Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Ten Years Ago

February 2, 2011

The Spinners Club will take over the annual Broomstick Pool Tournament, a Pomeroy tradition the weekend closest to St. Patrick’s Day. Proceeds from the event will go into the renovation fund for Maple Hall.

Puget Sound Energy is offering grants to public schools and other educational institutions as opportunities to bring renewable energy into—or perhaps onto—the classroom.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

February 7, 1996

Between September and the first of the year, Larry Scoggin and his father, Jim, trapped six coyotes, three bobcats, a badger, nine beavers and two ermines (or weasels), plus a red fox, which they believe is the first caught in Garfield County. Jim said they will be lucky to get $300 for the whole outfit, noting “there was a time when this would bring $3,000,” and if markets improved in Russia and Asia, the trappers could once again see boon times for their catch.

Tom Allen, of Allen Construction, Anacortes, said construction will start this spring with two four-plexes on property north of Doug’s Texaco and General Tractor. He hopes the project will end with 32 new apartment units.

Fifty Years Ago

February 4, 1971

Pomeroy Pirates basketball team has been voted No. 1 in the Associated Press Class “A” basketball poll this week, beating out Lynden and Ocosta.

Population of Garfield County according to the 1970 census is 2,911, based on figures released last week.

The Cattleman’s Association and the Wenaha Game Association have each contributed $50 prize money for a Predatory Coyote Control Contest.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

January 31, 1946

A large delegation of Pomeroy boxing fans accompanied the Pomeroy Pirate boxing team to Clarkston to see the Bantams score two TKOs and three decisions out of six bouts at Smith Hall. Phillip Crawford decisioned Gene Ball for the lone Pomeroy tally, as he forced the fight all the way over his opponent.

Weimer’s Garage has on display a new 1946 Chrysler Royal sedan in its showroom for display purposes only. When the car will be offered for sale and at what price Mr. Weimer in unable to say at this time.

One Hundred Years Ago

February 5, 1921

After lying dormant for nearly a year, the much-discussed proposal to build a swimming pool in Pomeroy again comes before the public, this time through the activity of the Commercial Club. At the last meeting it was stated that approximately $2,500 now was on hand to be applied to the undertaking.

Twenty-seven marriage licenses were filed for record with the county clerk during 1920, exactly the same number filed in 1919. In 1918 the number of licenses issued in Garfield County was 41 and in 1917, the number was 42. During 1920 there were five decrees of divorce issued for this county. In 1919, there were 10 divorces, in 1918, 4, and 1917, 9. Thus while there is an indicated decrease in the number of marriages during the last four years there is positive evidence that the percent of divorces has fallen off at a still greater rate.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

February 1, 1896

A Mr. Nichols has a 300-foot seine and other apparatus with which he expects to catch salmon in the Snake River, beginning next spring.

There was a cattle buyer in our neighborhood of Gould City last week, buying fat cattle. Fat cattle are scarce now.

D.H. McGreevy is having a new granary built on his ranch this winter. Dan, are you going to pen up the squirrel crop that we may have?

At the M.C. Church 11 a.m., sermon to young people, 7 p.m., “Temperance: The Bar, The Man Behind The Bar, The Man in Front of the Bar.”

A resident of Alpowa writing to a lady friend in Pomeroy under date of January 25, says: “We had quite a sensation on the creek the last day of December. A widow whose husband was accidently killed in the mountains by his brother over a year ago, took strychnine to kill herself. Her little boy, nine years old, ran for his grandparents who live nearby. They arrived in time to save her by giving her lard.”

Ping reports the Snake River has raised six feet.

The citizens of Ping received bids for the making of the Penewawa road. Jas. Simpson got the contract at $195 to blast the road 686 feet, known as the Rocky point. The balance of the road is to be made by volunteer labor, under the supervision of Ansil Smith.

If certain parties don’t stop cutting wood in the public park at Marengo they are liable to get into trouble.

R.A. Jackson’s favorite old cow fell through his cellar the other day. When she came out she somewhat resembled the man that goes downtown to lodge and don’t get home until morning.