Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Ten Years Ago

May 5, 2010

For about an hour at noon Saturday, the streets of Pomeroy looked more like it was Dec. 25 than May 1 when a sudden sleet-hail-rain storm hit town.

In an effort to assist economic development in Garfield County, a task force will conduct a survey to assess the shopping habits of county consumers and identify gaps in the business and services offered locally for the purpose of focusing economic development activity.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

May 10, 1995

In response to complaints, Police Chief Dave Boyer said Pomeroy patrolmen will step up enforcement against drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.

Mary Borley found Country magazine’s hidden needle in the publication’s ongoing contest and donated half of the $500 prize to the Pomeroy Senior Center.

Fifty Years Ago

May 7, 1970

A program for courthouse grounds improvement presented to the county commissioners by a Pomeroy Chamber of Commerce committee pointed out the work could involve a long-range program participated in by county and civic groups to bring out the full beauty of the 70-year-old structure, which is becoming a famous example of Western America’s turn-of-the-century architecture.

1,200 employees are projected for Lower Granite dam in 1972, according to the Corps of Engineers.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

May 10, 1945

President Harry Truman officially proclaimed “complete and final” victory in the European theatre of the greatest war in history on May 8, 1945, and has set aside Sunday, May 13, as “a day of prayer”, calling upon the people on that day “whatever your faith, to unite in offering joyful thanks to God for the victory we have won and to pray that He will support us to the end in the struggle and guide us.”

“The little red schoolhouse” that played such an important part in the early education of country residents and been a community center for many years, will soon be a thing of the past here. On May 10, the school district will sell nine buildings, including the land upon which they stand, if suitable bids are received. Buildings and sites to be sold include Central, Bell, Plain, Columbia Center, Pleasant, Union, Chard, Rainwater, New Century, Gould City and Kirby. The sale was deemed advisable following consolidation of all the school districts a year ago.

One Hundred Years Ago

May 8, 1920

Pomeroy needs a landing-place more convenient to the city and affording better accommodations for fliers than that in use on the hill. The planes in use by the Spokane-Walla Walla service land here on the return trip to Spokane. An effort is being made to secure 30 acres of the valley land, lying west of the railroad track just below town.

Complaint is made that citizens are burning trash in a way that endangers property. A city ordinance provides that a metal screen of some kind must be placed over rubbish burned on the street or yard, to prevent scattering by wind. It is obviously necessary this provision be strictly observed when rubbish is burned in the business district.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

May 4, 1895

John Houser has leased the Pomeroy Flour Mills, with privilege of purchasing the same, and will take possession sometime next week.

The stages for Dayton and Lewiston now arrive at noon and leave at 1 p.m.

Now that cattle are coming up in price it may be expected that there will be a revival in the “slick ear” business. Some of those who formerly rode over the country with a lasso rope and branding iron, will be at their old tricks again. It is well to keep an eye peeled for such fellows, and if they are caught, an impromptu necktie party would be in order.

If present indications are not at fault the directors of Pomeroy school district will have but little trouble in making up the next corps of teachers. There are about 20 applications in at the present writing.