in time to prevent any serious damage being done. “Hez” very sensibly rolled up his sleeves and put out the fire himself thus saving the delay of getting out the fire company, and perhaps saved the building and maybe the block by so doing.

Everyone is invited to the debates held every Friday evening in Pataha; but boys please don’t spit tobacco on the floor.

F.N. Zinn has put up 150 tons of ice for himself and others in this place.