Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Ten Years Ago

January 5, 2011

The New Year opened with the temperature dropping into single-digit lows, following 4+ inches of snow that fell earlier. Since the first of the year, the temperature hasn’t been higher than 20 degrees F.

Local recipients of grants from the Puget Sound Energy Foundation are Garfield County, Garfield County Super Citizens, Mule Deer Foundation, Pomeroy Community Center, and Pomeroy School District No. 110.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

January 10, 1996

If things go as planned, there will be quite a bit of digging, pounding, replacing and paving with the City of Pomeroy in 1996. Major projects planned for this year include the Sixth Street Improvement Project, installation of a new water line at the golf course, repainting the gazebo and repair of playground equipment at the city park, lining the concrete reservoirs interiors with non-permeable material to prevent leaking, complete repainting of the swimming pool, updating general sewer and facilities, and installing storm drains in the area behind the Senior Center.

Fifty Years Ago

January 7, 1971

When does Washington’s Birthday fall in Washington? Or Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Columbus Day? These are questions being asked by many residents of the state…and the country. For this year the Uniform Monday Holidays law goes into effect, changing the dates for these four observances from their traditional day to specific Mondays, thereby with Labor Day providing at least five 3-day weekends for workers in 45 states. The law itself applies only in the District of Columbia and to federal employees.

Ron Wills, Garfield County superintendent of schools, and three other county superintendents are “retiring” because their jobs no longer exist. Effective January 1, the four-county Intermediate School District 102 took over the work of their positions, thus ending an era dating back to the 1850s.

A group calling themselves the Lower Snake River Boat Club are attempting to counteract action by the Northwest Steelheaders which is claiming that recreation facilities on the Little Goose Pool of the Snake River are a waste of taxpayer’s money. The boat club is circulating petitions asking Congress to fund proposed recreation facilities at Boyer, Central Ferry and Penawawa in Whitman county and several other locations on the Little Goose pool in Garfield and Columbia counties. One letter sent to Congress claiming waste of money advised that the river area at Boyer was too hot to be used in the summer and that wind conditions made the pools unusable during spring and fall because of high waves from gust of wind.

Washington State Vital Statistics Office raised the cost of birth and death certificates to $3.00 beginning May 1, 1970, an increase of $1.00.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

January 3, 1946

The head of a female deer, with two perfectly formed horns, killed by Len Jennings on the last day of deer season is now on display at the Sommerville Club.

Two saddles, three pair of chaps and two riding bridles were stolen from the Harry Linden farm near Central Ferry.

Because Pacific Power & Light’s present rates enable most users to add electric cooking at an average cost of only $2.00 a month for electricity, one home in three wants a new electric range, according to a recent survey by the company.

One Hundred Years Ago

January 8, 1921

Archives not available for this date.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

January 4, 1896

According to reports we have turkey thieves in Pomeroy.

A.L. Davis was in town Tuesday. He is still suffering from injuries received some four or five weeks ago. He was helping to bind a load of hay when the binding pole broke, hurling him several feet into the air. He struck on his back, and received severe internal injuries. Glad to see Mr. Davis around and able to do business again. He is an old-timer and a hard one to knock out.

The wind on Pataha Flat from Friday to Tuesday drifted the lanes and grades full of snow, so that a large portion of the travel has to be done through the fields. Some drifts are estimated to be fifteen or twenty feet deep.

Some snow, some chinook and some wind at Tukanon.

J.W. Waldo had quite a gash cut in his ear while nursing A.J. Berry who is laid up with a broken leg. Mr. Waldo fell asleep and toppled over on the stove. It’s safe to say the “Jim” wasn’t “caught napping” again that evening.