Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Ten years ago

July 18, 2012

Eastern Washington Agricultural Museum’s second building on the Garfield County Fairgrounds is on schedule, with the crew from Mike’s Pole Barns, Clarkston completing installation of roof trusses last week. William Woehler of Mike’s said that the contractor is working to meet the Sept. 1 deadline and expects completion on schedule. Installing the roof panels is next, with the pouring of the concrete floor following sometime this week, Woehler said.

Even today, when some people find it difficult to extend their concept of “the future” past next month, there are those whose dreams stretch decades ahead. Include Pastor Dan Lewis of Pomeroy Nazarene Church and his wife Bobbi in the latter group. “When we were deciding to come here, I felt that if we came, we would be here for 30 years,” Dan said. The pastor stressed the couple’s belief that “in a small town you’ve got to be part of the community.”

Twenty-five years ago

July 23, 1997

Area residents seeking a new look in wallcoverings have a new avenue to explore in Pomeroy: cotton wallcovering. Gayle Turner, owner of AniRose Traditions in Pomeroy, is offering the new wallcovering process that is sort of a blend between papier-mache of elementary school art class and wall plaster. “Since there aren’t any seams, there’s no waste,” Turner pointed out. The finished surface is paintable, easily repaired by moistening with water, and leftover material keeps indefinitely in the freezer for future repairs or application.

The 1997 Pomeroy Men’s Club Championship concluded last week and Andy Herres was the sole survivor of the championship flight. Andy defeated Bill Chandler by a 2 and 1 score in their 36-hole match play. The match was close throughout and the score was tied going into the final 9 holes. In Regular Division play, the match between Bart Gingerich and Jim Greene required a sudden death playoff to determine the winner. After 36 holes, the score was all square. On the first playoff hole, Bart played the hole one under par for the win.

Fifty years ago

July 20, 1972

A package of professional entertainment, including western singers and a humorous modern spiritual group said to be fantastic by fair board members who have seen the group, were approved for the Garfield County Fair by the fair board Tuesday night. The fair is Sept. 16-18. The package deal, from Jack Roberts Agency in Bellevue, will include the Crossroads, a spiritual singing group; Jim and Gary, country and western guitarists and singers; and Eddy Fukano, Japan’s No. 1 country vocalist now making a name for himself in the United States.

Superior Court Judge George R. Stuntz, Seattle, in a memorandum decision, has ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, in the damage suit against Union Pacific Railroad, following the disastrous flood of Jan. 9, 1971, when Pataha Creek overflowed and inundated a large portion of west Pomeroy. Plaintiffs in the case are: C.C. Wolf, Floyd Helke, Johnnie Bartels, Joe Kucklick, Merle Bowles, Seymour Briggs, Jess Scoggin, Tracy Hatley, Jim Slagle, James Roosevelt, Gertrude Shuelke, Mearns Gates, Delbert Groat Jr., D.F. Llewellyn, Ed Feider and Earl Bott.

Seventy-five years ago

July 24, 1947

Clarence B. Shain, state director of highways, is calling for bids by August 12 for the grading and surfacing 2,935 miles of the Pomeroy-Mayview road estimated to cost approximately $100,000. This new contemplated highway starting about a quarter mile east of Pomeroy terminating at the May Ward farm, is a federal, state and county project. The work of locating the road was in charge of the county engineer’s office with Cecil Kinder in charge.

Wheat price support at a national average of $1.83 a bushel to farmers for the 1947 crop has been announced by the U.S department of agriculture. Last year’s rate was $1.49 a bushel. Both loans and purchase agreements covering the 1947 crop will be available through the commodity credit corporation. The price support for the 1947 crop is 90 per cent of parity at the beginning of the marketing year, July 1. July 1 parity is $2.03 a bushel.

One hundred years ago

July 22, 1922

Returns from the several harvesting outfits operating in the western part of the county, indicate an average yield this year of about 25 bushels of winter wheat to the acre for the early crop. The Hungate farm is reported to be turning off its best crop, about 35 bushels to the acre. The grain is of number 1 quality, being free from smut and good for milling purposes, as it ripened without rain.

Perry Young is remodeling his store in Peola, adding shelving and putting in new tobacco cases, and will increase his stock. There cherry crop has been good here and the season is about over. Houston Weatherly had some exceptionally fine cherries this year.