Pomeroy Pioneer Portraits

Ten years ago

October 31, 2012

Eero Kovero, Finnish farmer and tour leader, brought his sixth group to Pomeroy's Eastern Washington Agricultural Museum on October 21. Eero (pronounced "arrow") and his group of 10 Finnish farmers from the south of the county spent 12 days in Washington state, landing in Seattle and working eastward in the northern part of the state. The stop in Garfield County is in about the middle of the rip, before the tour turns west and makes its final stop in the Yakima Valley. The tour groups from Finland started coming in October, 2010, after Eero made his first visit to a cousin who had lived on the west side but who has since moved to Finland. For the first time, a teenager was part of the group. He spoke English and said that he was most impressed with the "nature" or landscape of Washington. "Very big field, many hills," was one of the comments by the visitors, who pointed out that Finland is flat with a highest elevation of about 3,000 feet.

Twenty-five years ago

November 5, 1997

After more than two months of work, Howie and Shirley Tollefson and their son Robbie Watson have reopened the Steak House restaurant on Main Street. The Tollefsons moved here from Moses Lake, where they owned businesses for seven years. This is their first experience as restaurant owners, though Howie had a tavern in Moses Lake. Customers going into the building for the first time since it was reopened will notice the brand-new hardwood floor as well as bright new walls and a lowered ceiling in the front area. The Tollefsons also put a new roof on the building and are lowering the ceiling in the lounge area.

Pomeroy Service Club conducted its annual election of officers on October 27. The officers for the coming year and President Terry Brandon, co-vice Presidents Debra Mensik and Carole Slaybaugh, and Secretary-treasurer Ed Crickmer. The past year, the club contributed to Youth Baseball in November and provided 78 Christmas baskets with help from the Food Bank, the Boy Scouts, and U.S. Bank.

Fifty years ago

November 2, 1972

A memorandum decision as to damages in the C.C. Wolf et al vs. Union Pacific Railroad Company case was received Thursday, October 26, in the Garfield County Clerk's office. In the decision, Judge George H. Stuntz, of Seattle, awarded the plaintiffs a total of $26,741.71, a compromise figure in that it was less than the plaintiffs asked but more than Union Pacific offered to pay. The case stems from the January, 1971, flood and the plaintiffs charged that Union Pacific's steel trestle over the Pataha contributed significantly to the damage because of negligence on the part of Union Pacific. Last July Judge Stuntz ruled in favor of the plaintiffs following a trial, and a trial was recently completed as to damages.

The Washington State Highway Department will make a recommendation on the site for the Steptoe Canyon bridge across the Snake River November 20, when the Washington State Highway Commission meets at Olympia. The three sites which have been under consideration are 15th St. and Elm St. at Clarkston and Dry Gulch west of Clarkston.

Seventy-five years ago

November 6, 1947

A poem on a beautifully decorated scroll was received by the Garfield County Junior Red Cross from the Norwegian Junior Red Cross in appreciation of gift boxes and other assistance through the National Children's Fund. Last year 25 gift boxes were filled and $50 was contributed to the National Children's Fund from Garfield County Junior Red Cross members. The membership drive is now underway in all county schools and will end November 14. Each boy and girl become a member by contributing to the Red Cross jar in their school room.

The first snow of the season came to Alpowa Ridge on Tuesday, according to the Philomathean News by Mrs. O. Fitzsimmons. The tablelands are blanketed and it looks like winter has come a little early. A few of the Ridge farmers still have some fall seeding to do on account of the delay caused by the heavy rains.

One hundred years ago

November 4, 1922

The friends of J.H. Gimlin were greatly alarmed Monday night, when John Reich, with whom Gimlin had been hunting in the mountains, telephoned that Gimlin had not returned to camp at the Martin cabin. A search party next morning found Gimlin on his way home. He had become bewildered and darkness set in. He built a fire, discharged his rifle, and attracted the attention of the Weatherly brothers, who were spending the night at their homestead cabin. The Weatherlys put up a light which guided Gimlin to their cabin, where he spent the rest of the night in comfort. Among those searching for Gimlin were Ira Ruark, A.J. Buchet, E. Richardson, J.A. Armstrong and Bert Keatts.

After viewing the new federal Grouse Creek road, last week, E.V. Kuykendall, director of public works, said: "I had the pleasure of riding over a portion of the new construction from the summit to the 'Little Saddle'. The road is well laid out, the grades nowhere exceeding seven percent. The road bed is narrow, averaging about eleven feet in width, but there are few places where two cars cannot pass if care is exercised. The road can be gradually widened at no great expense, and will someday be an important highway connecting Eastern Washington with Eastern Oregon and Southern Idaho. The rugged grandeur of the scenery along this route will make it a favorite tourist drive for all time.