Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Ten Years Ago

June 29, 2011

Contributors to the courthouse renovation project recognized for their support included Pomeroy native and architect Rich Cardwell, Shepherd Foundation representative Gary Houser, County Commissioner Dean Burton and Bill Clemens, Pacific Power Regional Community Manager.

The 32nd Annual Fourth of July Picnic in Pataha will take place in the Pataha Prayer Garden.

Twenty-Five Years Ago

July 3, 1996

More than 1,000 participants, re-creating the life of mountain men, set up 450 camps at 1996 Pacific Primitive Rendezvous in the Sunflower Flats area of the Umatilla National Forest south of Pomeroy, the biggest short-term influx of people to Garfield County in recent memory. Housing was basically teepees and lodges utilizing canvas and poles, period dress from 1800 to 1840 was required, there were 34 seminars covering techniques and crafts from the era, plus children’s activities, contests, “traders,” and an “active shooting program.”

The “Bighorn of Plenty Farmer’s Market” will open for business in the City Park every Saturday.

Fifty Years Ago

July 1, 1971

Voters turned down the school levy again by vote of 346 yes to 468 no.

Ray McKeirnan took the lead in the fifth lap and stayed there to win his first main at Lewis-Clark Sports Arena June 23. Earlier in the evening he won his first trophy dash.

In American Legion baseball against Lewiston, Dave Bell hurled a no-hit, no-run gem and Wayne Hazard went 3 for 3 at the plate. Greg Juran delivered a two-out grand slam against Legion powerhouse Colfax and Tony Steelman shut out Moscow.

Eddie Baker wandered away from camp at the Sheriff’s Posse Picnic in the Blue Mountains and became lost for a spell but managed to listen his way back to camp by the constant clanging of horseshoes banging on the stakes.

Seventy-Five Years Ago

June 27, 1946

Blue Mountain Canneries expect to start canning approximately 2,700 acres of Green Giant peas in Garfield County. There is still a shortage of laborers, especially male help. Registration of female help has been very good. One hundred thirty-six Mexican nationals are expected to arrive July 1 and will be used exclusively for field work. It is estimated no less than 400 people will be employed by the company in various operations.

George Light, county resident since 1883, was an interested spectator when the Pomeroy Lumber company did a test run Monday. He stated, “Never expected to ever see a sawmill operating in Pomeroy, and here it is, and to my knowledge the first one to locate here in the 63 years I have resided in the county. It’s an added industry, and I wish them the best of success.”

One Hundred Years Ago

July 2, 1921

Pomeroy wants everybody to come to town on the morning of July Fourth and see the two day’s celebration from start to finish. A big parade headed by a band of 16 pieces and containing 50 or more floats representing business houses, and a long line of decorated automobiles, will be an interesting feature.

Carl Nelson, wrestling the “Masked Marvel” at the Seeley Hall last Saturday evening, won the contest after the first fall had gone to the unknown man. The Tucannon wrestler had better endurance, and his victory pleased the fair-sized crowd which saw the contest.

Charles Ridgeway from Peola said snow is rapidly leaving the mountains, but there are still drifts from 5 to 8 feet deep along the road near Cougar Spring. There will be a big huckleberry crop this year, unless destroyed by hail.

Sixty men and ten teams are expected to be on the Grouse Road project after July 4.

C.E. Watson, born on the farm southeast of Mayview almost 40 years ago, says the cloudburst and hailstorm last week caused the greatest damage he had ever seen there.

One Hundred Twenty-Five Years Ago

June 27, 1896

Everybody cordially invited to come to Peola on the ga-lorious 4th; hear the speeches and the music; see the humorous exercises in the grove and the fast races on the track; participate in the bowery dance if you feel like it, and enjoy an outing away from the heat and dust of the lower districts. O, it’s going to be a big time, and you all want a hand in the glorious Fourth of July celebration at Peola.

A unique specimen of the genus hobo arrived in town one day last week and worked an old swindling game to perfection. He called at a number of houses in town and after displaying what seemed to be an ugly cut on the hand, but which in reality was only a bit of artistic painting, he offered for sale a novelty in the shape of an aluminum thimble for the “low price of 15c.” Many of the sympathizing purchasers are now wondering why they didn’t patronize our home dealers who would have given them exactly the same article for 5 cents.

Snake river continues high and no ferries will cross till there is a fall.

Denny Ashby, who has been attending college at Moscow, is with us again. Denny is a bright young man and we expect to hear from him in the future.