Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Ten Years Ago

September 15, 2010

The Paradons will play rock ‘n’ roll music from the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s at the Fair on Friday. Former Pomeroy resident Chris Ledgerwood will bring a contingent of seven lawnmowers and some motorcycles to race.

In a letter to the County Commissioners, organizers of the Wild West Rally car race announced cancellation of the event planned for later this month, writing that the economy was the “likely” reason, with an insufficient number of volunteers registering “to adequately and safely staff the roads” on the course.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

September 20, 1995

Elton Brown’s “Sicklesaurus” display was awarded the Black and White Ribbon by the State Fair Commissioner as his favorite display. The commissioner gave the fair an excellent evaluation overall.

Participating in the fair parade were a Bradley armored vehicle and Humvee from the Army National Guard, plus three bands from Grand Coulee School District, led by director and Pomeroy native Vickie Bowles.

Fifty Years Ago

September 17, 1970

The first barge of grain, 45,000 bushels, was loaded in less than 6 ½ hours Monday at the Pomeroy Grain Growers elevator at Central Ferry with no major problems encountered, reports Merle Baldwin, manager.

Garfield County Fair opens Friday for a three-day run with many and varied attractions. Four teams of huge draft horses will compete Saturday in a pulling contest. Sunday will include jumps by the Walla Walla Skydivers of which Dave Geiger of Pomeroy is a member.

Extensive news coverage by area newspapers and a Spokane TV station of the fight by Garfield County landowners to move the proposed power line to the north side of the river apparently has not swayed the thinking of officials of the Bonneville Power Administration.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

September 13, 1945

Plans for the Garfield County Harvest Festival and Fair are shaping up with a splendid program arranged for both days. The two-day event will start with the livestock show which will be held at the east end of the City Park. The home economics, horticultural and agricultural exhibits will be displayed and judged in the American Legion building. Other activities include the tractor-pulling contest, followed by a greased pig catching contest. Friday evening is the big Harvest Dance at Maple Hall with the Pullman Country Club orchestra furnishing the music.

The three-day Victory Celebration in San Francisco resulted in $25,000 of windows being broken on one street alone, women ripped off their clothing and danced nude in the streets and swam in the public fountain, seven persons were killed and 600 wounded.

One Hundred Years Ago

September 18, 1920

Of the 196 members of the Garfield County Game Association, 86 turned in, during the hunt with the Columbia County organization, scores of 500 point or over. Each of the 110 members who failed to register a kill aggregating 500 points—“the slothful hundred” according to the terminology of the more successful shooters, has been promised a song or a ducking at the picnic in the Tucannon next Sunday. In addition, there will be all-around sports and other activities. Envious females, matrimonially or otherwise connected with members, are barred from the picnic grounds but will be allowed to fish on the Tucannon during the day at a distance of several miles and are warned to bring their own grub.

The largest attendance in the history of both public and parochial schools in Pomeroy, at this time of year, is shown by the enrollments.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

September 14, 1895

The man who lost a sack of grain on the road between Frank Geiger’s and Pomeroy can have same by calling at this office.

Mr. Caraway who lives on the mountain, 9 or 10 miles South of town, is after the hunters who left his gate open allowing stock to enter his field and destroy two or three tons of hay.

T.E. Benbow has closed his wagon shop in order to collect, and asks everybody owing him to come forward and settle up. He will re-open the shop after business matters have been properly adjusted.

E.B. Davis brought a wagonload of 15 fine porkers weighing 3,879 pounds to town Monday. He sold to Geo. Elsensohn at 3 ½ cents per pound, receiving $135.45 for the lot.

Wm. Hoppe had the misfortune to have one of his workhorses cut a foot entirely off on barb-wire. The horse had to be killed.

Threshing on the Flat is completed. Grain as a whole yielded better than was expected, summer-fallow making from 20 to 30 bushels of wheat and from 30 to 40 bushels of barley to the acre.

Look out for a cold snowy winter, good crops next summer, better prices, a Republican president, and better times. No big financial oppression after this one, until about the year 1913, about which time foolish people will want another change.