Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Ten Years Ago

June 30, 2010

Johnny Capwell’s push to resurrect the white “P” on Volcano Hill has resulted in the return of the large letter that had traditionally decorated the hill for decades until recent years. With help from Grant Morgan this “P” is a more permanent structure, while the numerals that follow—right now the number 38 signifying Johnny’s year of graduation—are still formed from painted rocks and subject to change as usual.

Due to circumstances beyond the control of the VFW, they will not have their traditional Fourth of July fireworks stand this year.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 5, 1995

Alvin Landkammer recently found what he calls a “puffball” mushroom that he said was the biggest he’s ever seen. The puffball was about 42 inches around and weighed 12 lbs. He found the giant fungus growing up a draw off Casey Creek Road just up from the Snake River.

The Culpepper & Merriweather Circus will perform Sunday afternoon at the fairgrounds. The circus tent will go up earlier in the day and residents are invited to see workers set up the “big top”.

Fifty Years Ago

July 2, 1970

Seven Pomeroy teens will be in a group of Dayton area students going to Yokahama, Japan, in August to be hosted by Japanese school children and their parents. The tour now has 165 people, including students and adult chaperones.

A meat thief at the Carl Batterton farm in the Willow gulch area of Garfield County was a choosy fellow—he took only roasts and steaks. The meat was taken from the Batterton freezer when the couple was attending the Mayview picnic dance.

A large 50x150-feet open storage shed containing grass seed bins lost its roof last Thursday evening at the Robert Dye Seed Ranch when an extra-strong wind suddenly hit the Pomeroy area. The roof was literally lifted from the building.

A television documentary on the Lower Snake river prompted by the Association of Northwest Steelheaders’ suit to stop construction of Lower Granite dam will be shown Sunday on Channel 6 TV. The 40-mile stretch of river between Clarkston and the upper end of Little Goose pool was intensively photographed in May by NBC television crews.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

July 5, 1945

The scrap paper drive conducted by Mystic Chapter No. 10, Order of Eastern Star, collected eight tons of paper which they have sent to Spokane to be reclaimed by a paper mill. In the collection was 14,000 defective paper cartons of the type used by the Blue Mountain Canneries, Inc., for the packing of peas, 24 cans to the case.

One Hundred Years Ago

July 3, 1920

Broadway in miniature, at less than Broadway prices—so the civic club officials describe the concessions they are to operate at the city park during the celebration July 3, 4 and 5. The Independence Day celebration will include a parade with floats, concerts by the Dayton band, vaudeville, picture studio, fish pond, shooting gallery, ball games, track and field events, three nights of dancing on a cabaret dance floor and more. Businesses will be closed Monday and patrons are urged to do all shopping necessary before July 6 on Saturday.

The programs of the Chautauqua were greatly enjoyed and attracted a record attendance this year, and a guarantee for 1921 was signed. According to the system manager, “I think it may be safely said the Chautauqua is now permanently established as an institution in Pomeroy.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

June 29, 1895

Dr. W.R. Cassil, of Dayton, and Professor Adolph Rose, an experienced optician of Chicago, were at the St. George Hotel until Monday evening. The Drs. left Tuesday for Lewiston and will return to Pomeroy in about 30 days. Cassil, the dentist, who advertised painless teeth extraction, was kept pretty busy during his stay here and we understand he rendered his patients good service.

Whew! Gewhillikins! Isn’t it dusty though? The roads to the Mts. are mainly lined with wood and timber wagons, and the roads are already getting fearfully dusty, and there is “more a-comin.” If there is not a drenching rain our roads will consist chiefly in chuckholes and dust with only a semi-occasional island of solid earth.

Our Methodist friends have just completed moving their church and have placed it on the corner where Chard’s shop formerly stood.

Peter Gearhardt, Lester Gibson and Wm. Morris returned home from a trip on bicycles to Walla Walla. Excepting a layover in Dayton the run from Walla Walla to Pomeroy was made in six hours. At Dayton Peter got up a race against Harry Kimball, one of Dayton’s crack wheelmen, and won an easy victory. Pomeroy’s all right!

The city marshall ordered another den of “respectable” citizens out of town Wednesday. The diligence and industry exhibited by the marshal in the discharge of his duties is commended by all good citizens, and the law-abiding people of the community appreciate his work.